Initial Reaction:



Wow...just WOW!!!

Fairest by Marissa Meyer is a wonderful addition to the Lunar Chronicles as it tells the evil queen's story. Literally we get the juicy details behind Queen Levana's rise to power and just what made her so evil. And dang you Meyer for making me like her!!!! I'm a sucker for a good villain, but Levana's life is just so dark and twisted that you wind up not only liking her but feeling sorry for her and even understanding what she does. Seriously though it made me question myself for liking this woman!

The story starts when Levana's parents are killed. She's young, a bit lost, naive, and has extreme self-confidence issues thanks to her brat of a sister. But she did love once. An all-consuming, all-in, stalkerish type love, but the point is she did love in her own, twisted, psychotic way.

And Channary....evil incarnate! This is the sister, Cinder's mother, the one rumored to be even worse than Levana. Well she is and I just couldn't like her from the moment she opened her mouth. She's evil, ruthless, cruel in a way that can cause someone to be twisted and evil. She made Levana. Want someone to blame...blame Channary!

She wanted him to think about her, even if only for a moment. She wanted him to admire her.

Then there's this handsome guard who takes pity on the princess who is always alone, always to herself, and never shows her true face. It's this poor guy's kindness that Levana twists into her own version of love. It's deplorable, shocking, and heartbreaking for all involved. I couldn't help it. I'll admit I cried a bit for not only Levana but the poor guard stuck with her. It was twisted and sick and I just can't believe that the author who wrote Cress wrote Levana!!!!

If you're a fan of the Lunar Chronicles than this is a must read! It sets up Winter well as I am now eager to see the step-daughter that Levana has loved, again in her own twisted way. I want to see Levana fall and I want to see her get the justice she deserves!