CINDER
(The Lunar Chronicles #1)
by Marissa Meyer
3 out of 5 stars
(The Lunar Chronicles #1)
by Marissa Meyer
3 out of 5 stars
Also appears in goodreads here.
*Fireworks* for my first 3/5 rating of 2015. This Young Adult book was going to be rated 2/5 (or 2, since Goodreads do not allow 0.5s) but it earned half a star more for the Acknowledgement pages at the back. I love it when authors are honest about their inspiration because CINDER is SAILOR MOON, only without the really nice bits and competent love interest (Tuxedo Mask).
Some cons: (spoiler free)
+ Although this book has a nice fast-ish pace, it's action scenes fall flat. It's not gripping.
+ It's predictable. 30% in, you can guess Cinder's biggest WHAM. Mind that I would have forgiven that if the reveal wasn't part of an info-dump.
+ The Prince is very Disney, in that, he doesn't do anything. He's practically in a coma.
+ Dr. Erland could have been more active. Yes, he is steadily losing his mind but instead of "doing things", he chose to "say things". Ugh. What a waste of a good character.
+ World building. I understand that as a YA book, it needs to be pretty clean. Surely, a bit of politics would not hurt. And, I refuse to believe that YA readers wouldn't appreciate a world complete with shadows and what not.
+ SCIENCE. My best bud is a big fan of realistic science. This book tries, at least. It's failure doesn't rest on awful science, but on description. It works, yes. How it works is akin to... magic. There was one a line from Dr. Erland about that, something about not calling it magic because it only empowers it. I wish this advice was used on the book for more than one page.
+ Climax: As this is Cinderella, the climax happens over a few hours. This is very difficult to pull off. So far, I've only read one successful long-running climax and that is the last book of the Bartimaeus Trilogy by [author:Jonathan Stroud|33467]. While Stroud's was simply breathtaking, Meyers is just boring. The Climax had succeeded in doing the impossible: it had plateau-d just a smudge before a gratifying climax, making everything such a bore. Bore! (3rd time for emphasis). In fact everything after the climax was info-dump, at this point I couldn't care less what happened to Cinder.
+ Last but not the least: CINDER is a disappointment. This character had a lot of potential, she was smart, a cyborg, a mechanic, etc. Just when you think that you're reading about a Cinderella who was an actual good role-model for girls, you are given a girl who doesn't think, feel and rise to her full potential. It seems like every new information or event thrown at her was ignored. Because, oh hey, being a cyborg orphan teenager was enough to keep readers interested.
Last words before summary: This is on writing style. According to the acknowledgement, Ms. Meyer liked snark. Oh how I adore snark anything. But the narrative of Cinder wasn't good snark. It has a shadow of a snark narrative but fails to get in there with old unintelligent jokes. Snark's "funny" is not just jokes, it's about making very smart jokes. For example, Terry Pratchett writes the best snark of all time because if you're not laughing, then you're not learned enough (learned is not equal to smart, of course).
SUMMARY. This summary is not entirely without spoilers.
SPOILER ALERT
We start with Cinder sitting behind her booth in the "poor" side of New Beijing (NB). There are no middle classes in this city. There are no capitalists and nouveau riche. And no dirt poor. No prostitutes. No drug addicts. No charity work. We can't know for certain but they weren't mentioned anywhere. "Mystery" is a common theme in this book. Oh, BTW, there's no religion. LOLS
We quickly learn that Cinder is a cyborg, meaning she doesn't have 100% of her original biological bits. Even though her name is already Cinder and there is a mention of a step-mother or another, the Cinderella-reference is smacked and driven to your face with a scene that starts with a robotic foot attachment. That's just in case we missed it. Immediately, to make sure the romantics are satisfied and there was going to be no chance of insta-love, we are introduced to Prince Kaito, which is Japanese and not Chinese. So, a Japanese family rules the only surviving city in China, which happens to be the capital of the Eastern Commonwealth. Oh my politics. I cringed here and made myself chamomile tea. It's funny how the prince's name means fly or soar, but he doesn't do any of those. Instead, the only heir to the throne, whose royal house name is a mystery, could effectively leave the palace on his own in a clandestine mission to seek the help of a market street mechanic. Going back to Cinder, I've heard somewhere that she is the best mechanic in NB. There was no reference to this. There were, however, talk of her skills leading Prince Kai to her booth.
