4/5 stars
This book was perfect for me. I love fairy tales, love re-tellings (hello Once Upon A Time, my new TV love), but I'm also a bit of a nerd. The idea of taking a classic magical fairytale and giving it a sci-fi twist probably makes more excited than I should admit. It's like taking all my favorite things and mushing them together.
I absolutely loved this book. A dystopian future seems to be the perfect setting for fairytale retellings. Cinder has it's dark moments, much like traditional fairy tales, without ever becoming dreary. Let's not forget that fairytales were originally much darker before Disney got ahold of them. Part of me wants to see more dystopian sci-fi fairytales, but then again I doubt most would work quite as well as this novel.
For me the book was a quick read, a book where I started reading and just couldn't stop. The concept was something I immediately loved. I found the character of Cinder believable, the motivations of her evil stepmother and sister believable.
Even once the romance with the prince started (seriously it's Cinderella that is not a spoiler. I know you've at least seen one of the many movies) it worked for me. It was more of a friendship with potential, which is where any relationship should start. His motivations were also believable. I have issues with "love at first sight" stories, and it's hard to retell a fairytale without somehow facing that monster. Cinder did it well, changing the story just enough for a more jaded reader like myself. Fairytales aren't normally believable, but I like retellings that are.
I'm a lover of good sarcasm. Both Cinder and the Prince have a tendency to snark. It makes them feel more realistic and relatable to me.
"I'm sure I'll feel much more grateful when I find a guy who thinks complex wiring in a girl is a turn-on." - Cinder"Right," said Kai, "that'll be no problem in a city of two and a half million people. Let me go dig out my special Lunar detector, and I'll get right on that." - Prince Kai
I know there were some parts of this book that weren't perfect, parts that I may have rushed through and ignored because it didn't bother me. I was too engrossed to get bogged down by imperfections. I don't know if that makes me a flawed reviewer or a smart reader.
And maybe some people might think the twist at the end is a little predictable. I predicted it 11% into the ebook. But it felt more like foreshadowing. When the revelation came I was like "TOLD YOU SO!" and then I did a happy dance because apparently I'm a 5-year-old.
This is one of the most unique concepts that I've read in awhile. I love that this book has a sequel, because now that I've had a taste of sci-fi Cinderella I already want more.
2 comments:
I have this one waiting for me on my bookshelf that I got from a Trade-Show. Hopefully I'll be able to get to it soon!
It's a fun read! I got it via Netgalley. Sometimes I think it'd be nice to have physical ARC...then I look around my room at all the books I already have.
I think you'll like it (of course my knowledge of your reading is based to a mutual love ofHex Hall but since Cinder has some sarcasm I think it's a valid base).
Post a Comment