Originally reviewed at Christa's Hooked on Books 
 Cinder is a completely original take on a classic tale. I've read a lot of re-tellings but for me this one really stands out. It combines all the entrancing characteristics of our traditional fairy tales - overcoming obstacles, a whirlwind romance, hope in the face of despair. The type of stuff that makes you sigh after you read it. What makes Cinder remarkable, however, is that Marissa Meyer has combined all that with what is arguably my favourite genre - science fiction. It made the story more grimy, more edgy. It made the story of Cinderella way more exciting. 
 If all that wasn't enough Marissa Meyer has added in Sailor Moon references! She's a former writer of Sailor Moon fanfiction, and you can clearly see how it has influenced her work here. Some of the references are more obvious - like the idea of a Moon Kingdom - while others are more subtle. This was a welcome and just plain awesome throwback to my time as a teen, running home to watch the newest episode of Sailor Moon, and it also feeds into my current addiction to the reissues of the traditional manga series. 
 There are a few details about this book that were less than fantastic. I felt like the characters could have been developed a little bit more and I personally could have used a little more background information. However, I found this in line with most fairy tales, so it didn't really bother me all that much. Those teeny tiny flaws can also be overlooked as Cinder touches on some more serious social issues. Cyborgs (like Cinder) are treated like second class citizens and used as test subjects. This more serious turn gave a much needed edge to the story and is what will keep this book of my shelves for years to come. 
 Cinder is the first book in a series of four. Each will approach a different, well known, fairy tale. I can't wait to see her take on other fairy tales in the rest of the Lunar Chronicles and how she blends them in this futuristic setting. If you haven't read Cinder yet, I highly recommend you do. It's a great way to start off 2012!