Some exchange and then Prince Kai leaves and the next door baker has the plague. That would be letumosis, which is a MYSTERIOUS plague that is only explained by its symptoms and effects, which is eminent death. There is no cure and it is highly contagious so the government health division quarantines the area and people who were exposed to sick people. These basic guidelines were further explained when Cinder's favorite "step-sister" is taken ill. See, Cinder was legally adopted by Lingh Garan. When he died of the plague shortly after, Adri, his wife, becomes Cinder's owner. In this world, being cyborg makes you become a "property". This is glossed over and remains MYSTERIOUS. Adri hates Cinder for some reason, possibly because she reminds her of Garan, whom she shows no affinity. So, her reasons are really unclear and MYSTERIOUS. Adri has two daughters, Pearl-the-evil and Peony-the-younger-good-sister. Of course, it is Peony who is taken ill. I feel that this is to give Cinder more humanity and more drama. However, this family dynamic falls very stale. Mainly, we are made to assume that cyborgs are almost non-human, making them hide their metal bits. Although the animosity towards cyborgs is clear, there is no history to back it up. If there's such a huge dislike towards cyborgs, how has it developed in such a grand way enabling many successful transplants? Could it be because Adri is traditional? But where are the progressives? Again, the lack of political world-building makes the cyberpunk aspects of this book fall short of expectations. The heart of cyberpunk is not the robotics bit, but in the discussion of what makes humans human. There's no philosophy in this book.
Together with no philosophy, there's no emotional and mental exploration. As Peony is taken away to quarantine, Cinder goes home and is immediately volunteered by Adri to letumosis research as a guinea pig. It was explained that the discrimination towards cyborgs is the key to acceptance of the drafting system. Again, we don't feel sorry for Cinder's double-whammy of unlucky situations because even Cinder doesn't seem to mind. She has all these bad things happening and she doesn't react any differently. Apart from the household android, Iko, Peony was the only human friend Cinder ever had. But she's not shaken at all. Perhaps her ability to compartmentalize things and her learned apathy from many years of abuse has led her to this. But we do not know because it is Cinder's POV and she doesn't think it. Some POV are in Prince Kai's and he serves as that guy who sees things but doesn't do anything about it. His father dies, and nothing. The Earthen enemy's Queen Levana (Lunars are Moon living evolved humans) is visiting, and he runs off. The Queen arrives, okay says Prince Kai. Alright he might have done nice things for Cinder, but how does he have time to spend doing anything else but think about the impending Lunar invasion, his arranged marriage to Queen Levana and addressing international heads of states? Plus, his dad died. Right. So, basically, the way he goes on about events makes him a perfect match for Cinder.
Cinder is taken to Dr. Erland who is European, just like her. Cinder's supposed parents died in a vehicular accident in Europe where Garan finds her. Back to Erland, he is the head of the letumosis antidote research and has taken a shine to Cinder. He explains a lot of the robotics and science bits in the book. He is much fun. Erland has confirmed that Cinder is plague free and sends her home. And, she goes back home. Really? Why? Peony is not there, so there's no one holding her there. Adri assumes that Cinder is in the palace so she won't go looking for her. She could have set up a hovel in the junkyard and no one's the wiser. But Cinder needs to show how important she has become by going back home. Basically, Cinder has opened herself up for more abuse and the issue of the Ball returns. At every chance, we are reminded of that grand ball held on every 9th full moon of the year. It's so special. Why? It didn't say. But it gave a chance for girls to find husbands in a very medieval kind of way. Because their high internet connectivity doesn't allow for dating sites and match-making sites approved by Adri. No, not really, but it's not explained.
Queen Levana arrives and some royal scenes happen, including testing Prince Kai's reserve. I am very surprised that Queen Levana is so hands on. And not very politically adept, at that. Thankfully, it was explained why Prince Kai was targeted by the Lunars. We learn early on that Emperor Rikan, Kai's dead dad, negotiated with the Queen in behalf of all Earthen government. How he got that privilege is uncertain because the world is still composed of many sovereign states instead of a one world government after WWIV. Somehow, the other colonies let the Eastern Commonwealth do all the fun bits with the Lunars, leaving everyone else. There was a scene of a conference in which the other heads of states who how completely worthless they are in the plot giving their authority to a young newly crowned emperor who has had no experience, no apparent political training and is given to hysterics and insta-love. Apparently, Queen Levana targeted the Eastern Commonwealth because she wanted to have a marriage alliance with another royal family. How that is important is not practical. First, she could attack Earth without the alliance. It is useless to her on so many levels. Second, producing heirs doesn't need a marriage because it had happened in Lunar history before to birth babies out of marriage and still be heirs. Last, Eastern Commonwealth wasn't even really powerful at least it didn't seem so. Having said that, Levana remains to be the most interesting character in this book. Her greatest fear is for Princess Selene to be found. Selene is Princess Serenity and stands as the rightful her queen. Even though we are told that rebellion of Lunar people against Levana is impossible, rallying around Princess Selene who has no affinity towards her kingdom remains a threat. How about keep your friends close and your enemies closer? Nope.
