Cinder: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles

Written by Marissa Meyer

Narrated by Rebecca Soler

Soon to be adapted into major motion picture!

The first book in the #1 New York Times- and USA Today-bestselling Lunar Chronicles series by the “Queen of fairytale retellings,” Marissa Meyer! See where the futuristic YA fairytale saga all began, with the tale of a teenage cyborg who must fight for Earth's survival against villains from outer space.

"An interesting mash up of fairy tales and science fiction . . . a cross between Cinderella, Terminator, and Star Wars." —Entertainment Weekly

The prince straightened, forcing her gaze to follow him. “You’re not quite what I was expecting.”

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

With high-stakes action and a smart, resourceful heroine, Cinder is a Cinderella retelling that is at once classic and strikingly original.

Don't miss the other books in The Lunar Chronicles series:
Cinder
Scarlet
Cress
Winter
Stars Above
Fairest
Wires and Nerve Vol. 1
Wires and Nerve Vol. 2: Gone Rogue

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Jan 3, 2012
• ISBN: 9781427215017

Marissa Meyer

Marissa Meyer is the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles series, the Renegades trilogy, the Gilded Duology, the Wires and Nerve graphic novels, and The Lunar Chronicles Coloring Book. Her first standalone novel, Heartless, was also a #1 New York Times–bestseller, and she has also written two standalone rom-coms, Instant Karma and With a Little Luck. Her first middle-grade novel is Let It Glow, written with Joanne Levy. Marissa hosted a popular podcast, "The Happy Writer," and her book of the same name shares her writing tips and experiences. She lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and their two daughters. marissameyer.com

Reviews for Cinder

[r4rk5ydqkk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So… when the Princess first came up that she was possibly alive… I placed a bet with myself (the only safe person to ever bet with) that the princess and Cinder were the same person (I read too much mystery identity stories…) I won… I now get ice cream… on me ????

[James Simpson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

IT WAS SO AMAZING AND INTRESTING!!!!!!!!! I absolutely love it.

[Jacob Hantla · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely love this new, futuristic twist on the classic Cinderella story!!! It is exactly the type of book I have been looking for! Tons of action, a lot of inner dialogue, and it’s pretty clean, as far as modern stories go!

[Mia Terblanche · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a Wholesome and Fantastic Book!! The world is so well thought out, and the plot kept me on my toes with one surprise after another. I can't wait to read the others in this series!

[rvhatha · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A clever retelling of Cinderella, where the heroine is a cyborg teen compelled to serve her "stepmother" and "stepsisters" after the mysterious death of both her parents in the car crash she only survived by being bionically rebuilt. Meyers' novel incorporates the standard motifs of the tale in some witty and thoughtful ways: the story begins, for example, with Cinder installing a new(er) and improved high-tech foot at the end of her own leg...a foot her stepmother later confiscates as a way to keep her from getting to the ball. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this; though I'm a sucker for fairy-tale retellings, the premise of this one had put me off enough to keep it moving further down my "to read" pile. Adding to the complexity of _Cinder_ are the larger social issues at work in the postapocalyptic world Meyer has built: there's a deadly virus taking out huge numbers of people across the globe, and the leaders of the Earth's reorganized nations are anxious that they may have to go to war with the Lunars, whose Queen seems determined to rule Earth as well as the moon. Some of the plot developments are fairly predictable, and as always, I was disappointed that the book--as the first in a series--doesn't really "end," but just resolves things temporarily. I'll probably read the others in the series, but I'm getting very weary of series books that can't stand on their own. Even if the author knows the book is just the first in a trilogy or tetralogy, each installment should be more than just a link to the next. _Cinder_ is definitely more than that, but still...is it too much to ask for some freestanding YA fantasy novels?

[Zaidy Santos · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great and relatable characters! Want to read more ASAP!

