Introducing: MY FAVOURITE BOOK SERIES EVER. Willow here, and let me tell you how much I love the Lunar Chronicles:
Not only is book one FANTASTIC, but so is the whole series. I mean, maybe I don’t love book two, but for a whole series to be epic? That’s rare.
Re-reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer was an absolute treat. It’s been long enough that I’ve forgotten a lot of details, so while the general plot and twists aren’t a surprise, the journey is once again a magical discovery.
I was a little worried that I’d inflated my memories of enjoyment, but every chapter was a pleasure. I couldn’t put the book down! The writing is clear and emotive, the pacing is crisp and tense, the characters are either a joy to hate or utterly loveable.
Not a single side-character is wasted space. Iko, Peony, Doctor Erland, Torin, Sybil – everyone serves a purpose, their personalities are distinct, and their motives are woven into their every action. I am in awe at how thoroughly planned this series is – so many hints about the action in book four are laid out in book one. Like, wow. Did Marissa Meyer really plan the whole four books ahead of writing? I can honestly believe it and I’m genuinely impressed.
The protagonists – Kai and Cinder – are belivable and altruistic people. It’s just nice to root for two people who are insecure for very understandable reasons and who intend to do the right thing, even if it doesn’t benefit themselves.
I clap for joy that Lauren read this faster than me. She equally adored it and just ugh, yes. YES. This book series moves and inspires and engrosses. I love it.
Lauren here – I asked Willow about 5 years ago if she had a good book recommendation, and Cinder was her response without hesitation.
So, I opened up my phone’s post-it note app and there sat the reminder to ‘read Cinder’ for the next few years.
It’s safe to say that this book was well worth the wait! Literally could not put it down. Loved Cinder, loved Kai, loved all the other characters including Queen Levana, who was a great baddy.
There was so much tension! From the first mention of Princess Selene I had my suspicions (and so did Willow when she first read it) that Cinder was the presumed dead princess, so for the whole story I was looking for more evidence and waiting on tenterhooks to find out. Suspense was also added with us waiting to find out how Kai would react to Cinder’s, erm… metal parts.
I really enjoyed the nods to the original Cinderella story, with Cinder arriving to the ball in a beat up orange car, and her losing her foot instead of a glass slipper. All we needed was a talking mouse, but I guess we did have the lovely Iko – an artificial intelligence robot.*
*Willow interjection: Now you’ve said this, Iko makes me think of EVE from the film Wall-e!
I am so upset that the next book doesn’t focus entirely on Cinder and Kai’s story, but Willow has assured me we WILL find out what happens to them! Can’t wait to read the next one. Scarlet, here we come.
Willow H. Wood 
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