I loved this book on so many different levels! It will be near impossible to put into words everything I feel about this book, but I'll sure give it a try. 
 This was, by far, the best fairy tale adaptation that I have ever read. I loved that it wasn't as simple as happily-ever-after, and the sci-fi twist was brilliantly written. This future earth, post WWIV, had enough detail to be believable, but left enough to the imagination so that I was able to paint my own pictures. 
 Disney's Cinderella is a classic, but it shows a perfect world, where the fairy godmother introduces Cinderella to the handsome prince, who never bats an eye about marrying beneath his status. And then, there's Cinderella, herself, who so demurely allows herself to be whisked away by magic and royalty. 
 No one needs to be told that the real world doesn't work like that. 
 Meyer's Cinder is not demure. Neither does she have a fairy godmother to do all the work for her. Because of that, she is forced to be brave and independent, taking her fate into her own hands. Cinder makes the ideal role model for young girls. 
 Likewise, the prince is far from Disney's portrayal. He is being squeezed between the good of the people and his own desires, and there is no right decision. 
 There is no promise of a happily ever after, and because of that, I look forward to the next book in the series; I want to find out how wrong things can go before they get better.