[Patricia North · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I give it 4.5 stars! Fun, fresh retelling on a classic fairytale! The story was well thought out… I didn’t see any plot holes. It wasn’t political and it was not cringy (which ya books sometimes can be haha). It did a good job at what Cinderella has always done a good job at—tells the story of the ignored and downtrodden. I love the author use of imagination especially for the “pumpkin”. The book is very detailed so if you don’t pay attention you won’t catch all the fun thought-out things in the story. I recommend listening to OR reading this—-preferably listen- the narrator is excellent! .5 for the use of the word “com” instead of call or text- I just found it silly but see why it was added- to give a futuristic feel. Overall good story! I will read/listen to more of the series:)

[Melissa Marroquin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was very entertaining, I wish this app had the rest of the series available on audio.

[Shylah Cox-Styles · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of the best books to read. Amazing and unique.

[Ashley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book with a fantastic story plot. I highly recommend.

[Jessica M. Adkins · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Almost predictable BUT so well paced and unique it doesn’t take away from the story or the reveal. It wraps up nicely, and has me eager to start the next book in the series. Also, the nods to Cinderella are well placed and well-utilized. Two thumbs up.

[RoyJohnson490 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What first got me into reading Cinder and the “Lunar Chronicles” in general was my love of old-school fairy tales. I had been on the lookout for interesting retellings of classic fairytales so this definitely got my interest. I actually started reading this book in April of last year. Just been busy with stuff before I could properly finish it. But now that I have finally finished, I have to say I really enjoyed this book.

I found this to be a super fun sci-fi inspired take of the original Cinderella story. The story applied interesting twists to the classic archetypes of the story: the prince, the evil stepmother and stepsisters, the pumpkin carriage, and Cinderella herself. I think Linh Cinder is a fascinating character in her own right: dealing with the prejudice and self-loathing that comes with being a cyborg while still retaining a lively, snarky attitude and a warm, compassionate heart. The book definitely succeeded in providing a main character you can emphasize with. Overall, I found the futuristic Asian-fusion world the book takes place in to be super intriguing. Also, because I read this in April 2020, I found the stuff dealing with letumosis to be closer to home than originally intended. I don’t think it was an issue persay. I just wasn’t expecting to read about a worldwide pandemic whilst in the beginnings of an actual worldwide pandemic.

While I did enjoy the story, I also had some issues with it. I found some of the characters to be a little too archetypical for this kind of story and more two-dimensional than I would’ve liked (characters like the evil stepmother, the stepsisters, the evil queen, and even the prince on occasions). It wasn’t a huge issue for me but it did mean I didn’t have quite the emotional impact when one of the major characters died. Also I felt the beginnings of Cinder and Kai’s relationship bordered on “insta-love” for my taste, which I guess would make sense for a world inspired by fairy tales that upholded “love at first sight”. However, I didn’t feel the beginnings of Cinder and Kai’s relationship started realistically and the two were already head-over-heels with each other before they really got to know each other. They did make for an adorable couple though. I always enjoy seeing the usually serious Linh Cinder getting tongue-tied over a cute guy. Also, I found the Prince Kai chapters not as interesting to read compared to the Cinder chapters. And while Queen Levana, the main antagonist of the novel, had her effectively cruel moments, I felt she wasn’t quite a dynamic villain yet. None of this really detracted from the story itself. But I felt it was worth mentioning.

I also found the audiobook itself to be very well-done. I think Rebecca Soler did an incredible job in narrating the book. She successfully captured Cinder’s character through her voice. I can’t imagine anyone else talking as Linh Cinder. She also did a good job adjusting her voices to reflect the different characters (a more strict and cruel tone for Adri and Queen Levana, the adorable, robotic tone of Iko, the heavily-accented voice of Dr. Erland, etc.). If you want to read this story for the first time or reread it, I would suggest checking out the audiobook by Rebecca Soler. Phenomenal stuff.