Special day of the ball comes around and Cinder has fixed an antiquated gasoline engine car that looks like a pumpkin. Of course, Adri refuses to give permission and even sequesters Cinder's metal foot. Luckily, Iko saves Cinder's old foot before she was destroyed. Cinder puts it on, puts on her dead sister's dress and takes the car to the ball. She doesn't heed Dr. Erland's warning that Cinder needs to stay away from Levana. Nope, apparently, even though she doesn't need to go to the ball she really has to go to the ball because she needs to warn Kai about Levana's evil. She doesn't think of going to Erland, who is pretty close to Kai. It has to be her because this book is named after her. Of course, she has a run in with her stepmother (who isn't really) and stepsister. But she was saved by Kai. This encounter is boring. Good thing that she has a run in with Levana shortly after. Yes, it was a long night. They've spied each other before from far away and Levana knows Cinder is Lunar (which is another reveal Cinder didn't really care about). Levana tries glamour on her, the magic that Lunars have to compound Earthen and Lunar people. But Cinder's metal bits had been a pet project of Garan that served to combat glamour and even prevent glamour. She resists it and runs away. On her way down the stairs, her metal foot rips off, shoes and all. Levana demands that Cinder is incarcerated and delivered to her, because she is a Lunar and they aren't allowed to leave the moon. Kai says yes to prevent a war that was coming anyway, you spineless git. You see, he had been repeatedly told that war is impending. There was going to be a way no matter what happens because Levana would not negotiate. But Kai's youth and inexperience prevents him doing the best thing for everyone: declare war. Why is that good? Because no one should live in fear. No one should be manipulated, however indirectly, by another power. And, because for sure the other smarter countries would have prepared for war. Even if they fail to win the war against Lunars, at least they didn't give up their freedom without a fight. But Kai is not emperor material. He's a heart throb, of which he is very good at and should really give the throne to Torin, who might be better at it.
In the end, Cinder is visited by Dr. Erland in jail. He is also a Lunar and has exercised glamour to help Cinder escape. Cinder is told that she's Princess Selene. Shocker! Like we weren't expecting that at all, not even when we are told that 1) Selene escapes with a few missing limbs, 2) Cinder's robotic bits are too high grade for someone who isn't special, 3) Selene had escaped to Earth and was a cyborg, 4) many other clues. Beyond our shock at this reveal, Erland invited Cinder to Africa with him. He is going to investigate the origin story of the virus to find out once and for all how the virus spread (which was supposed from Lunar immigrants). As a cliff hanger, Cinder huddled in a corner (?). Because that's how her character reacts to evens and information, by looking at the them straight in the eye and watching them float away with not a single thought.
If you like some light hearted fun, an easy read whilst lounging on the beach, this is a great read for you. Although there's plenty of sci-fi, the tone remains very fairy-tale like in a very Disney kind of way. There aren't any emotional scenes to drain you and shocking events that would keep you up at night.
But, kudos to the Sailor Moon bit. As a fan, I'm all for that. Also, props for trying to learn both the science bit and the Chinese culture. As far as debut novels go, this one is ok.
READ my review of Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles 2) here.
We quickly learn that Cinder is a cyborg, meaning she doesn't have 100% of her original biological bits. Even though her name is already Cinder and there is a mention of a step-mother or another, the Cinderella-reference is smacked and driven to your face with a scene that starts with a robotic foot attachment. That's just in case we missed it. Immediately, to make sure the romantics are satisfied and there was going to be no chance of insta-love, we are introduced to Prince Kaito, which is Japanese and not Chinese. So, a Japanese family rules the only surviving city in China, which happens to be the capital of the Eastern Commonwealth. Oh my politics. I cringed here and made myself chamomile tea. It's funny how the prince's name means fly or soar, but he doesn't do any of those. Instead, the only heir to the throne, whose royal house name is a mystery, could effectively leave the palace on his own in a clandestine mission to seek the help of a market street mechanic. Going back to Cinder, I've heard somewhere that she is the best mechanic in NB. There was no reference to this. There were, however, talk of her skills leading Prince Kai to her booth.
