Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Finished audio 5-17-12, rating 4/5, YA, pub. 2012
Book 1 of The Lunar Chronicles
Unabridged audio 10 hours. Read by Rebecca Soler
Cinder is 16, New Beijing’s best mechanic, and a cyborg. After the 4th World War the Earth divided itself into peaceful provinces and the real threat is from the moon, where the Lunars are ruled by the evil Queen Levana. For Cinder there is evil at home too as she is owned by her guardian, Adri, who resents her very presence. Cinder has two “step-sisters” and is lucky to call one a friend. Unfortunately, that one friend is stricken with the plague, an epidemic that no one in New Bejing survives.
I remember reading reviews for this when it came out in January and actually won a copy (forgive me for not remembering where) of the audio. It sat on my shelf until I was caught without an audio book for the car (Gage is going to be a very well read little man :)) I knew it was a Cinderella retelling and that everyone seemed to like it, but didn’t remember much else and that’s probably a good thing.
For someone like me who doesn’t read a lot about cyborgs I needed to check the definition, which was embarrassingly simple. A bionic human. Okay. So, then it made sense when Cinder found out she was 36% cyborg, limbs and all. In New Beijing cyborgs are essentially slaves so Cinder is mistreated by her guardian. Imagine Cinder’s luck then, when Prince Kai shows up at her mehanic booth at the weekly market and needs her help. Sparks fly and Cinder is relieved when Kai doesn’t realize she was cyborg.
I was surprised that I enjoyed this so much. I loved the audio, Rebecca Soler did a fabulous job. As much as I liked it, the big reveal was fairly obvious from early on, but Soler’s performance and a few turns here and there made it a very fun story. I will seek out the audio when the next book comes out. Which leads me to my big complaint…
The non-ending ending. I dislike when books do this, even series books. I was probably more mad at myself that I had forgotten it was a series, but still!
This book was a fun, exciting and very modern retelling of the Cinderella story and I loved it, obviousness and all. I’m looking forward to the next one (stupid cliffhanger).
Stacy's Books 
I just bought this and can’t wait to get to it. Nothing but good I hear from the blogosphere! So glad you enjoyed it!
I think the non-ending ending is just a fact of life now! I especially hate that it makes me need to RE-READ the first when the next comes out. But if they’re good, it feels worth it to me in the end, because I enjoy revisiting the characters and remembering more about them. but still! grrrr! :–)
I have not read this, but my daughter did recently. She was angry about the ending too and said she’s not reading the second one until the third comes out.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book too. Ditto on the non-ending.
I’m not sure this one is for me, but I think my sister would love it.
I loved this one, refreshingly different and familiar at the same time. Glad you enjoyed it Stacy 🙂
I agree that the non-ending endings are annoying, series or not. Still, I’ve heard a lot of good things about this book and hope to give it a try at some point.
Non-ending endings…that made me laugh! I have this one on audio too. Maybe I’ll listen to it closer to the release of book 2??!!!
I have seen this popping up around getting decent reviews. But must confess i have not read a book where a cyborg is the main character in a love story. My mind cant really wrap around that but I think despite that (and the cliff hanger ending) I might give this a try.
A non-ending ending? Then maybe I’ll wait until all the books are out. But every review I’ve read of this has been a positive one.
I have this one, just haven’t gotten around to it yet, but now I’m worried. I hate non-ending endings. Even if the rest of the book is good it can annoy me enough to never read any more in the series.
I think I’m going to have to check this one out. Everyone seems to like it. I love weird retellings of well-known stories.
I don’t usually do well with audiobooks but I’ve read many reviews of this one and would definitely give it a try in print!