Overall, for anyone who enjoys fun YA sci-fi worlds and likes different fairytale retellings, I would definitely recommend this book. I’m looking forward to continuing the series.

[Carrie Goldstein · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book! The suspense is undeniable! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

[Karmen Buck · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Please read this there is nothing more I can say. Cinder’s story will have you on the edge of your seat until the vary. Last. Page. I can’t force you to read about this young cyborg who goes by the name of Cinder, but in doing so you would enter a majestic world of cyborgs, royalty, evil, cruelty, disease, and love. I would advise clearing your schedule before beginning this book.

[Jacque Morner · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cinder was an interesting story with an ending that makes me want to read the next one.

[Angel Lambert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A queen that we stan. She walked. She talked. And she FLEW.

[Allie Ferguson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

First of all, a lovely reimagining of a classic fairytale. Princesses? The book has them. Murder and political engineering? Oh yeah. A pandemic with no known cure?... Well, maybe we've had enough of that particular bit in 2020, but still, at least we can relate to the characters more with this commonality between us. Round it out with a decent audiobook narrator and we have a winner here, folks!

[Tiffany Baumann · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book and it was such a quick read!

[Constantino GrandE · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

lovely book amazing storyline great main characters even better villans

[Steven · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fascinating re-imagination for Cinderella. The titular character, Cinder, has much more agency than in older works. Standing up for herself and finding the many awful truths in her universe leads to a wonderful read (or a listen).

[macjest · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cinderella as a cyborg is only half the story. There is a plague to contend with and a potential war with Luna as well. And the fact that Lunars can manipulate Earthen emotions. I quite enjoyed this book, but wished there could have been a little more background detail.

[Hollee Petersen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

AHHHH SUCK A WONDERFUL BOOK 10/10 RECOMMEND, Such a wonderful book for anyone who likes fantasy/drama/science fiction! Adored this book and couldn't put it down ?

[elizajane_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reason for Reading: Upon reading the summary, I knew this book was for me as it had everything I'd love in a YA novel: fairytale retelling, sci-fi, cyborg, and dystopia. I had planned not to start any new series this year but I didn't know this was the start of a series until I started to read the book.This was fabulous! I have to admit that when it really boils down to it I do much prefer science fiction to fantasy, and yet I don't read nearly as much of it. This hit the spot perfectly. A fairytale retelling that goes far beyond the scope of the original fairytale. Meyer has managed to hold onto the basic characters and some major events while throwing the familiar plot out the window to bring us a new version of Cinderella that had me glued to my seat and turning pages almost faster than I could read. Cinder is the dominant character in this book and one fantastic female lead who carries the plot all on her own. I took to her character right away and found her to be very well-written, with genuine feelings and emotion. She is a person who stays true to her own nature no matter how it will affect appearances sake. I also found the dystopian world intriguing. Set in some unknown future, a century after World War IV, the world has changed its political divisions and ruling systems, is different in many ways and yet not so much that it is still a believable possible reality. The book ends looking forwards to the sequel and yet has a satisfying ending for the book in hand. Something I appreciate in series books. One of my favourite reads this year.

[hvanwillegen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book! New take on an old story.

[imperfectcj · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I remember when I stopped trying to keep up with my children's reading. It was when I was caught listening to a Percy Jackson audiobook one night to preview it for my seven-year-old while my daughter was supposed to be asleep. She padded out in her pjs, bleary-eyed, and asked, "Mommy? What are you listening to?"I told her, and when she asked if she could read the books, too, I couldn't think of any reason not to let her. I tried to read each of the books before she did so I could always screen them for things that might be confusing or problematic or uncomfortable for her to read (or for me to have her read), but she read so fast, I soon gave up.Recently, though, I'm realizing that I've almost completely lost touch with what my kids are reading, at least outside of what we read together, and I decided to start playing catch-up. So I asked my kids what I should read first of the many series they're reading right now: Wings of Fire, Fablehaven, The Last Dragon Chronicles, or The Lunar Chronicles. "Read Cinder first," they agreed, so I read Cinder first.I'm not a fan of YA, but this novel surpassed my admittedly low expectations. It's a quick-reading, clever re-envisioning of the Cinderella tale. I have a personal grudge against high heels so I dislike the cover with the stiletto heel that Cinder never wears in the book (was that a spoiler?), and there are a couple of incorrect word usages that the editor should have caught ("council" when it should be "counsel", "imminent" when Meyer means "imperative"), but overall I enjoyed reading this novel and hope that my library has Scarlet on their digital catalog so I can start on it without waiting for the library to open tomorrow morning.

