I have to admit, the cover turned me off this book. I wasn't going to give it a second thought! But after hearing countless praises and such, I decided to review it for the DAC 2012 tours. Boy, was I happily mistaken! I loved this book! 
 Now the list of Cinderella retellings runs over a mile-long, I'm sure, but this story is uniquely twisted. In addition to being set in an alternate and futuristic China, which I love since hardly any books have an Asian setting, this isn't just your typical mistreated girl with step-sisters who meets a handsome prince. Cinder has a very important past and many hidden secrets that even though I easily figured out, it made the tale quite different from your average, run-of-the-mill Cinderella retelling. I mean, one of the step-sisters is even nice & likable! 
 The prince was especially charming, even though we don't get much of him, but each time is highly enjoyable. So sweet and playful, I could definitely see myself falling for a guy like him, prince or no prince. My favorite character though would have to be Iko, Cinder's beloved little robot. I imagine her as this cute, funny little robot who is always on Cinder's side and even though she doesn't understand much of the world, has some very insightful thoughts. I loved reading each and every part with Iko in it, as she added a bit of fun and lightness to the book. 
 Now you might be turned off by all the sci-fi, cyborgs aspect of this book, but let me assure you, it was worked into the book in a very fun, creative, and enjoyable way that didn't make me feel like I was reading a documentary. The book ends at a very pivotal moment, as per the usual with books in a series, and I'm dying to know what happens next. Another great thing about this book is that Cinder is an awesome female lead. She's smart, resourceful, brave, and stubborn. You know how I love a witty, tough girl-kind of female lead. 
 Everything flowed really nicely and I honestly couldn't put it down. Marissa Meyer did an excellent job of creating a unique world and memorable characters that everyone will love. I'd gladly recommend this to any and all my friends and bookworms.