Marissa Meyer
Originally published January 2012
Diamond Gable rating: ◆◆◆◆◇

Cinder is the first book in a 4-book series (with additional novellas):

1. Cinder, published January 2012 (showing newest book cover)
2. Scarlet, published February 2013
3. Cress, published February 2014
4. Winter, published November 2015

These are imaginative stories reminiscent of Grimm folktale heroines.

Cinder. First book in the popular The Lunar Chronicles series, this YA book is a futuristic story of a girl with a third of her body “repaired” with electronic implants and mechanical appendages. In the vein of Cinderella, she’s treated poorly by her step-mother and two step-sisters, but there’s minor deviations from the fairy tale and unexpected events that keep the story fresh. I wanted to know more about Cinder’s and Prince Kai’s thoughts about each other, but the plot moves along with little time for that. Looking ahead, I’m intrigued to see how Meyer continues Cinder’s quest while adding the stories of Scarlet (Red Riding Hood), Cress (Rapunzel), and Winter (Snow White). Told in third person omniscient viewpoint and ends happily for now.