[templetonbreaks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Eh, it was okay. I hate books that only get really interesting at the end and then stop because there's a sequel coming. Overall, it was an interesting idea and the story kept moving along and I stayed with it.

The writing is not particularly spectacular, and in many ways feels as though not only was it written for teenagers but that it was written by a teenager. The big end reveal is quite obvious from very early on in the book, and the characters are not fleshed out beyond basic physical characteristics and one or two personality traits. The history is mentioned but never explained in depth, but I think that was fine because it wasn't the point of the book. Generally, there was a lot of "telling but not showing" going on.

The book fell somewhat into the trap of YA novels with female protagonists: the narrator is never portrayed as much more than a bundle of her own insecurites, and yet the romantic interest is intensely attracted to her and persues her despite her efforts to avoid him and it's never really clear why.

[emc_n · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cinder is a story about a girl…living in a post-WW IV world, just trying to get by. Oh…also she’s a cyborg. I want to start this review by saying that this book is a fantastically brilliant new take on the Cinderella story. It has all the qualities of a romance, sci-fi, mystery story that I was looking forward to. The love birds….two people who come from completely different worlds–a prince of a dying emperor, poised to take over the throne upon his father’s death…and a female mechanic living in the overcrowded New Beijing Commonwealth. They meet by chance and after that there’s lots of Prince Kaito trying to woo tragic little Cinder.Let’s point out the basic Cinderella story qualifiers:1. Evil step-mother [in this case: adoptive] – CHECK2. Father or adoptive father has died and evil mom treats our female protag like crap – CHECK3. Bratty “step-sister” – CHECK (one of them actually loves Cinder)4. An impending ball – CHECK5. Creatures symbolizing the mice – CHECK (Cinder’s android Iko is hilarious)6. Forbidden to attend ball – CHECK7. Dreamy prince charming – Um…big time CHECKOkay these are the basics that I was looking for…which lend some serious parallelism to the classic story…but what was different made the story go from good to Must. Not. Put. Down. First of all there is a plague that is running rampant through what is left of the Earthen population & cyborgs are being drafted & experimented upon to find the cure for the 100% human population…even the Emperor & Empress (Kai’s parents) were not safe from this lethal, fast-acting disease.Oh and did I mention that there is an entire race of beings that live on the moon? Or Luna as it is called in the story…the Lunars are essentially slaves to the evil queen (another fairytale antagonist!). This story was nothing like I expected…I was actually apprehensive to read it, but it got to the point that I was staying up late, forcing my eyes to stay open and keep reading! I highly recommend this book…there are so many twists and turns, so many mysteries that need to be solved, and the ending will have leave your eyes wide and your jaw dropped. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the Lunar Chronicles….there are so many questions I want answered, so many possible outcomes, and so much adventure to be had! If you’re tired of Cinderella stories, join the club…let’s be honest…Drew Barrymore and ABC Family have seriously beaten this story to a pulp. But what Marissa Meyer has managed to do with her story…is absolutely, without a doubt, BRILLIANT. I look forward to this book (and Miss Meyer) being incredibly successful!

