Review: Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)

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Author: Marissa Meyer

Series: Lunar Chronicles, #1

Age Group: Young Adult

Format: Hardback

Pages: 390

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Original Price: $17.99

ISBN: 978-0-312-64189-4

Source: Local Library

My Rating: * * * * * (5 stars)

SIXTEEN-YEAR OLD CINDER is considered a technological mistake by most of society and a burden by her stepmother. Being cyborg does have its benefits, though: Cinder's brain interface has given her an uncanny ability to fix things (robots, hovers, her own malfunctioning parts), making her the best mechanic in New Beijing. This reputation brings Prince Kai himself to her weekly market booth, needing her to repair a broken android before the annual ball. He jokingly calls it "a matter of national security," but Cinder suspects it's more serious than he's letting on.
Although eager to impress the prince, Cinder's intentions are derailed when her young stepsister, and only human friend, is infected with the fatal plague that's been devastating Earth for a decade. Blaming Cinder for her daughter's illness, Cinder's stepmother volunteers her body for plague research, an "honor" that no one has survived.
But it doesn't take long for the scientists to discover something unusual about their new guinea pig. Something others would kill for.

The Cover:
 The cover is really simple, yet completely astounding. It portrays the story's plot, especially with Cinder being a cyborg. The leg is see through, and you can see the metal bone. I love it! 5/5 cover rating.


The Review:
Let's see, I will admit that it took me quite awhile to finally finish Cinder. Why, you ask? Because the story lagged at first, but after about seven chapters it finally picked up. Then, I could not put it down for the life of me. It was amazing!


I felt sad, happy, and frustrated. It was an emotional ride and a unique retelling of Cinderella that ended in an astounding cliffhanger. I'm begging for more! I can't wait until 2013, when the second book will be released. The parts that were especially frustrating were the ones where Kai and Cinder where together. It was sweet, but I was constantly thinking, "Get on with your relationship already!". Well, the ending was bittersweet, because Kai and Cinder were left a bad point.


I adored Kai. He was a kind prince/emperor, but I did not feel a deep enough connection with him. I'm hoping I'll get to know him even better in the next few books. On the other hand, Queen Levana I do not want to get to know at all. Cruel, murderer, and all of the insults that can be thought of describe her. She is just terrible, one of the worst, the perfect villain. 


Lastly, I've always been fascinated with the moon, and how it would be amazing if people could live here, so when I saw Cinder I had to read it. Kingdom on the moon! Awesome! And Marissa Meyer is a fan of Sailor Moon, which is where I assume she got some of her inspiration from. A completely amazing read, that you will never regret reading!


The Author:
Marissa Meyer lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and two cats. She's a fan of most things geeky (Sailor Moon, Firefly, color-coordinating her bookshelf...), and has been in love with fairy tales since she was a kid, which she doesn't intend to ever grow out of. She may or may not be a cyborg. Cinder is her first novel.

The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles #1)

Author: Kady Cross
Series: Steampunk Chronicles, #1
Age Group: Young Adult
Format: Hardback
Pages: 473
Published: 5/24/2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: Local Library
My Rating: * * * *

In 1987 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one...except the "thing" inside her


When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And Wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch...


Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned dukes takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.


Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help--and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.


But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on--even if it seems no one believes her.

I just finished this book about ten minutes ago! That's a good thing, believe me. I felt so many conflicting emotions that I have never felt when reading any other book so far. I was frustrated, overjoyed, confused etc... I just didn't know what to do!


This is the first book in which I can't choose over the love interests. There's Griffin with his dominant character. At times, I wanted to hit him, but at other moments I wanted to hug him.


Jack Dandy. Dangerous. Gorgeous. Lethal. Pirate accent. Overall, just a hottie! A very different bad boy I would say. Here's one of his quotes that especially made me fall for him. "Don't cry, Treasure. You'll get me all wet and then I'll melt. I'm made of sugar, don't you know."(pg. 459) Isn't he amazing?!


Do you see where my turmoil comes from? I just couldn't hate one and love the other. Miss Kady Cross is a genius! Let's move on. The other love triangle was Emily, Jasper, and Sam. Emily was adorable! Smart, but unfortunately helpless. I actually preferred Jasper over Sam, but Emily seemed to disagree with me.


Lastly, the mystery in this book was very entertaining. Predictable, but fun. As always, I detested how Finley was portrayed as very strong, yet Griffin was stronger than her. It always bother me when the male is stronger. That's it! I will recommend this book. The Girl in the Steel Corset is an entertaining read, and I would have given it five stars, except that it wasn't perfect. Otherwise, it was a wonderful read. Maybe the next book, coming out in June 2012, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, will receive five stars.


About the Author:

In her other life, Kady Cross is a USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty books. She is lucky enough to have a husband who shares her love for the slightly twisted and all things geek, and a houseful of cats with whom she shares her darkest secrets. When she's not listening to the characters in her head, she's either trying to formulate the perfect lip gloss or teaching herself to soldier. She has a weakness for all things girlie, sugar skulls and boots. Her love of books and makeup borders on addiction--of which she never, ever wants to be cured.

Where to Buy:

Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1)

Author: Gail Carriger
Series: Parasol Protectorate, #1
Age Group: Adult
Challenge: None
Format: Ebook
Pages: 258
Published: October 1, 2009
Publisher: Orbit
Source: Digital Library
My Rating: * * * *

Without a morsel of exaggeration, its publisher describes this debut novel as "a comedy of manners set in Victorian London full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking." At the center of Soulless's "parasol protectorate" is Miss Alexia Tarabotti, a young woman who lacks not only a suitor but also a soul. And those are not her only problems: When she accidentally kills a vampire, it begins a series of events that she must set out to resolve without the help of any proper authorities. A charming mass market original.

Opinions & Thoughts
I finally finished this book! Don't get me wrong, it's not that I didn't like it, Soulless was hilarious and entertaining, but life just kept intervening. Recently, I found out that this book was Carringer's debut novel(as stated in the summary), but it was amazing, and you just could not tell. So...if you are into science fiction, comedy, and supernatural, then Soulless is the perfect book for you. It blends the three genres perfectly.


Let's move onto Alexia. She was my type of character. Headstrong, witty, stubborn. In Victorian times, a woman should be docile and easily bossed around. As you can probably see, which is why Alexia has remained a twenty-nine year old spinster(unmarried).


Lord Maccon was Alexia's love interest. Big, muscular,...and a werewolf. This, of course, clashes with Alexia's preternaturalness(her touch turns any supernatural being into a human, if she lets go, they return back to normal). Regardless, their odd love deepens. Hot, steamy, and lots of fights describe Lord Maccon and Alexia's amours.


Overall, this was a lovely read. It did have some moments where I was cringing, with the experiments and all. But anyways, I would definitely recommend this book.


About the Author
Ms. Carriger began writing in order to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small-town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in higher learning. Ms. Carriger then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She now resides in the Colonies, surrounded by a harem of Armenian lovers, where she insists on tea imported directly from London and cats that pee into toilets. She is fond of teeny tiny hats and tropical fruit.
Click here to visit Gail Carriger's website.