Cinder by Marissa Meyer is not your average fairy tale. In this twist on the classic story, Cinderella is Linh Cinder, a cyborg and the best mechanic in New Beijing. Set in a futuristic society where the moon has been colonized, Cinder takes place in New Beijing, capital of the Eastern Commonwealth. Cyborgs are considered second-class citizens in New Beijing, and Cinder in particular is considered to be the property of her step-mother. The only person in her family who doesn’t hate her is her younger stepsister, Peony. Her only friend is her android, Iko. New Beijing is being ravaged by a deadly plague that kills within days of contamination, and Peony has just been infected. Blamed for her stepsister’s illness, Cinder is sold as a test subject for plague research. …show more content…
The two strike up an unlikely friendship, and Kai shows obvious interest in getting to know Cinder better. However, if he knew she was a cyborg, he might not be so interested. In addition to dealing with the plague, the Eastern Commonwealth is being pressured by the Lunar Kingdom to accept an alliance that would unite the detestable Lunar Queen Levana and soon to be Emperor Kai in marriage. If they do not accept, the Lunars will declare war on the Earth. Cinder just wants to focus on getting out of New Beijing and out from under the oppressive thumb of her stepmother. However, discoveries about her past might be the key to finding a cure that will save her stepsister and saving the Earth from a disastrous