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have just finished my favorite book of the year. Cinder is a re-imagining of the Cinderella story told in a future Earth where a terrible disease is running rampant and the Earth is under threat from the residents of the moon who happen to be able to use mind control.Cinder is a cyborg as a result of a childhood accident. She was adopted by a scientist who then died and left her to the less than tender mercies of a stepmother who despises cyborgs and who uses her as an unappreciated servant. Cinder herself is a gifted mechanic but is also ashamed to be a cyborg. When Prince Kai, heir to the throne of the Eastern Commonwealth, comes to her to repair a broken android, they form a friendship. Though Cinder tries to put him off when he wants her to attend his ball. She knows her stepmother would never allow it and society would not allow a cyborg to attend.When one of Cinder's stepsisters and only friend comes down with the plague, Cinder's stepmother donates Cinder to the cause of medical research. The head doctor has been trying to find a cure and using cyborgs to try out the various serums. He is stepping up his research because the Emperor has come down with the disease. When he sees Cinder he knows that she is someone he has been searching for. He determines that Cinder is immune to the plague and is a lunar herself. The queen of the Lunars wants to marry young Kai and offers to provide a cure to the disease as incentive. It is her first step to conquering the Earth. She is a ruthless woman who is rumored to have killed her sister and her sister's heirs in order to take the throne herself. There has been a long-standing rumor that the former queen's daughter, Princess Selene, did not die but was taken off to Earth. Many people are looking for her in the hopes that she can defeat the evil Queen Levana. Queen Levana would like to find her too.This was a great story filled with action and intrigue. It is also peopled with fascinating characters. Cinder and Kai are both people who seem to live beyond the pages of this book. The world is well-drawn too. I look forward to reading the rest of this trilogy to see what happens. I recommend this story to science fiction fans and adventure fans. They won't be disappointed.

[wisemetis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really really liked this book, and probably would have given it five stars but I figured out the shocking plot twist that was revealed at the very end of the book about two chapters one, so my reading of the book was colored with this knowledge. Also, the book ended on an awful cliffhanger which I generally disapprove of because that means I have to wait for the next book to come out. Even if the overall series story arc isn't complete, the arc within the singular book should be and it wasn't.However, I really loved this unique take on Cinderella. I love fairy tale retellings in general, but this one was completely fresh.Looking forward to book #2, which looks like it will be a Red Riding Hood retelling!

[eomalley_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This review is featured on my blog at RiffsAndReviews.com

Marissa Meyer’s Cinder is a sci-fi retelling of the Cinderella story and is the first in a series, with each book representing a different fairy tale. This version of a classic features a strong, resourceful heroine fighting against difficult odds – as a cyborg she has no rights and actually belongs to her stepmother, and most of society has a deep prejudice against her kind. In addition, a plague is sweeping across the world and cyborgs are being “volunteered” as research subjects for an antidote. When Prince Kai brings one of his androids to her mechanics shop for repair, Cinder also finds herself caught up in a political intrigue that endangers everyone around her and may cost her her life.

Meyer’s universe is well-developed and her vision of Earth after several centuries and two more world wars feels realistic. The characters are relate-able, although the Lunar people are taken a step further and given the ability to manipulate others with their minds. Cinder and Kai are sympathetic characters, yearning to live life on their own terms but unable to do so because of their positions. Some of the story is told from Kai’s point of view, so we get a first-hand look at how he struggles to do what is best for his people against the threat of war with Lunar. Shout-outs to the original fairy tale include a “pumpkin carriage” that Cinder uses to get to the ball, along with a “glass slipper” falling off in a very untimely fashion. A sweet twist in this series is that the heroine may eventually rescue the prince – if she can remain alive long enough.

The one weakness in this story is that the clues to Cinder’s past are very obvious, so many readers will find the revelation at the end rather anti-climatic. However, the fully-realized characters and the captivating storyline are well worth it. I am anxious to see what happens next to Cinder and Kai, and look forward to the rest of the journey Meyer is taking us on. Book two, Scarlet (Little Red Riding Hood), will definitely be on my pre-order list in 2013.