Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Hi guys. This week its all about fairy tales. Everyone who was younger loved the concept of being read a good fairy-tale. This one is slightly different. With the original Grimm fairy-tale as the starting point, Cinderella is taken into a dystopian future. Where both the plague and discrimination run rife. But also with the consequences after a deadly post-war world.

When I first bought this book, I guess that I was hypocritical. The concept of using our favourite princess tale, has not indeed had only one makeover. It is in a constant state to be adapted to something else, in many media forms. I think that I just had about enough with it.

But, when I first read the starting chapter, my anxieties and annoyance flushed away in an instant. This is not a normal fairy-tale. It appeals to an older audience, which can sometimes be so vexing in situations like, Disney. It is a perfect Young Adult book, and I am thankful that it has been interpreted for a wider audience, rather than little girls that want to be princesses. It's nothing like that; I am glad.

I like the idea that Meyer has also incorporated other fairy-tale characters, which will progressively become regular, with each book that goes along. This is then that you get to see different sides of the story and the other characters from within it. From what I believe, each book focuses upon a separate fairy-tale character. Cinder for Cinderella; Scarlett for Red Riding Hood; Cress for Rapunzel and finally the upcoming Winter for Snow White.

There is also concepts such as having Sci-fi elements within it. Like for instance, how there are royal families on the moon as well as the Earth itself, including some very well known royal families but in the future. This is how we can then relate to how it is now in the present, but also what might happen in the future.

Genuinely I think that this is a book which really makes you focus upon what matters in life. The problems that other people may have to face, as well as really going deep down into issues which no matter what era it is, never changes.

This book has now made me very excited for the next book ,Scarlet. I'm also hoping to find out a bit more about Cinder in the next few books in the series. How I do love a good dystopian!

Rating: *****

Kiki

Like Crossing Pixies Facebook page!

Comments

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau

Mary Jane, is a novel that I have been keeping an eye on for quite a while now. It has always been a part of my reading list and only until now have I had possession of a copy. I just wish it didn’t take me so long to read it. Because without a doubt, I think it is probably the best book I’ve read this year. Set in the 1970’s it follows a fourteen-year-old girl who becomes a summer Nanny to the Cone Family. Even though the Cone Family seem to be a respectable bunch on the outside, they are quite the opposite with their messy family dynamics. However messy they are, Mary Jane becomes an important and well-loved member of their family. Drastically different from the home that she was bought up as a single child with parents who care about appearances in their community. Over the summer, Mary Jane’s world begins to open up as she begins to realise what her future would entail and what she wants from it. There isn’t much that I can fault in this book. The characters are not perfect, c...

Love is for Losers by Wibke Brueggemann

SYNOPSIS As far as Phoebe is concerned, love is to be avoided at all costs. Why would you spend your life worrying about something that turns you into a complete moron? If her best friend Polly is anything to go by, the first sniff of a relationship makes you forget about your friends (like, hello?), get completely obsessed with sex (yawn) and bang on constantly about a person who definitely isn't as great as you think they are. So Phoebe isn't going to fall in love, ever. But then she meets Emma...

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

Publisher: David Fickling Books Date of Publish: January 1st 2015 Suitable for which gender: Unisex The book consists of two protagonists who are both suffering from two big secrets. There is David Piper; who wants to be a girl and Leo Denton; someone who just wants to be invisible. Somehow both of these two individuals come together and become very good friends in the process. It is really interesting as there is not much regarding the subject of the transgender community in modern YA fiction, in a way Ms Williamson has got some guts to base story around this topic. Not because it is wrong, but rather misunderstood. It has heartache and pain, as well as joy and happiness, which not only they experience, but you as well. I think that the time that it has come out is perfect, as it is an ever changing world, which has shown to become more aware of people around us and accepting everyone for who they are. We must always think about these issues like, imagine if you felt...

Sunburn by Darren Dash

This is the cover of the recently published book "Sunburn" by Darren Dash (yes, it actually does feature a character getting burnt), which was published earlier than expected on the 1st May. This truly seems like a momentous event. This author has probably influenced my reading patterns the most, since I first picked up a book just for leisure. He is truly an inspirational guy. The cover itself is very sinister. The mix of reds and oranges as well as the sun connotes that the sun plays an antagonising role in the story. Maybe even a factor to all of the characters downfall. The simplicity makes it very intriguing as well as making it feel very uncomforting. Simple but well executed. This demonic masterpiece does not fail to disappoint even the most biggest of horror fans. Set in a perfect setting, the characters are strong, that even the smallest mistake they make can be very vexing. It focuses on three characters: Dominic; Curran and Martini. Who despite...

The Jewel by Amy Ewing

I'm sure that most of you have heard about how there was an amazing astronomical event that happened yesterday in Europe. I was so lucky to experience the solar eclipse . I'm just so sad now that I won't be able to see it again like it for the next 11 years. Also one of the annoying parts about it was that you couldn't look directly at it, otherwise you vision will become bad. The problem is, with such light intensity, you can't help but look at it. (I may have accidently done it!)But all is not lost; at least in November I will be able to experience a partial lunar eclipse. And I don't need any special eye wear for it, because it happens in the night time! The word for this week that is the most unique is: Syzygy -- I chose this word to correspond with the events that have happened this week in Europe. This means that with having three letters being Y, it is meant to describe a rare astronomical event (which in this case would be the solar eclipse), w...