Cinder

Today we are looking at a futuristic retelling of a classic fairy tale. Don’t worry, whether or not you like the classic fairytales like Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Snow White, I think you’ll find this new series fascinating. Today we’re reviewing the first book in the Lunar Chronicles titled Cinder.

What is Cinder you ask? Well, I have an answer: it’s blurb time!

Here’s the blurb that booksellers use to describe this book:

Blurb Time

“Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

With high-stakes action and a smart, resourceful heroine, Cinder is a Cinderella retelling that is at once classic and strikingly original.”

Let’s take a look at the themes and see what they have to say.

Themes

The most prominent theme in the book is Prejudice: really this breaks down into smaller themes like overcoming prejudice, facing the prejudice of others, and so on. But our story does not shy away from the reality of prejudice, and the ugly effects it has on our lives. In this fictional world set in the future, there are colonizers on the moon known as Lunars, who have developed some interesting abilities. Because of this, they are seen as evil, disgusting and inhuman. In this world, there are also cyborgs – people who have replaced certain body parts with mechanical, bionic parts. Because of their biological manipulation, they are seen as evil, disgusting and inhuman. Cinder, our main character, is a cyborg, and immediately, we see through her eyes just how cruel it is to make assumptions and judgments about others based on superficial facts. This theme is dealt with extensively throughout the book, and I think it is handled very well by the author. 

Related to Prejudice, we also have themes of Confidence and Self-Image. Cinder, in particular, struggles with accepting herself for who she is. The prejudice of others (and the mistreatment from her step-family) has warped her view of herself. She believes that she is undesirable and the cause of various problems that arise in the story. Her self-image is something she must confront as the story unfolds.

So what did I like about the book:

Things I Liked

I’m a sci-fi nerd, and I was very interested in this futuristic retelling of Cinderella. Having now read it, I can say I really enjoyed it. The worldbuilding makes sense. The characters are rich and have real connections to the plot. The whole story is a fresh take on the classic princess story, but it has little hints and easter eggs everywhere that pay homage to the original. 

One thing I liked about this version of Cinderella is that it takes time to show us what’s happening in the life of our prince. Prince Kai has many responsibilities to juggle, most of which have been thrust upon him because his father is dying of an incurable disease. We get to see his side of the story, and it adds a lot.

Also, there is a list of discussion questions at the back of the book! This is a total win for me. I love when authors and publishers make this available to encourage critical thinking.

Ok, so is there anything you should know before reading this book:

Things You Should Know

This first note is obvious, but this story is a romance. There’s so much more to the book than romance though. There is suspense, and mystery, and the whole plot centers on the political drama between the powers that be. But at it’s heart, this story shows us the budding relationship between Cinder and the prince – which by the way, is much more realistic compared to the original, where the prince meets her once and becomes infatuated with her. I actually really liked this aspect of the story, but not everyone is into romance, so its something to be aware of.

You should also know that there is tragic death in this story. I don’t want to give away too much so I’ll leave it at that.

Finally, there are three curse words in this book – nothing sexually derived, but still unnecessary in my opinion.

So how do I rate Cinder? Remember our rating scale goes from red, orange, yellow, green, to Cyan. Red is the worst rating I can give, and Cyan is the very best. 

Rating

I give Cinder a Yellow rating on our scale. It’s an incredible story, with powerful lessons interwoven throughout. The characters are relateable and real, and the writing is great. Really, the only reason I can’t give this a higher rating is because of the three curse words. Like I’ve mentioned in reviews before, that might mean that Cinder falls higher on the rating scale for you. In comparison to most PG-13 movies, three minor curse words aren’t that bad. But I’m a bit picky. I’d like books written for 10-18 year olds to have as little cursing as possible. Cinder does a pretty good job. This book impressed me, and I think anyone interested in science fiction, mystery, or the classic fairy tales will enjoy reading Cinder.