Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Fairest by Marissa Meyer. Feiwel and Friends, 2015. 220 pages. 

Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 15-18
Maturity Level: 6 (ages 15-18) and up

Bottom Line: In an originally unplanned prequel, readers are given the backstory for Queen Levana, a tale that mirrors the darkness of its protagonist.

If the title hasn’t already triggered a fairytale memory, think of an evil stepmother and a mirror.  Fairest is the evil stepmother’s story. It chronicles the moral descent of an intelligent, neglected, and desperately needy young princess, Levana, as she ascends to become the tyrannical Lunar queen.

While early in the story, Levana is repulsed by her sister’s view of love as a conquest and a war, not as something silly and romantic. Levana herself is sorely lacking in her view of love.  With few exceptions, the love found throughout Fairest is unrequited, twisted, bitter, and misunderstood.

Fairest is darker than the Lunar Chronicles, replete with court debauchery, lust, seduction, intrigue, and murder. Nothing is explicit, but if readers decide to skip this short installment, they will not be at a loss.  Readers of the Lunar Chronicles know Levana already and realize that Fairest, in the end, will contain no “happily ever after” for this princess.

Cautions: Sexuality (protagonist engages in premarital sex), Sensuality (see above paragraph)  Character Issues (protagonist uses her physic ability to manipulate others), Violence (murder, not overly graphic)

Overall Value: 3.5 (out of 5)

• Moral/worldview value: 3
• Artistic value: 3.75

Cover image from Amazon