|| Versions Owned: ARC, Paperback, Hardcover, Spanish PB, Polish PB, audiobook (Audible) || 
 Original review4.5 stars 
 Well, I never quite got to the amazing 5 star rating that everyone else did but this sure was a great book! YES, cyborg Cinderella. Who'd have thought? It was a unique take on the classic fairy tale and left me with quite an ending that I MUST pick up Scarlet now! Good things it's on its way :) 
 Full review originally posted on The Book Addict's Guide: Yes, I FINALLY read CINDER, you guys!!! It's about time, I know. I had put it off so long because come on. Cyborg Cinderella? Moon people? No way was I going to like that story. It just seemed impossible. But thanks to all of the encouragements and gentle aggressive prods from my fellow bloggers, I knew this was one that I really had to try before judging so quickly! 
 So, Cinder. Yes, she's a cyborg. I'm not a big fan of sci-fi as far as robots and the like go so I wasn't really sure how this would come off, but really it seemed quite natural in the story. I guess I also wasn't really clear on what a cyborg actually was because it's not like Cinder is a robot (which is kind of how I was picturing it) - No, she was once a fully living and breathing person, all whole and intact until after a tragic accident (which she can't remember), a scientist put Humpty Dumpty back together again (oops, wrong fairy tale) with robotic parts, from limbs to internal wiring. Now you'd think everyone would be like "Hey, cool, you've got these awesome abilities!" but not in New Beijing. Cyborgs are treated as less than human, so not only does Cinder have to deal with her wicked step-mother, but everyone else treats her like dirt too. 
 Okay, enough plot recap. Now let's talk about how I felt about it. 
 Ummm. Wow! I admit, maybe it was the hype about the book that I didn't quite make it to the five-star rating that a lot of people have given it, but CINDER truly stands on its own as far as retellings go. I was really impressed with how much we see of the classic Cinderella tale we see in CINDER, but also how original it is in its own right. I was actually really impressed with the science fiction aspects of the book -- like Cinder's cyborginess (shh, that's a word) and even the presence of the androids seemed totally natural. I was incredibly wary about the Lunars at first - I mean, a moon nation? Nuh uh. No way -- but the way they were so different yet so similar to the Earthen people made for some really interesting plot turns and even villains. There IS a lot of sci-fi in the book, but it's done so well (and I may have even caught a Star Wars scene tucked in there?) that I think it's absolutely enjoyable by people who don't like science fiction or dystopians. 
 The ending of the book was brilliant and really got me gripped in the last 100 pages or so. Now I cannot wait for to read Scarlet (secret: I've heard it's even better than CINDER) and good thing I have amazing friends who are sending me their ARC copy to borrow!! YAY! 
 Re-read Impressions 5/20/15: YES!!! *fist pump* This was exactly what I needed and like all re-reads, I am SO GLAD that it's just as awesome the second time around. I think this is still a 4.5 for me but that's mostly because I know what kind of mind-bombs come in the second and third books plus romances plus action plus stories for ALL of the girls, so yeah! I love the layers. 
 Anyway! I'm SO happy that I re-read. Firstly, the audio is amazing. The narrator is fantastic and I thought she did a really great job with all of the voices as well as inflection. (Sometimes narrators are just flat, you know?) Secondly, I'm SO glad that I really got to know these characters better. It was great having already read FAIREST so I was able to have more insight on Levana (although you do have a lot from CINDER alone). I really feel much more connected to Cinder now and the audio actually gave me a better emotional connection to her. She felt a lot sassier! Since CRESS was the first time I finally really made a BIG emotional connection with Cinder and Kai, I was glad to have that established already and then go back to the beginning of their story. 
 Still love the Cinderella parallels. Still love the surprises. Loved seeing Cress!!! And all of the allusions to people and places that I know having read the first three books and going back to the first. 
 So excited to continue my re-reads! Cannot wait!