Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder has a cover reminiscent of the Twilight Series. Which for me is not a selling point. I didn't much like Twilight personally. Of course, I'm all for anything that gets the kids reading and Twilight most assuredly did that.

Cinder is nothing like Twilight though.  I really liked it and managed to gulp it down in a single sleepless night of reading. The premise is that in the far far future, the world has had more wars and a lunar colony exists. Cinder is a cyborg and in virtual slave to her step mother and two step sisters. (Yes, indeed this is a fractured fairy tale.)

Two things knock Cinder out of the status quo. First, Cinder is apparently the best mechanic in the city and this leads to meeting Prince Kai who desperately needs his android fixed. Of course, Prince Kai is enchanted by Cinder and doesn't know she's a cyborg. (Cyborgs aren't considered people in the same sense as those with all their fleshy bits intact) Second, Peony, Cinder's youngest stepsister, gets the incurable plague that overlays the whole plot.

Soon, Cinder finds out just how monstrous her step mother can be.

Cinder is full of intrigue and simmering mysteries that drive the plot. While many of the plot twists were somewhat predictable the writing style is compelling and keeps interest high.  A solid read and I plan to follow up with the rest of the series.