Book: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

★★★★/★★★★★

“And the prince did know her now, sort of. He'd been kind to her at the market. Perhaps he would ask her to dance. Out of politeness. Out of chivalry when he saw her standing alone."

Cinder has been sitting on my TBR pile for a while now and since I was determined to finish off some series this year, I decided to put the it on my list of top 5 series I'll finally, finally, read in 2016! So there I was reading this book and oh my god did I love it! It's probably one of my best reads this year! And to be honest, I didn't expect to love it this much. Maybe a little but not this asdfgfdjhfkdghlhg much! If you know what I mean. ♥

“She was a cyborg, and she would never go to a ball.”

The book centers on Cinder, a sixteen year old mechanic in New Beijing. She can fix anything tech-related and is the best in the field. Also, she's a cyborg. She doesn't really remember her life before the surgery but she knows that she's from Europe and her father, adoptive father, took her home with him five years ago. But it was not long after that her father died because of Letumosis, a plague that's been killing both human and cyborgs alike. Now Cinder lives, works, to be exact, for her stepmother Adri and stepsisters Pearl and Peony. Fortunately she has her very useful android Iko who accompanies and helps her get through everyday. Peony is actually kind to Cinder and they get along well. But when Peony gets infected by letumosis, Adri blames Cinder and soon volunteers her for the cure trials against her will. Meanwhile, Prince Kai has his own problems and is mourning the death of his father caused by the plague. He'd met Cinder on her booth before to ask her to fix his android and obviously there was attraction between them, though Cinder tried to deny it. And now that Cinder is brought to the labs for the trials, she and Prince Kai meet again. Enters Dr. Erland, the scientist conducting the trials. No one survives the trials but surprisingly, Cinder does. It makes Dr. Erland curious and after some research here and there, he finally realizes why. But he keeps his findings to himself only sharing a little to Cinder because he knew it could be dangerous once people learn about this information. After explaining to her, Cinder voluntarily agrees to do the trials thinking it could help Peony and other people. Dr. Erland also lets her leave the labs but to check in once in a while. On the other hand, Queen Levana, the Lunar Queen everyone hates, is visiting the Earth to pay respect to the late Emperor. For so long she and her kind has been threatening the people of Earth and the leaders of the Earth have been trying to make a peace agreement with her but her demands are unbelievable. And now that Kai is to become Emperor, she wants to be Empress. But of course there's no way Kai will agree to marry an evil Lunar like her. That's why Kai is nagging Cinder to finish fixing his android because there's information in there he badly needs that can somehow help him dethroning Queen Levana. And while he's at it, he also starts working his charms on her. Cinder knew she can't accept anything from the Kai, not his princely manners, not his ball invitation, especially not a gift! Besides, Cinder thinks that once Kai finds out that she's a cyborg (yes, he didn't know because neither Dr. Erland nor Cinder has informed him about it), he'll probably be disgusted at her just like everyone else. But when a crucial information gets passed down to her that can probably save Kai from Queen Levana, she doesn't really have much of a choice but to attend a ball and meet the new Emperor even if it means facing the evil Queen Dr. Erland warns her about.

He met her gaze, surprised, as if he'd forgotten who he was speaking with . Then, “You can call me Kai.”
She blinked, “Excuse me?”
“No more 'Your Highness.' I get enough of that from... everyone else. You should just call me Kai.”
“No, that wouldn't be―”
“Don't make me turn it into a royal command.” He hinted at a smile.

This book is plainly amazing. When I first read the blurb I was intrigued as to how the author would re-tell the story of Cinderella with cyborgs and Lunar people and a plague but surely Marissa Meyer made it work. With the dystopian world she created where there are humans and cyborgs living together and yeah, moon people, she definitely nailed it! It's actually creative, the worldbuilding fantastic and the concept is refreshing for me. The characters are also great and I love Cinder. She's a strong protagonist and Kai, oh my god, Kai! Isn't he charming? Well, he's a prince for one and even if he's not, I think he'd still be charmingly princely!

“Not that I have anything against dancing. I can dance. If you want to dance.”

 I can talk about Kai all night long about how he's sooo cute and funny and hot and everything but let's move on with the other characters. Iko is another I really love! She's very entertaining and I actually felt really sad for what happened to her. Curse Adri!  Queen Levana, on the other hand, is quite evil but I'd love to read more about her. And maybe I will in the next book. And I know I've talked about Cinder and Kai already but I just really love them both! Together! I love how Kai flirts with Cinder and asking her to the ball is really sweet of him. Those moments they're together are my favorites and though Cinder ends up hurting Kai, we all know what will happen next. Cinder is Cinderella after all.

“I know this is stupid, but part of me felt like if I could come see you today, if I could convince you to go with me tonight, then maybe I could still change things. It's dumb, I know. It's not like Levana cares if I, you know, might have actual feelings for someone.”  

Like I said, this book is one of my best reads this year. It's very engaging and had me all hooked up from the very beginning. There are twists and turns though I've guessed right about some of them early on. Nonetheless, I enjoyed every page of this book and with that kind of ending, who wouldn't get excited to find out what happens next? I have tons of books lined up this month but I don't think I can wait longer to read the next book.

Book: The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury

★★★★★/★★★★★

“He is the sun, and I am the moon. We must stay apart or the world will be thrown out of balance.”

