bookphilia

So I read this awhile ago and totally forgot that I hadn't reviewed it. I heard this is one of the "up and coming" great YA reads, but they said that about Divergent, as well, which some know I was not impressed by.

Sentence: I sentence Marissa Meyer to a game of Whedonverse trivia; and if I like her, she's invited to my Avatar: The Last Airbender marathon with Marie Lu (author of Legend).

Review: I am loving the Japanese influences in teen fiction, lately. I love the names being not English-influenced. I love the fact that the setting is not in the "Western" world as we know it (maybe not as they know it, lol). And I absolutely love the personalities.

If Meyer (not Stephenie) knows anything about writing; she definitely knows how to write a likable character. Cinder is tough; handy with a wrench; funny (oh yes, her humour is very endearing); and an idealist posing as a realist (which just makes her confusion even more likable).

While the story very much follows a classic Cinderella tale, there are so many other aspects which sort of change the fairy tale completely.

First off, Kai actually has a personality, which is new for "Prince Charming". Secondly, android and and cyborgs galore! Looks like a huge factor in segregation and reason of unrest within their society. Let's not forget the Lunar people as well.

But with Cinder's stepsister's illness and imminent death comes a whole whack of things she doesn't even know about herself, let alone her country.

Cinder appears to be increasingly more self-sacrificing with each chapter. And that is where I bring up my points of issue.

1. She is clearly the moon princess/Sailor Moon/whatever, why does it take her so long to find out? I mean, I know she's super realistic, but how has she never thought about who she is before and her lack of memory? And also, she has super cool powers that make her a sailor scout as well. :D YAY.

2. Cyborgs apparently have no backbone. There should have been riots ages ago. Cyborgs were once human and they know their treatment is unfair. Come on, where be the politics? Only when the Lunar Queen (Bitch) shows up, do people come out and riot!

3. I thought Kai was different. And yet he still seemed to be a little disgusted that she was a cyborg. That is disappointing. And it's obvious that when her finds out he is Prince Darian and she is Princess Serena, he'll wanna be all buddy-buddy again (openly).

Okay, okay, Darian and Serena are from Sailor Moon and I'm mixing the two up, but it's hard not to. Good thing Cinder isn't a crybaby and total pussy.

4. Cinder is too self-sacrificing despite her horrible experiences. I think that's one of her greatest faults, but I'm not sure if Meyer did this on purpose or not. She seems to just drop everything to save or help the people she cares about. Future weakness, maybe?

Overall, though, this book was well-written, clever, and a lovely attempt at re-analyzing Cinderella. Although I didn't give this book a top rating, I really did enjoy it. There were just some things I felt should have been elaborated or resolved in this book rather than in future books. I also know, from the Cinder short story (Glitches) by Meyer (you can find it here: http://www.tor.com/stories/2011/12/glitches), that she is capable of much better. It was a fantastic short story.

That's why I expect I'll like the latter books in this series much better. And I am really excited for them.