Cinder

You know those books that everyone loves, and you reaaaaally want to love but aren't sure if you will? This was one of those books for me, and I am extra happy after the mediocrity of Wither and Shadow & Bone to say that Cinder lives up to the hype.

It's a retelling of Cinderella like none you've read before, and I'm thoroughly in love with it. It was a slow burn, and took a while for me to fully appreciate its complexities but once I was proper drawn into it, I was reading at a rate of knots and devouring every last word. Marissa Meyer is a master storyteller. I don't know how she managed to take a lifeless tale such as Cinderella and inject so much excitement and life into it. Cinderella isn't one of my favourite fairy tales, not by a long shot, but Cinder manages to be completely unrecognisable while still retaining the original tale.

Cinder(ella) is a mechanic, is tortured and brave and badass. A mechanic. A cyborg. And the crap she's had to endure from her adopted family is on the top side of extreme. I admired her a lot. I didn't love her, though, which held back the rating on this. I adore Kai, and really did like Cinder but I didn't love them together. Maybe this will change with the next books.

I did love the story, though, and the world, and the villain. I especially loved the politics. I need more books like this and I can't wait to get a hold of the next two books.