Book Review: Cinder by Melissa Landers (SPOILER FREE)

Even in the future, the story begins with Once Upon a Time...

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl...

Sixteen-year-old Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past and is reviled by her step-mother. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future. Because there is something unusual about Cinder, something that others would kill for.

When I first held the book in my hand and read the word "cyborg," I had to take a second look. Cyborg? I thought. Never in my life had I read a book with cyborgs. That immediately caught my attention. I decided to give the book a try although I was not much of sci-fi reader. And gosh, I am so glad I bought it.

If you haven't noticed yet, Cinder is the story of Cinderella retold with a science-fictional badass twist to it. A fairy tale? Robots? Lunar people? A cute Asian prince? Honestly, what could be better?

The story takes place in New Beijing which was built after the fourth World War. Androids roam the place along with humans and basically everything is controlled with high-tech gadgets. Normal cars don't even exist anymore. Instead they were replaced with hovers: floating cars. (Yes, our flying-cars-in-the-future theory came true. *cheers*) 

The main character, Cinder, who's half cyborg is sort of an outcast since cyborgs are greatly looked down upon in that time. She's an expert mechanic, nothing special, really. UNTIL, of course, the tension between earthens and lunars (people who live on the moon..say what?) gets stronger and things begin to change. Cinder suddenly finds herself in a sticky situation (many sticky situations) and has to try to somehow sort things out. I really liked Cinder. Like, really really really liked her. She's so relatable and genuine. She's not this perfectly pretty main character. I mean, she's missing a hand and a foot, so... But even with her missing parts, she's still beautiful, from the inside and out, and I love that. I enjoy when authors make their characters flawed and not boringly perfect.

Now, let's not forget Prince Kai. I know I literally just said that it's boring when characters are perfect, but Prince Kai is an exception. He is beyond the definition of perfect, but gosh do I still adore him. Unf. All I'm gonna say is that Prince Kai is the sexiest Asian guy you will ever read about. (So go read the book!)

This book was a total attention grabber. Every chapter somehow leaves you hanging and you just can't help yourself, you have to keep reading to find out what the hell is going to happen next. This book made me so anxious but I loved it! I was at the very edge of my seat the entire time! Before I knew it I had finished the book in only a day. You don't even notice the time fly by. 

Please, please, please do me a favor and go read this book! Trust me, you will not regret it. Marissa Meyer is an amazing author and I thank her for writing the amazing Lunar Chronicles! I cannot wait to read Scarlet! 

Rating:

5/5 Stars

Where She Went - Book Review (Spoiler Free)

Wow, I am just...speechless. I am such an emotional wreck right now and can feel my eyes swelling with tears. I honestly didn't want the story to end and would give anything for there to be a third book. 

When I first read If I Stay, to be completely honest, I was not impressed. In fact, I was quite the opposite: disappointed. I had heard of all the hype over the book but when I finally read it, it was not as great as I expected it to be. 

However, Where She Went is an entirely different story. I adored it from beginning to end and was so enthralled that I read it in just a day. 

This book is truly something else. I relate to both Adam and Mia so well it almost feels like they're real, normal human beings. It makes me sad that they don't actually exist..

This is easily one of my favorite novels now. With no doubt, I can guarantee that you will love it and that it will bring you to tears (or at least close to). 

A story with everything from desperation, confusion, anger, relief...you name it. Gayle Forman authentically portrayed the beauty of true love, and both the good and bad that comes with it.

My star rating: 

5/5 

City of Heavenly Fire - Review (Warning: Spoilers)

WARNING: This review may contain some spoilers, so please read at your own risk!

City. Of. Heavenly. Freaking. Fire. AH!

My mind is just: afasdfawbvsfdvbhu

I'm sure your mind was like that too after you finished reading it.

This book was the epitome of a perfect ending to a perfect series, making it beyond perfect all together. My feels are over the top, flooding with joy. I love Cassandra Clare so much. She is the Queen of Fantasy. The QUEEN.

