Book Review: Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

Format: E-ARC (Netgalley)
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publishes: 3rd January 2012
Pages: 400
Main Characters: Cinder and Kai
Date Started: 11th October 2011
Date Finished: 22nd October 2011
Rating Given: ****

Netgalley:

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. . . .   
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. 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.
In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that's enthralling.

Cinder is a futuristic twist on the classic fairytale Cinderella.
When looking through Netgalley I spotted this book I knew I had to read it as I love Cinderella and I also love different versions as well, and this was different to what I had heard of before so I had to try it and I am glad I did.
This book is set in the future where there are hovers instead of cars, cyborgs and androids which is something I haven't read before as I am more for either the modern times or the past but I was pleasantly surprised at how well I got into the time and how things where different but still believable.
Cinder is a cyborg which is where she is made out of both human and metal parts. I found Cinder a great character, she was strong and a proud person even when most people didn't like her including her stepmother and stepsister. I was routing for her from the beginning and right until the end I just wanted her to have her happyly ever after like the Cinderella characters in past stories.
From the moment we was introduced to Prince Kai I fell in love with him, he is just like the Prince Charming that we all know and love.
Cinder's and Kai's relationship was really sweet and through out the book I just wanted them to be together.
The relationship between Cinder and her younger stepsister Peony was beautiful and some of the scenes was moving to read in which I nearly cried!
The reason why I didn't give Cinder the full 5 stars was because it wasn't a stand alone book so everything was left up in the air which I wasn't expecting as this is a series so we won't know if they will get a happily ever after for years to come.
There was also parts that I didn't like as they where a bit slow.
Over all this was a great debut novel for Marissa Meyer and I can't wait to read the rest of this series.

Book Review: Eyes Like Stars (Theatre Illuminata #1)

Eyes Like Stars (Theatre Illuminata #1) by Lisa Mantchev

Format: Ebook
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Published: 7th July 2009
Pages: 352
Main Characters: Beatrice, Nate, Ariel, Peaseblossom, Moth, Cobweb and Mustardseed
Date Started: 18th September 2011
Date Finished: 25th September 2011
Rating Given: ***

Goodreads:
All her world’s a stage.
Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater. She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents. She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own. That is, until now.
Enter Stage Right
NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.
COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE’S sidekicks.
ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie’s weakness. The symbol of impending doom.
BERTIE. Our heroine.
Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book — an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family — and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.
Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.
Open Curtain

I wanted to read this awhile ago now but was put off by all the negative comments that it was given, but then I found I didn't any books to read with the letter E for some of my challenges on Goodreads so I thought I would give it a try.
To start with I was agreeing with the negative comments and was going to give it a low rating as it was slow and very confusing. I found that I didn't know what was going on as none of it seemed to make sense. Once I got a bit further into the story and things was starting to get explained I found I was starting to enjoy it as it was different to other books that I have read before. Although it was different to any books I have read I did find it similar to a couple of Charmed episodes but I wasn't too upset by this as I did enjoy both the Charmed episodes and this version of the story from the book.
Beatrice did annoy me to start with but by the end she grew on me and I loved the way she didn't let anyone boss her around like some other main female characters do in other books it was rather refreshing. With Ariel I got confused to start with as I thought it was a female character like from The Little Mermaid so I was surprised to find he was a male character. However I still didn't warm to his character until maybe the last chapter but who knows what he will be like in the next book. I kind of liked Nate's character although I couldn't understand some of his dialogue but I guess that was the point as he was pirate. As for the four little faeries I loved them they was very funny characters and always stood up for Bertie definitely made the book!
The other thing that I didn't really like was that I could guess what was going to happen and who Bertie's mum was, which annoyed me a bit as I like to be kept guessing.
I didn't like the ending either as it was left with loads of questions but I would like to hope they would be answered in the books to follow.
I did find it a charming read in the end though and will read the next books but maybe next year.