Some exchange and then Prince Kai leaves and the next door baker has the plague. That would be letumosis, which is a MYSTERIOUS plague that is only explained by its symptoms and effects, which is eminent death. There is no cure and it is highly contagious so the government health division quarantines the area and people who were exposed to sick people. These basic guidelines were further explained when Cinder's favorite "step-sister" is taken ill. See, Cinder was legally adopted by Lingh Garan. When he died of the plague shortly after, Adri, his wife, becomes Cinder's owner. In this world, being cyborg makes you become a "property". This is glossed over and remains MYSTERIOUS. Adri hates Cinder for some reason, possibly because she reminds her of Garan, whom she shows no affinity. So, her reasons are really unclear and MYSTERIOUS. Adri has two daughters, Pearl-the-evil and Peony-the-younger-good-sister. Of course, it is Peony who is taken ill. I feel that this is to give Cinder more humanity and more drama. However, this family dynamic falls very stale. Mainly, we are made to assume that cyborgs are almost non-human, making them hide their metal bits. Although the animosity towards cyborgs is clear, there is no history to back it up. If there's such a huge dislike towards cyborgs, how has it developed in such a grand way enabling many successful transplants? Could it be because Adri is traditional? But where are the progressives? Again, the lack of political world-building makes the cyberpunk aspects of this book fall short of expectations. The heart of cyberpunk is not the robotics bit, but in the discussion of what makes humans human. There's no philosophy in this book.
Together with no philosophy, there's no emotional and mental exploration. As Peony is taken away to quarantine, Cinder goes home and is immediately volunteered by Adri to letumosis research as a guinea pig. It was explained that the discrimination towards cyborgs is the key to acceptance of the drafting system. Again, we don't feel sorry for Cinder's double-whammy of unlucky situations because even Cinder doesn't seem to mind. She has all these bad things happening and she doesn't react any differently. Apart from the household android, Iko, Peony was the only human friend Cinder ever had. But she's not shaken at all. Perhaps her ability to compartmentalize things and her learned apathy from many years of abuse has led her to this. But we do not know because it is Cinder's POV and she doesn't think it. Some POV are in Prince Kai's and he serves as that guy who sees things but doesn't do anything about it. His father dies, and nothing. The Earthen enemy's Queen Levana (Lunars are Moon living evolved humans) is visiting, and he runs off. The Queen arrives, okay says Prince Kai. Alright he might have done nice things for Cinder, but how does he have time to spend doing anything else but think about the impending Lunar invasion, his arranged marriage to Queen Levana and addressing international heads of states? Plus, his dad died. Right. So, basically, the way he goes on about events makes him a perfect match for Cinder.
Cinder is taken to Dr. Erland who is European, just like her. Cinder's supposed parents died in a vehicular accident in Europe where Garan finds her. Back to Erland, he is the head of the letumosis antidote research and has taken a shine to Cinder. He explains a lot of the robotics and science bits in the book. He is much fun. Erland has confirmed that Cinder is plague free and sends her home. And, she goes back home. Really? Why? Peony is not there, so there's no one holding her there. Adri assumes that Cinder is in the palace so she won't go looking for her. She could have set up a hovel in the junkyard and no one's the wiser. But Cinder needs to show how important she has become by going back home. Basically, Cinder has opened herself up for more abuse and the issue of the Ball returns. At every chance, we are reminded of that grand ball held on every 9th full moon of the year. It's so special. Why? It didn't say. But it gave a chance for girls to find husbands in a very medieval kind of way. Because their high internet connectivity doesn't allow for dating sites and match-making sites approved by Adri. No, not really, but it's not explained.
