![]() ![]() ![]() Sort of like a netdrama, but”-Scarlet searched for the right word-“happier.” She shook her head, her eyes widening conspiratorially. They had a lot of them in the second era. “Didn’t get much sleep last night, but I had to finish the tenth season of Friends.” “I’m fine,” she said, rubbing a palm into her eye. At least we’re getting this COVID-128 taken care of a lot more effectively.”Ī door opened in the corridor and Scarlet appeared, looking slightly bewildered, her mess of red curls tied into a messy bun on top of her head. Practice social distancing.” Kai shrugged. “It would have been a lot better if we’d known to shut things down. I mean, I guess my shop was an essential business, but still.” I was working at my mechanic booth like nothing had changed. Can you imagine-I even still held the annual ball!” “I’m embarrassed to think about how we handled Letumosis. “We did learn a lot, didn’t we?” he said. It was a habit that Cinder had noticed he did after every conference, almost like he had to untidy himself as soon as their transmission was over, transforming from the Emperor Kaito of the Eastern Commonwealth back to. ![]() Kai chuckled humorlessly, dragging a hand through his hair. “At least we learned a thing or two after dealing with Letumosis,” said Cinder as they left the crew’s quarters that had been set up as their official press room after the lockdown had gone into effect, suspending travel to and from Earth and leaving thousands of spacecraft, including the Rampion, orbiting the planet. They’d been returning from Luna after a congenial visit with the newly instated Lunar cabinet when the outbreak had occurred-a new disease spreading rapidly across planet Earth. Most everyone on the planet knew it was for the best. Again.” Despite his complaining, he gave her hand a squeeze. The world is facing yet another crisis, and here I am, stuck on Thorne’s spaceship. I know I don’t need to tell you how much I hate this. “Another day, another press conference,” said Cinder, taking his hand. They turned to each other and shared a mutual sigh. They both smiled at the netscreen for a beat, then Kai reached forward and ended the transmission. Believe me, Iko-my adviser and public relations representative-has already started planning our celebratory ball for when this pandemic is over.” We’ll see you back on Earth as soon as we can. Words that she’d probably started to say in her sleep by now. “Wash your hands frequently,” said Cinder, reciting the words she’d said at the end of each of these press conferences. “For now,” Kai continued, “Lunar Ambassador Linh Cinder and I encourage you to continue using the protocols our medical experts have recommended to keep yourself, your family, and our society as safe as possible.” She often wondered if she would ever be as comfortable in front of the cameras, despite how Kai and so much of her own royal staff persisted in telling her that she was doing great. Still, it never ceased to make Cinder’s heart swell, just a little, to see him in his element. He’d been making public addresses to the world for years and had been in the media’s eye long before that. Fuacino,” said Kai, his expression serious yet calm as he looked into the netscreen. ] Leanne Hall is a children’s bookseller at Readings Carlton, and a writer of young adult fiction.“In just a few minutes you’ll be hearing from Earthen Union’s lead medical researcher, Dr. The elaborate setting of the New Beijing metropolis, the unfamiliar technology, and the politics of an imagined new world order, are presented effortlessly to the reader, who is left to enjoy this absorbing and strange story. Meyer (pictured above) does a fabulous job of mashing together and twisting the fairytale elements with the futuristic setting. When Peony falls ill with the deadly letumosis illness, on the very day that Cinder comes into contact with heir to the throne Prince Kai, Cinder is drawn into the dangerous world of palace history, interplanetary politics and potential romance. Comfort comes in the form of Iko, her robotic companion, and Linh Peony, the younger and nicer of her two stepsisters. Her home life is an unhappy one her stepmother takes the money she earns, and does nothing to hide her distaste for her adopted daughter. Sixteen-year-old Cinder works as a mechanic in the busy market area of New Beijing, toiling over other people’s robots, and trying to keep her own cyborg identity hidden. Cinder is a bewitching and engrossing sci-fi retelling of the familiar Cinderella fairytale, and hands-down one of the best books I will read this year (an early call, I know). And yes, a glamorous ball, a glass slipper (of sorts) and an evil stepmother and stepsister. A strange new world where the humans must ally against an untrustworthy lunar race. ![]()
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