First in the Lunar Chronicles series, this futuristic twist on Cinderella retains just enough of the original that readers will enjoy spotting the subtle similarities. But debut author Meyer's brilliance is in sending the story into an entirely new, utterly thrilling dimension. Cinder is a talented teenage mechanic and cyborg-part human, part robot-who has been living in New Beijing with a demanding adoptive mother and two stepsisters, ever since her late stepfather took Cinder in after a hovercraft accident. Several events abruptly turn Cinder's world upside down: a chance meeting with the handsome Prince Kai has her heart racing; a plague pandemic threatens her beloved sister Peony; Cinder learns she is immune to the plague; and the evil Lunar Queen Levana arrives on Earth, scheming to marry Kai. Though foreshadowing early on makes it fairly clear where the story is headed, it unfolds with the magic of a fairy tale and the breakneck excitement of dystopian fiction. Meyer's far-future Earth is richly imagined, full of prejudice and intrigue, characters easy to get invested in, and hints of what might await in future books. Ages 12-up. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Sci-fi meets fairy tale in this futuristic Cinderella story blending androids, hovercrafts, and netscreens with royalty, a ball, and an evil stepmother. With no memory of her life before becoming a cyborg, teenage Linh Cinder lives with her guardian stepmother and two stepsisters after her adoptive stepfather's death. She's treated as subhuman and forced to earn the family's living as a mechanic, but her life changes after an encounter with New Beijing's Prince Kai. Kai and Cinder are drawn to each other, even as she hides her cyborg identity and feelings from him, believing they can never be together. Soon Cinder is involved in finding a cure for a plague that's decimating Earth's population and also helping in Kai's search for the missing heir to the Lunar throne, who (unlike the current, brutal Lunar queen) he hopes will be sympathetic to Earth's plight. Debut author Meyer ingeniously incorporates key elements of the fairy tale into this first series entry. Early foreshadowing makes the cliffhanger ending involving Cinder's true identity rather predictable, but the novel is full of enough twists and turns, complex characters, and detailed world-building to redeem itself. While nearly the entire Cinderella story plays itself out here, Cinder's unfinished journey, together with Meyer's vivid sci-fi world, will leave readers anticipating the next installment. cynthia k. ritter From HORN BOOK, Copyright The Horn Book, used with permission.

(Science fiction/fairy tale. 12-15)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

There's a lot of moving parts in this fresh spin on Cinderella, the first in a four-book series. First, we've moved from a fairy-tale kingdom to a post-World War IV future in New Beijing. Plagued by her stepmother and shunned by society for being a cyborg, Cinder keeps her head down as the city's best mechanic until she catches the eye of the dashing Prince Kai. He's got matters of state to worry about, though, including an incurable plague and the ever-present threat of war from the moon-people, known as Lunars. The over-the-top, spiteful cruelty that dogs the heroine from all sides is a little too cartoonish to take seriously when retrofitted from fairy tale to science fiction, and it's best not to ponder things like why such a technologically advanced civilization would get into such a tizzy about a fancy-dress ball. Still, readers will enjoy lining up the touchstones from the old favorite, and Meyer brings a good deal of charm and cleverness to this entertaining, swiftly paced read.--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2010 Booklist

Gr 9 Up-The Earth of the future is beset by a plague and under threat of invasion by the Lunar people, residents of the moon. Teenage cyborg, Linh Cinder, is despised by her stepmother and forced to work as a mechanic to provide an income for her guardian and stepsisters. Cinder is the best mechanic in New Beijing and her skills are sought by Prince Kai to fix his personal android and recover the important data the machine possesses. Her life is irrevocably altered when her younger stepsister contracts the deadly letumosis and Cinder is sent by her stepmother as a "volunteer" for plague research, a fate no other cyborg has survived. Yet survive she does, and the implications of her unique physiology will have far-reaching consequences for the commonwealth and, possibly, the planet. Marissa Meyer's debut novel (Feiwel & Friends, 2012), the first in a planned quartet, presents a retelling of Cinderella with all the recognizable elements woven into this original, futuristic story. Narrator Rebecca Soler captures the determination and independence that make Cinder a compelling character despite the predictability of her true identity. Though not without flaws, the story will keep listeners engaged and awaiting the subsequent titles-Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.