Fairest (The Lunar Chronicles, #3.5) in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Mar 01, 2015 Rincey rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015, favorites

Watch my full review here https://youtu.be/kJiIE2XzpuM ...more

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May 01, 2021 Lucinda rated it really liked it

I enjoyed the back story of Queen Levana. She is still a villain, but more of a rounded one.

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Apr 05, 2015 Molly rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-lit, on-the-classroom-shelf, fantasy, borrowed, recommended, 4-stars, i-want-to-go-to-there, one-day-reads, read-in-2015

This is...sort of a prequel to the Lunar Chronicles? It's the story of Levana, the queen of Luna (the moon), whom we've only seen be crazy, manipulative, and shrouded in the series. And here's her tragic backstory. I don't know that Meyer is necessarily trying to make you feel sorry for Levana, or just explain some of her motivations. Levana's parents were murdered by a Shell (basically this world's version of a Squib: a Lunar without powers) and her cruel sister Channary took over. She's the mo This is...sort of a prequel to the Lunar Chronicles? It's the story of Levana, the queen of Luna (the moon), whom we've only seen be crazy, manipulative, and shrouded in the series. And here's her tragic backstory. I don't know that Meyer is necessarily trying to make you feel sorry for Levana, or just explain some of her motivations. Levana's parents were murdered by a Shell (basically this world's version of a Squib: a Lunar without powers) and her cruel sister Channary took over. She's the mother of Princess Selene, who we all know is Cinder, from the previous books. It's interesting that Channary's free loving, bed-hopping ways are just glossed over. She's not sure who Selene's father is, and she doesn't care. In fact, she's constantly making fun of Levana for only wanting the love of one person: guard Evret Hayle. I sort of like that the monarchy of Luna is constructed so that an heir is an heir: regardless of gender, even if she's born out of wedlock. There's no question about whether or not Channary can rule without a king. Her main issue is that she'd much rather flirt than rule. Which is an endless source of angst for her younger sister.

For all her faults (and there are many), Levana truly seems to love her home world. She wants what is best for the moon, but she's also gotten really, really good at convincing herself that she deserves to take any means necessary to make things better. Case in point: getting rid of Selene. I'm not sure we ever got the full story from Cinder, but Levana manipulated a nanny (is this supposed to be Scarlet's grandmother?) into leaving a candle burning inside the princess's blanket fort while the two were asleep. Levana talks herself into the murder by reasoning that Selene will be just as spoiled and awful as her mother, and Luna might never recover from her reign. So she's doing the world a favor, see. It's creepy how quickly she talks herself into this, plans and executes it, and then gets over it. Of course, we know that the princess survived, was sent to earth, and received some nifty cyborg upgrades.

And that love interest of Levana's? Didn't work out so well. After Evret's wife dies in childbirth (and names her daughter Winter!), Levana convinces herself that it's only a matter of time before he will fall in love with her. But...let's just say he needs some persuasion. Conveniently, all Lunars are able to not only glamor their appearance, but also bend people to their will. It's how (view spoiler) So she just...bends him a little, all the while believing that eventually he will love her as much as she loves him. Thanks to Tom Riddle, we all know where this is going. Although he doesn't abandon her, it's more out of fear than love.

On the one hand, it's a little tragic to think of Levana being in love with this guy and him still pining away for his dead wife, marrying the princess (and staying with the queen) and being terrified of what could happen if he says no. On the other hand, as much as her feelings for him seem genuine, it's pretty clear that Levana sees people as tools, means to an end. Or obstacles, in some cases. Once she realizes an alliance with earth will solve Luna's issues with dwindling resources, (view spoiler)

Thanks to the inclusion of the first three chapters of Winter, I'm left with one question: we've seen from Cress that princess Winter is a little nuts (I actually felt sorry for Scarlet, and I can't stand her!), but (view spoiler) I was hoping for more detail on Winter's background here too, once she showed up. I mean, I'm sure we'll find out in the next book. Meyer's storytelling ability has not disappointed me so far! I just wanted a tiny bit more.

This doesn't add a ton to the series, although it does fill in a few gaps. And although the two books are NOTHING alike, I feel the same way here that I felt about the Tiny Cooper Story: I'm not sure this needed to exist, but it was a fun way to spend an afternoon (and also I'm glad I didn't spent any money on it!). I love this series and I am dying to read Winter, so it was a reasonable fix in the interim. ...more

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Feb 11, 2015 pianogal rated it liked it

Shelves: z2015-reads, fantasy

I don't like Levana. I was afraid this book would try to make me like her - kinda like the Maleficent movie that was TERRIBLE. The good news is, I still don't like her. The bad news, now I think she's weak and selfish - kinda like how Maleficent undercut the original villian.

Villians are bad. They should stay bad. They don't have to be the antihero - or even, heaven forbid, the hero. Trying to explain their motivation just weakens their power base.

Interesting as a study, but not sure that it re ...more

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Feb 03, 2015 Shannon rated it it was ok

Shelves: youngadult

This was a disappointing addition to the Lunar chronicles series. Levana is an unlikable character and while knowing her backstory roused some sympathy, it was tough to read an entire book about a villain. I'm still looking forward to Winter, the next book in the series. Hopefully having a protagonist to balance Levana will make all the difference. ...more

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Jan 15, 2016 Wellington added it

This is the back story to Queen Levana from the Lunar Chronicles. I knew there was something to why she wore a veil!! Even though Levana does some truly horrible things, this story helps us to understand how she became a person capable of these acts. I can't wait to see how the Chronicles end!! ...more

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