A science fiction re-imagining of the classic Cinderella, Cinder thoughtfully combines comfortable tropes and dystopian twists.
I couldn’t put this book down. It did a really good job of both being exactly what I expected and also surprising me in little ways. It has all the tropes you would expect of a dystopian novel featuring a female lead, but in a really really good way.
Classic Fairytale Basis
Since it followed the story of Cinderella, you feel like you already know a lot about the main character, Cinder. She has an evil stepmother, she has two sisters that are valued more than her. Her stepmother doesn’t want Cinder to go to the ball. And, importantly, you know that Cinder is good; you know she’s the hero here.
And of course, there’s going to be a prince. He’s charming and kind and you also know that he is good.
Some people might feel like it’s a little heavy-handed or too predictable, but I really enjoyed how all the big pieces made sense and didn’t catch my off-guard. I really like how comfortable and familiar the story felt. Of course there were a lot of elements that were unexpected, but it still felt like slipping into an old world you already knew.
Marissa Meyer’s Dystopia
But then the dystopian twists come in. There is a deadly contagious disease going around, and the scientists are trying to find a cure. Unlike the fairytale, everyone is scared of something. Even if it isn’t the disease, every character is scared of something.
This added a looming darkness and weight to everything. It wasn’t just a story of a girl who falls in love, it’s about the fate of the planet. It’s life or death. It’s war hanging in the balance. And I think Marissa Meyer did an amazing job combining all of these elements.
Despite the dark and painful themes, Marissa Meyer also does a good job not making it too heavy. The plot lines and the characters still feel light-hearted sometimes and there’s enough intermittent comedic relief so as to not sadden the reader too much.
You’ll Like Cinder if you Liked …
The Selection Series by Kiera Cass
This series has a similar theme as Cinder. I mainly connect these two series because books felt the same. They both feel familiar because they pull on well-known tropes.
And while the added dystopian elements are dark, they are not depressing. There’s something light-hearted about the way the author brings in the horror of the world they live in.
Conclusion
I loved this book because it took something comfortable and made it a lot more exciting without being too deep and heavy. I liked that the dystopian elements were not as heavy they are in a lot of other series because I don’t like it when books make me profoundly sad. And the comfortable tropes made me feel like I already knew the world we were in.
If you like lighter dystopian novels with strong female leads, this is a must read!
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