Wow. This book was definitely a whirlwind, and I'm looking forward to Scarlett because of the suggestions of trusted reviewers and friends, but I can see why some people say this book falls a little flat.
For those who don't know, Cinder is a spin-off of the much beloved tale, Cinderella, and it keeps just enough elements of the fairytale to delight, but not enough that the story feels bogged down or predictable. In fact I was highly entertained by all the sci-fi aspects and had no trouble understanding the technology. I actually found the whole idea quite refreshing and original.
In New Beijing 126years after World War IV, Cinder is a renowned mechanic who happens to be a cyborg (think slavery with the whole "second class citizen" and "belonging to an owner" thing), and she is therefore completely at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and owner.
A lot of cringing went on in this book, as the author constructs an oppressive feeling of claustrophobia around you. Cinder is completely powerless in multiple ways: Legally, she is bound to her "mother" and has no ability to create any financial freedom for herself. All her earnings automatically go to Adri (the "mother/owner") who is neglectful of her to the point of forcing her to limp wearing a tiny cyborg foot that should belong to an eleven year old. Physically, she is bound to New Beijing and her home/work. Adri can, at any point, call the police to come pick Cinder up if she can't find her or if she wanders somewhere Adri doesn't like because she's legally her property. Power also binds her as she becomes acquainted with people who, like it or not, can order her where to be and when to be there. She's also bound by hopelessness in the face of disease, as so many people are—watching a loved one suffer and knowing in all likelihood they will die is gut wrenching to read, and I can't even imagine the pain of those that live through that experience.
The end result is someone so wrapped up in secrets, hiding from things from enemies, acquaintances, and friends alike. It was definitely well done.
I also enjoyed the general writing style. Descriptions and the plot flowed easily through the story, and the little dribbles of Cinderella were a delight to find and mull over. This was an overall enjoyable read and I'd recommend it:)
However... my issue was with anything outside the main action. We sprang from important event to important event, but I never really got a sense of where she lived, her routines, her favorite foods... really anything different or important about her personality or where she lived. The New Beijing thing felt kinda fake to me. It might as well have been New York or Paris for all we could tell.
Also, I never really got the "why" of the romance. The author does a good job of not making it insta-love, and all the ingredients are there for an epic romance, and yet...? The only thing you really need to ask to rock the "Prince Kai and Cinder" boat is why?
Why Cinder? Why not one of the hundreds of women who are doubtless educated, beautiful, and elite, and are probably pretty available to the Prince of the Eastern Commonwealth? What makes Kai so grounded when compared to most powerful young men? What was so intriguing about this one girl, that caused him to pursue her? For that matter, were there other romantic flings before Cinder?
When we are reading from Kai's perspective, he never really seems to think about her. Did he find that oil spot on her forehead endearing? Maybe he loves her shy smile? The fact that she works with her hands must be something that's very unique when compared to the other women he knows. Did he ever ponder that? Wonder what she's doing right at that moment while he's walking across the palace? What intrigued him about an average girl who is, in all likelihood, very similar to the other servants he surrounds himself with?
Also, side note, why is Kai such a bad diplomat? Whining to his ambassadors, cracking jokes at inappropriate times...it just doesn't seem like this is a job he's been training his whole life for—this would have been cool if it had been related to his grief over his father dying, but it isn't spun that way. In fact he never mentions his father again after he dies. What the heck?
So I did end up bashing pretty hard here, but that doesn't change the fact that I really enjoyed it and am on to Scarlett next, even as we speak.
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