Humans and androids crowd the streets of New Beijing. Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She is the only full-service mechanic at the weekly market. To her surprise, she is visited by Prince Kaito, Crown Price of the Eastern Commonwealth. The Prince's android , a female model, isn't working and he needs it repaired. There is a loud scream from the baker across the square. She is looking at her hands and screaming - she has the plague. Cinder Marissa Meyer Feiwel & Friends January 2012 This is the start of the deadly plague that will ravage the population of New Beijing. Cinder had been brought to New Beijing by her adopted father. She lives with her stepmother and two sisters. She is a second-class citizen with a mysterious past. She is forced to do all the work and lives in rags while her sisters and stepmother dress in the latest fashion. Cinder is blamed when her sister Peony comes down with the plague. Her stepmother sells her as an experiment to find a cure for the plague. Tests reveal that Cinder may not be entirely a cyborg, but part lunar. She might even be the missing heir to the lunar throne. This, of course, must be kept secret by Dr. Erland, the leading scientist of the research team. In the meantime, the plague has taken the life of his Royal Highness - the Emperor of New Beijing - and young Prince Kaito is now the new Emperor. From space a ruthless Lunar Queen watches it all - ready, to make her move. Queen Lavana is coming to earth for a visit and has plans to marry the young emperor. This is the start of an intergalactic struggle for Cinder and an unbidden attraction to the young emperor. Torn between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past. Can she save earth and prevent the marriage of the lunar queen to Kai the new emperor? A thrilling novel - the first in a quartet - by Marissa Meyer. A very interesting read. Highly recommended. This book is also available as an audio book through Macmillin, read by Rebecca Soler. Check out the first chapter free: [haiku url="http://media.us.macmillan.com/video/olmk/macmillanaudio/CinderCh1.mp3" title="Title of audio file"]