Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)

Title: Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Published: January 3, 2012
Synopsis from Goodreads:

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.




Ladies and gentlemen.....

Cyborgs are....

AWESOME!!!!

I mean, how can you not love a cyborg? They're kick ass, they have killer strength, they get to have their limbs hooked up electronically to their nervous system, and it's always fun to ROOT for the little guy.

Because.... even though cyborgs are awesome... They're never quite accepted....

That is.... unless you are in my house.



KABAM!!!

Because when you are in my house.... Cyborgs are awesome!

And that's what made this book so freaking cool!!!

Cinder is a cyborg. She's 17 and has been a cyborg since she was 11 years old. Her guardian found her and she can't remember a dang thing before she turned borg.



Well, not that kind of Borg. She wasn't assimilated.

Technology has become so advanced that we can now heal people with cybernetics.

From what Cinder has been told, her parents and her when in a fatal hoover accident. Hoovers are their cars. Somehow their hoover got slammed killing Mommy and Daddy and wrecking a big chunk of Cinder's body. One leg is prosthetic, as is one arm, a lung, ribs, and so on. It's a miracle that she's alive!

But who saved her? Who was the surgeon who gave her body new life?

Cinder is a mechanic lives in New Beijing with her step-mom (who is a guardian), and her two step-sisters - Pearl and Peony. There is also a really funny girl android that lives with them, Iku. She was one of my favorite characters.

The interesting thing about CINDER being a mechanic is she mainly fixes electronics. I'm thinking cellphones, Ipads, stuff like that. They all have different names, of course, but that's what I took from it. And she also fixes.... androids! That's where the Prince comes in.

Prince Kai is having trouble with his favorite old android. The old girl just won't start up. He's heard about Cinder being the best mechanic in town. So, off he goes dressed in street clothes (think Princess Jasmine in Aladdin) to Cinder's mechanic booth.

Da da daaaaaaaaaaaa....... THe story starts there.

Everyone... and I mean EVERYONE (including me) has the hots for Prince Kai. Remember how we all fell in love with Prince William once he got out of puberty? Ok.. think that. RAWR!

So, of course Cinder will fix his android.... even though she says his charms don't work on her.... LOLZ! I'm not buying it... He's a doll!

This is a retelling of CINDERELLA. There might not be any glass slipper action but it's extremely interesting how this story is retold and how the author makes it her own.

I was very impressed with Cinder's prothetics. I was also fascinated with her idea of what a cyborg is. My son and I actually have had multiple conversations about this book. He of course won't read it because it's "CINDERELLA" but he definitely helped me pick this book a part with all the gadgets.

So Moms out there... this one is for the girls. I honestly think a boy would really like this story... but if the cover has a high heel on it, then there's no way junior is going to go near it.

I really really liked this book! It's full of all sorts of Sci-fi goodies. And if you enjoyed the UGLIES series by Scott Westerfield, then I guarantee you will adore this book. Some of the technology is similar.

I'm very happy that another amputee hero is starring in books. The world needs that. I hope amputee children of the world read this and realize that even though they are different, they can still be as kick ass as Cinder!!!

I think Cinder would be a great role model and I can't wait to see what the next book has in store!!