ONTD Book Club discussion

Our former fairy tale!!


Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

So gooooood. I just read it last year but I might re-read it. I can't wait to hear what people think of it.

I'm definitely doing a re-read before April is over!!

I just started reading it last night and finished the first chapter. So I can't really say much but so far the story seems fascinating. I like the setting and the cover is so pretty. I'm reading an epub version but I've been wanting to read the books ever since I saw the book in one of Ameriie's videos, just because it looks amazing :)

Jumped into one of my favourite series and I've only read the first two books. LOVED Cinder.

Hope everyone enjoys it :)

I'm about 50 pages in right now and...this book is pretty dark so far. I expected it to be more fairytale like but it's pretty distopian so far. not a bad thing, I like the book so far.

Ive been wanting to read this book for a while, I finally get to do that!

I read this back in 2011 and don't remember much about it other than thinking that I liked it but wished it had been an adult book so the author could have fleshed things out a bit more (but I often think that about YA).

I actually picked this up because a Sailor Moon fanfic author I'd been following for years is the author of this book. :)

I read them all except Winter and they're pretty interesting.

I hate the sudden romance between the main characters, that's something that YA writers keep doing wrong but I was surprised on how good the sci-fi elements of the story are and how they work so smoothly.

MHJ wrote: "I read them all except Winter and they're pretty interesting.

I hate the sudden romance between the main characters, that's something that YA writers keep doing wrong but I was surprised on how g..."
I know what you mean. I'm about half way now, and nothing between Kai and Cinder has happended and yet he seems sooooo into her...why?? they basically said hi and bye to each other and that's it ><

Liesje Leest wrote: "I know what you mean. I'm about half way now, and nothing between Kai and Cinder has happended and yet he seems sooooo into her...why?? they basically said hi and bye to each other and that's it ><"

lol! exactly. I believe when 2 adults have sex after barely saying hi, but love? tsk...

I got this from Overdrive today! Hurray.

Finished this a few day ago. It was an easy read and I'll probably finish the series, but it brings back why I don't read YA fiction very often. As mentioned above, the serious interest at first meet Kai had for Cinder grated on me but I finished it in a day or so anyway so it clearly wasn't terrible, haha
Also, I want an android now :)

I finished this in a day. It was entertaining and I started the next one already.

by when do we have to finish the book?

Yesternitt wrote: "by when do we have to finish the book?"

The end of the month is the cut off, but we never close discussions, so you can read and revive whenever you want.

Re: the relationship/crush between Cinder and Kai. (view spoiler)[I think he likes her because she doesn't fawn all over him and lose her mind at the sight of him. It sounds like he was kind of a pop star before his father's illness. (hide spoiler)]

I thought the romance was fine, they had good banter and chemistry, but there were times when it felt like they hadn't earned Cinder being comfortable enough to get annoyed with him--it just felt a little rushed.

Also, upon finishing, (view spoiler)[I was kind of annoyed that the entire premise wasn't about her just being a cyborg, since that entire society was kind of messed up in regards to them and that would've been an interesting twist with Kai coming to terms with it -- sort of like how I've seen other Cinderella stories use her lower class status to help him see the struggles of the common people -- IDK, I was just kind of annoyed that she was a cyborg AND a Lunar and oooooobviously Princess Selene. It was too much at once! Can't she JUST be a cyborg, there's plenty to explore there. The point of Cinderella is that she's not a princess yet, so IDK, I felt a little cheated because I love Cinderella retellings and this felt more like a straight-up Snow White retelling.) (hide spoiler)]

Ends on a cliffhanger and I did kinda like it though, so I'll have to see how they shake out.

Mia - I thought the same thing when I read Cinder... I think you can kind of tell that the author was feeling things out. The next book, Scarlet, she starts to hit her stride. The series gets better as it goes along, imo.

Yeah my friend said the first book was her least favorite so I've downloaded Scarlett to my Kindle (plus it's a Red Riding Hood retell and I LOVE that).

I finished Cress, the 3rd book, today. I am certainly enjoying this series! I'm on a pause now while I wait for Winter.

I'd agree that they do get better after the first book. I think because the world building is mostly done and we get to meet Cinder's squad as they are gathered.

Copy of my review:
I think I would have liked this book more if I didn't have such high expectations. So many people on YouTube are gushing over Cinder and I thought it would be amazing...
It's a good book, the setting is interesting, the way the Cinderella story is told is seems really original too me and the story is fast paced. But it's also very predictable at times (view spoiler)[I can't be the only one who knew Cinder was the missing princes from the moment she was mentioned right? (hide spoiler)] , the love story was somewhat unbelievable/too fast en too convenient and I wish the characters would have had a bit more personality. I heard the series gets better as it goes on, so I do think I will pick up the next book. The cliffhanger ending is good enough for me to want more. It's not a bad book, I was just expecting more.

Jess wrote: "Re: the relationship/crush between Cinder and Kai. [spoilers removed]" Maybe it's her (view spoiler)[glamour/magic that she is unaware of? Still don't like it.... (hide spoiler)]

Liesje Leest wrote: "Copy of my review:
I think I would have liked this book more if I didn't have such high expectations. So many people on YouTube are gushing over Cinder and I thought it would be amazing...
It's a ..."

I guessed that immediately and rolled my eyes. It felt like too much all at once, but I don't think the relationship was super fast, I think the author just didn't give enough small moments to establish what was happening (although I didn't see true love, I saw attraction and Kai being a doof who maybe needs to step it up in the royal leadership department).

Liesje Leest wrote: "Jess wrote: "Re: the relationship/crush between Cinder and Kai. [spoilers removed]" Maybe it's her [spoilers removed]"

I think it is in the third book, but he essentially says that it is a combination of both (view spoiler)[ - her glamour frightens him and he likes that she doesn't treat him like he's any different than Wolf or Thorne. (hide spoiler)]

Cahe wrote: "I actually picked this up because a Sailor Moon fanfic author I'd been following for years is the author of this book.."

That's why I've been wanting to read this! Love me some Alicia Blade.

I enjoyed this - especially the quick read, draw me in aspects. I've already started the next one