"Prince Kai! Check my fan, I think I'm overheating." -Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I went into this book a little nervous, but I loved it so much. Definitely 10 out of 10 jellybeans. And the rest of the series is even better.

Based on the fairytale princess Cinderella, Linh Cinder is not your average 16-year-old girl. Living in a futuristic, technologically advanced world, Cinder is a cyborg. There is treatment in this world to replace lost limbs with metal ones. Cyborgs, however, are disliked in society for not being human enough, and are not treated as equals. Since her life is closely watched by her lazy, ostentatious stepmother and two stepsisters, Cinder sees her life as a constant struggle to escape the country. Even after acquainting herself with the Commonwealth's crown prince, Kai. Her life, however, takes a turn for the worse when a deadly plague takes her stepsister, Peony, into its clutches. Can Peony be rescued, and will her stepmother forgive Cinder? How can she keep Kai from knowing she's a cyborg? Cinder must face her worst fears and triumph over them or watch the world she has come to know fall apart.

I'm not usually one to fall in love with a robotic story. Not that many exist. I didn't even like that movie Robots. (Does anyone else remember that movie?) But Cinder by Marissa Meyer was awesome. Although some points in the book are obvious and predictable, I couldn't help looking up to Cinder. She's super smart, sassy, stays strong in the face of terrible odds, and doesn't immediately fall in love with the prince like Cinderella from the Disney movie. She's also shrouded in mystery, which I love. And as the book progresses, Cinder develops even more and really becomes this misunderstood, justice-seeking character that is thrust into the spotlight on accident. She's an awesome perspective to follow.

Iko, Cinder's robot companion, is probably my second favorite character, Kai a close third. She's funny and helpful in a way the best sidekicks are, but she becomes even more incredible and more of her own "person" as the series continues.

Kai can be pretty oblivious sometimes. While remaining funny and cute in a way that reminds me of Dorian (Throne of Glass) or Liam (The Darkest Minds), he also fails to notice the most overt bits of information. Sure, the book is written so that the reader knows more than the characters, but some things seem so visible it makes Kai look blind.

I will admit that the plot was relatively predictable, but it is balanced out with the details that are original from Cinder. It's just so easy to fall in love with the story and its characters.

Science fiction fans or people like Fred from "Big Hero 6" and are "major science enthusiasts" will be intrigued by what the Lunar Chronicles has to offer. There's also a bit of fantasy to reel in some more fans. If you liked Diveregent or Legend or Throne of Glass, you'll definitely like this book. I certainly did.

Formula: Cyborg + Lunars + Plague + Cinderella = A New Titanium Arm

#katie #scifi #5stars #superpowers #death #fantasy #plottwist