Queen Levana arrives and some royal scenes happen, including testing Prince Kai's reserve. I am very surprised that Queen Levana is so hands on. And not very politically adept, at that. Thankfully, it was explained why Prince Kai was targeted by the Lunars. We learn early on that Emperor Rikan, Kai's dead dad, negotiated with the Queen in behalf of all Earthen government. How he got that privilege is uncertain because the world is still composed of many sovereign states instead of a one world government after WWIV. Somehow, the other colonies let the Eastern Commonwealth do all the fun bits with the Lunars, leaving everyone else. There was a scene of a conference in which the other heads of states who how completely worthless they are in the plot giving their authority to a young newly crowned emperor who has had no experience, no apparent political training and is given to hysterics and insta-love. Apparently, Queen Levana targeted the Eastern Commonwealth because she wanted to have a marriage alliance with another royal family. How that is important is not practical. First, she could attack Earth without the alliance. It is useless to her on so many levels. Second, producing heirs doesn't need a marriage because it had happened in Lunar history before to birth babies out of marriage and still be heirs. Last, Eastern Commonwealth wasn't even really powerful at least it didn't seem so. Having said that, Levana remains to be the most interesting character in this book. Her greatest fear is for Princess Selene to be found. Selene is Princess Serenity and stands as the rightful her queen. Even though we are told that rebellion of Lunar people against Levana is impossible, rallying around Princess Selene who has no affinity towards her kingdom remains a threat. How about keep your friends close and your enemies closer? Nope.
Special day of the ball comes around and Cinder has fixed an antiquated gasoline engine car that looks like a pumpkin. Of course, Adri refuses to give permission and even sequesters Cinder's metal foot. Luckily, Iko saves Cinder's old foot before she was destroyed. Cinder puts it on, puts on her dead sister's dress and takes the car to the ball. She doesn't heed Dr. Erland's warning that Cinder needs to stay away from Levana. Nope, apparently, even though she doesn't need to go to the ball she really has to go to the ball because she needs to warn Kai about Levana's evil. She doesn't think of going to Erland, who is pretty close to Kai. It has to be her because this book is named after her. Of course, she has a run in with her stepmother (who isn't really) and stepsister. But she was saved by Kai. This encounter is boring. Good thing that she has a run in with Levana shortly after. Yes, it was a long night. They've spied each other before from far away and Levana knows Cinder is Lunar (which is another reveal Cinder didn't really care about). Levana tries glamour on her, the magic that Lunars have to compound Earthen and Lunar people. But Cinder's metal bits had been a pet project of Garan that served to combat glamour and even prevent glamour. She resists it and runs away. On her way down the stairs, her metal foot rips off, shoes and all. Levana demands that Cinder is incarcerated and delivered to her, because she is a Lunar and they aren't allowed to leave the moon. Kai says yes to prevent a war that was coming anyway, you spineless git. You see, he had been repeatedly told that war is impending. There was going to be a way no matter what happens because Levana would not negotiate. But Kai's youth and inexperience prevents him doing the best thing for everyone: declare war. Why is that good? Because no one should live in fear. No one should be manipulated, however indirectly, by another power. And, because for sure the other smarter countries would have prepared for war. Even if they fail to win the war against Lunars, at least they didn't give up their freedom without a fight. But Kai is not emperor material. He's a heart throb, of which he is very good at and should really give the throne to Torin, who might be better at it.
In the end, Cinder is visited by Dr. Erland in jail. He is also a Lunar and has exercised glamour to help Cinder escape. Cinder is told that she's Princess Selene. Shocker! Like we weren't expecting that at all, not even when we are told that 1) Selene escapes with a few missing limbs, 2) Cinder's robotic bits are too high grade for someone who isn't special, 3) Selene had escaped to Earth and was a cyborg, 4) many other clues. Beyond our shock at this reveal, Erland invited Cinder to Africa with him. He is going to investigate the origin story of the virus to find out once and for all how the virus spread (which was supposed from Lunar immigrants). As a cliff hanger, Cinder huddled in a corner (?). Because that's how her character reacts to evens and information, by looking at the them straight in the eye and watching them float away with not a single thought.
END OF SPOILERS
If you like some light hearted fun, an easy read whilst lounging on the beach, this is a great read for you. Although there's plenty of sci-fi, the tone remains very fairy-tale like in a very Disney kind of way. There aren't any emotional scenes to drain you and shocking events that would keep you up at night.
But, kudos to the Sailor Moon bit. As a fan, I'm all for that. Also, props for trying to learn both the science bit and the Chinese culture. As far as debut novels go, this one is ok.
READ my review of Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles 2) here.
 by Marissa Meyer 3 out of 5 stars Also appears in goodreads here . ){kind=link}
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