This is an interesting, very original, dystopian take on Cinderella set in a futuristic China. Cinder is a cyborg mechanic who is the main support of her family - her stepmother Adri and her stepsisters Pearl and Peony. Adri and Pearl treat Cinder like a slave. While Peony thinks of Cinder like a sister, she won't stand up for her either. Cinder is basically on her own with only her android friend Iko to help her. Cinder also has to deal with prejudice due to the fact she is a cyborg. Regular humans see her as something less than human. Everything changes when Prince Kai, the heir to the throne, comes to Cinder wanting her to repair his android. Things aren't the same for either of them after that.

I enjoyed Cinder. Marissa Meyer did a very good job of turning the Cinderella story on its head and making it seem fresh again. Unlike Cinderella, Cinder doesn't want for a prince to rescue her - she takes an active role. She knows she can only rely on herself, especially after her two closest allies are lost to her.

The only part that rings hollow to me is the inconsistency of the security measures taken against the plague that is terrorizing China. Sick people are rounded up and taken away, but the prince holds a ball with hundreds of guests? (Look up the influence pandemic of 1918.) However, this wouldn't really be a Cinderella story without a ball, would it? That's not enough of an issue for me to lower my rating.

I look forward to reading the next volume in the series, [b:Scarlet|18139931|Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2)|Marissa Meyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1385187788s/18139931.jpg|18390691].