I remember thinking before the book: Oh God, Cassie's going to kill off all my favorite characters. I just know it! I don't think I'll be able to handle it...

After having been quite traumatized by the unexpected ending in Allegiant, and having read all of John Green's emotional stories as well, I became sure that Cassie Clare was also probably going to finish off her series with some horrible losses.

But no. That was not the case at all.

First off, I'd like to say that there were deaths, just not any scarring ones. All the most important characters lived on and I remember feeling so completely, utterly relieved. Thank you, Cassie. Thank you. I feel like killing off meaningful characters, especially main characters, would have been quite disappointing and story-ruining (if that's even a word). I feel like there is a limit to how far you can go with death in a story (depending on the situation, of course) and I feel like Clare did really well with not crossing that line. I'm not trying to point fingers at any authors who have done so in their books (*cough cough* Roth, Green *cough cough*), by all means, it is their story, their work, and they can do whatever they please. But what I am trying to say is that Cassandra Clare probably wrote the best ending I have ever read. She perfectly tied the entire series together with a last book that had a little bit of everything. All the good stuff. And I honor her for that.

Second, I loved, just loved how much closer all the characters became in this last book. I feel like so much occurred in those 725 pages that I got to connect with the characters on such a higher level. It was amazing how Clare allowed us to see the weaker side of her characters. From Clary to Magnus. All of them. Personally, I feel like it truly made my bond with them stronger (which means there's a less chance that I'll ever forget about this book). When Clary, Jace, Simon, Isabelle, and Alec first arrived into the demon realm, they each were shown a dream of what they loved or desired the most. In some cases it was a person, in others it was a certain dream-life. These dreams were given to them by a demon on entering the demon realms. I remember reading their dreams and being on the verge of tears on seeing what could have been but couldn't, on seeing what they longed for so badly, but knew they could never have. For example, Clary having Sebastian as just her normal brother Jonathan. Or Isabelle, getting Max back. Or Alec, getting complete approval from his father. Of course, these dreams each had something slightly wrong with them since the demon could not efficiently transfer what they loved into a perfect dream. After reading it though, I just remember feeling like I had become one step closer to each of them. This goes for Magnus as well. When he was dying in the cell, just seeing him weak that way with no magic, shine or glamour—so vulnerable—I felt like I got to know him. Like we were not just acquaintances, but friends. (P.S. I love you Magnus! You're one of my favorites.)

Enough with the sad parts though, I need to spill about how I also laughed so damn much in this story, it's crazy. Can I just state that I absolutely ADORED Alec's sass? I've always had this special spot for Alec. I LOVE YOU. You made me laugh the most. (P.S. I really hope you and Magnus get married in TDA!!! #OTP) 

Speaking of OTP...Clace! Clary and Jace finally did it! Yay for Clace sexy time! I remember just sitting on my bed literally squealing the entire time during Clary and Jace's sex scene. I just couldn't believe it was actually happening. After 5 books of waiting, I was beginning to grow sort of impatient! So you cannot believe how happy I was when Clace made love. (Points for Cassie for also knowing how to write really good love scenes.)

Well guys, I think that's it. Well, not really. There's so much more I'd love to talk about (I mean, common, the book was HUGE!) but if I start talking about one thing it will then lead to another, and before you know it I'll have written a ten page essay titled "Why I loved Cassandra Clare's City of Heavenly Fire" and I don't think you guys want to read a ten page essay. 

So, these were some of the highlights from City of Heavenly Fire. I can't believe this amazing series is actually over, it hasn't really hit me yet. I cannot wait for The Dark Artifices, though. I know Cassandra Clare will definitely not fail at writing yet another epic and wonderful series. 

Thank you C. Clare, it has truly been an honor to have had the privilege of reading  TMI. 

Ave Atque Vale, The Mortal Instruments.

Star Rating: 5/5