Linh Cinder begins the series as a mechanic in New Beijing. She is also a cyborg, a status that shapes how her stepfamily and the wider society treat her. A visit from Prince Kai and the letumosis plague force her to confront a past tied to the Lunar kingdom and Queen Levana.
Marissa Meyer uses Cinderella elements in Cinder’s opening story, then carries Cinder into the larger political struggle that connects the novels. The later books add Scarlet, Cress, and Winter to the main cast. Read the series in order because Cinder’s history, alliances, and role in the conflict develop across the sequence.
Reading Order#
See the complete Lunar Chronicles reading order for all books featuring Cinder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Cinder?
Cinder, full name Linh Cinder, is the protagonist of Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles. She is a cyborg mechanic living in New Beijing, and a retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale in a science fiction setting.
Is Cinder actually Cinderella?
Cinder is a sci-fi reimagining of Cinderella. She has a prosthetic foot and hand instead of glass slippers, a cruel stepmother, and a prince (Emperor Kai). But her story expands far beyond the fairy tale.
Does Cinder appear in all the Lunar Chronicles books?
Cinder appears throughout the four main novels. Later books introduce Scarlet, Cress, and Winter as additional central characters, but Cinder remains part of the continuing conflict.