- Cinderella with a twist - So anyone who's been around this blog for longer than a week understands I'm a sucker for good fairy tale retellings. I know there are a million of them out there, but I think that makes it even more impressive when someone like Marissa Meyer is able to take a story that is so familiar and has been almost overdone and make it fresh and new and completely recognizable and completely different at the same time. I pretty much knew how most of the story threads were going to end up (and I was right across the board) BUT I didn't know how we were going to get there and in this book the journey is absolutely everything.
- The Eastern Commonwealth - It was very refreshing to read a book that wasn't set in North America. I have nothing against books set there, whether dystopia, post-apocalyptic, or otherwise. However, it is nice to see someone think in a different direction. I think it also helped to set this story apart in a good way.
- Letumosis - Okay, I know that sounds really really weird. Like I shouldn't be liking the horrible disease ravaging the population, leading to painful deaths. But I appreciate the background details like this. Letumosis raises the stakes. It gives the characters something ELSE to fight against - not just the people - and it makes the world more fully developed.
- Iko - Oh my goodness Iko. Everyone should have their own little robot to share secrets with and talk about everything. And she's pretty handy to have around the house or workshop too. I adored her crush on Kai.
- Peony - How much do I love that one of Cinder's sisters actually liked her and got along with her. Their friendship is so sweet.
- Dr. Erland - At first I did not like him at all, but he grew on me until at the end I was totally rooting for him. And that is all I am going to say on that point because I do not want to give away any spoilers.
- The ending - I knew going into it that this was a series. But I wasn't expecting that much of a cliffhanger! I didn't mind because Scarlet just came out, but if I'd had to wait a year it would have been so much harder. Still the ending is great to leave all kinds of things open so many more delicious books can come out!
- The larger political picture - this ties in with Letumosis and the Eastern Commonwealth. I just really really really really appreciated that Meyer took the whole world into account. I think the meeting of the leaders of the world was one of my favorite scenes - not because of what happened or anything, but simply because it was THERE. This acknowledgement that there is a whole world that will be affected and is being affected by the things that take place in this one part of it.
- Cinder - But of course! I am loving the heroines in these YA books recently. I have read so many great books with really strong female leads who are developed as PEOPLE first and it is fantastic. I love Cinder's determination, her grit, her talent. I love that she is a genius at fixing things and not just because she's a cyborg. I love her flaws and that she chooses to do the right thing despite and in spite of those flaws. I love that she struggled. I love that she persevered. I love that I get to read more about her in Scarlet.
- Kai - I am really not one to crush on fictional characters a lot, but I've had a plethora of options in recent YA fiction as well. Kai is wonderful. I love the relationship that organically develops between him and Cinder and I love how seriously he takes his responsibilities while still being his own person (with a great sense of humor I might add).
So there you have it. Did I miss anything you liked? Do tell. I kept away from spoilers here, but feel free to spoil away in the comments!
1 comment:
I've seen that around everywhere but I was a little afraid to read it - I didn't want to be disappointed. Now I'll have to add that to my list!
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