 Okay. Let me start by saying that this book was amazing. A story about friendship, life, sacrifices and forbidden love that will surely capture your heart. I know I've told this a million times that I love fairytales and before reading this book I'm not quite a big fan of Aladdin but now, well, Zahra and Aladdin hold a special place in my heart. 

What I loved most about this book was the romance (yes, I love book romance!) and the adventures and the girl power. Basically it's about Aladdin and the jinni in the lamp and the three wishes but this time the jinni falls for her master. And yes, her meaning the jinni is a girl. 

Zahra, the great jinni of the lamp, was trapped in the dessert for 500 hundred years, alone and haunted by the memories of her previous master, but now a boy named Aladdin found her. And as a jinni, of course she has to grant him three wishes. You can say that Zahra and Aladdin have started on the wrong foot but as they begin their journey back to Aladdin's land, Parthenia, they realize that they have to trust each other eventually. 

I liked Zahra because she's powerful and smart and a badass. She always knew what she's doing and she never acts recklessly. She makes sure everything she does is reasonable and right. Aladdin, on the other hand, is reckless and he seeks revenge for his parents but deep inside he's a good person. And of course he's witty and a charmer. 

“I’ve been chased, shot, cut, beaten, and dragged a hundred leagues in the blink of an eye.” He shrugs and offers me a hand. “I need a drink.”

 As Zahra and Aladdin develop a master-jinni relationship, Zahra also starts feeling something else. A familiar feeling that once led to the destruction of one of the great cities on their land. The feeling that killed her Habiba, Queen Roshana the last queen of Neruby. This feeling scared Zahra but she tries her best to stop it because she knew what the cost will be if she lets it continue. 

“I stare at him a moment, conflicted. He carried me. He took an arrow for me. I’ve had few kind masters in my long, strange life. Cruelty, I understand. But kindness frightens me, for my defenses are weak against it.” 

 And, and, and! I loved how most of the characters were females! Aside from Zahra, we have Princess Caspida, descendant of Queen Roshana, and then there are the Watchmaidens, female warriors who swore to protect the queen/future queen of their land. Princess Caspida is the next queen and she only wants what's best for her people. At night, she secretly becomes the Phoenix who protects and watches over the people of Parthenia. She cares for her people and she'll do anything to protect them especially from Prince Darian, her betrothed, and Darian's greedy father, Sulifer who wants to own the kingdom. Aside from the internal threats to the kingdom, Caspida is also battling with the jinns and the great Shaitan Nardukha. Everyone hates the jinns because they are vicious and untrustworthy. 

“Damn you, and damn all your kind. I am Queen Caspida of the Amulens, and I do not fear you. Bring your worst, because I will be waiting.”

Like their princess, the watchmaidens composed of Ensi, Khavar, Neesa and Raz are tough and clever. Their loyalty is with Caspida and they're willing to do everything to protect her. They somehow grow fond of Aladdin and Zahra though their first meeting wasn't exactly friendly at all.

Now, now, let's get to the romance. We'll, there's no love triangle on this one, you guys! I don't hate love triangles but it's just refreshing to read a book without any love triangle or something. But Zahra's struggles and hesitations are what hinder her relationship with Aladdin. Zahra doesn't want to make the same mistake twice so she hesitates a lot of times with her feelings towards Aladdin. She knows it's wrong, she know it's forbidden and she knows its cost. But Aladdin is honest with his feelings and though Zahra keeps on pushing him away, he keeps on coming back. Because that's what you do when you love someone.

“You loved before, and she was taken from you. Ever since, you’ve been afraid to love again. You insist you’re a monster because you’re afraid of being human.”

Zahra has been bound to her lamp for thousands of years but she had a life before that. She was once a great Queen and she had a kingdom. But she doesn't tell anything to Aladdin even though he asks her about it. Aladdin also struggles with his feelings and is thorn between getting his revenge and loving Zahra. He knew the moment he wished to become a Prince, he needs to marry Princess Caspida to get his revenge but as days pass by, he grows to love Zahra more and more which he knows will compromise his plan. But what can he do when his heart chooses Zahra?

“It’s wrong and stupid and wonderful, Zahra. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but here I am. I love you.”

 Zahra weighs all her options and jinns be damned but her feelings for Aladdin are as great as great can be. She knows it will be bad and it's the Forbidden Wish but she's ready to face the wrath of Nardukha. She knew her love for Aladdin could result to the same fate as what happened to Roshana but now she's willing to fight Nardukha. If she wasn't able to save her beloved friend, sister, Roshana before, now she will try everything to save Aladdin.

“I don’t know the exact moment I fell in love with Aladdin, but I know I am still falling. And I never want to stop.”

 Together, Aladdin and Zahra face the great Shaitan Nardukha. They know it wouldn't be easy but at least they fight for their love. At least they together.

“Have faith, Smoky,” he says softly, cupping my face in his palm, “This isn’t over yet. Whatever happens, we’ll be together.”

 I really loved this book and honestly, I haven't moved on from it yet. I've re-read some of my favorite parts and I think I'm far from being over this book. It's just so amazing and the characters are all endearing and the world-building is engrossing and Zahra is lovely and Aladdin is, well, Aladdin. Everything in this book is captivating and I loved it! In short, read it!