Fairest

The Lunar Chronicles - Levana's Story

By: Marissa Meyer

Narrated by: Rebecca Soler

Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her "glamour" to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story - a story that has never been told - until now.

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death.

©2015 Marissa Meyer (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

Needed to be Told

Listened for Fun (Audible)
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.00

Audio Rating: 4.50

First Thought when Finished: Fairest by Marissa Meyer is a story I felt needed to be told!

Overall Thoughts Did I feel bad for L after this story? Nope! Granted her back story did have me pitying her just a bit. Everything she does is for one reason only: it is what she wants! She is very self-tunneled visioned (I know not a thing but it is the best way I can describe it)

Did I like getting her history? Sure! She is an evil queen and Marissa did a great job of showing that there are layers to even the most evil of characters. Granted they may just be more layers of evil but they are layers!

Did I like the sneak peak at Winter? You BETCHA! Can't wait! Though I am going to have to do a total re-listen before the final book! That will happen closer to release time.

Audio Thoughts:

Narrated by: Rebecca Soler /Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins


The series is narrated by Rebecca Soler and she does a wonderful job. The only one I did not listen to in audiobook was Cress. I missed Rebecca's narration while reading. She adds layers and emotions to the wonderful words that Marissa Meyer has written. If you have not given these a whirl on audio, you should!

Now We Wait

Great look inside the villains head

In ways you feel bad for her and in others you realize how crazy she is. I find it interesting that she is simultaneously a victim and a villain.

Meh... It wasn't bad

This is a good story of you wanted Levana's back story. Granted I think I really didn't like it because I prefer the good-person-forced-to -be-bad story line and this isn't it at all... Which makes it refreshing but also a bit of a downer. Spoiler alert! She's a selfish ignorant princess from day one. I think that kind of made this character flat.

Patience extender

What I really want is Winter, but this will help pas the time until it gets here. Good book, and it's nice to finally know the details surrounding the nursery fire.

An Excellent Lovely Edition to the series!

I really enjoyed this book as it filled in the missing pieces to the puzzle of what occurred prior to when Cinder was born on Lunar. It also taught the audience that Lavana was not always so evil and that her sister was much worse and even more heartless. It kinda made you sad for a moment in Lavana's younger days and made you feel some sort of pity towards her possibly. The story of Winter also opens at the ending of this book which makes you greatly anticipate the arrival of the next book in the series in November 2015. I can not wait to read it and it will be so hard to wait that long! I am truly a big fan now of Marissa Meyer!

Excellent

When you don't want to say goodbye to your Lunar Chronicle characters Fairest is there for you. Well written, well read, great story.

Fantastic!! Mesmerizing!

Can't wait for Winter in the fall! Great read for all ages. Hope the series spins off more side stories of other characters.

I just don't like the main character

I love this series. I hate levana. That's the only reason why I rated or so low because I cannot stand to listened to this character.

Entertaining, but maybe not for everyone.

I saw people in the reviews complaining that Fairest was too dark, that there wasn't a single lighthearted moment. I agree that the story was disturbing. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion, so morbidly captivating that you have to keep reading. You wonder: How much worse can this possibly get? Despite the depressing nature of the book, I don't think it warrants all of the bad reviews it got. Fairest was an incredibly well-written peek into the mind of a psychopath. The reviews say it was unneeded. Maybe not needed, but certainly entertaining to read. Perhaps I am biased. Darker stories have always been a strange fascination of mine. Whether that's healthy or not, I'm not sure. At least I'm self-aware lol.

Insightful

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, because Fairest is a great prequel into Levana's backstory.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I really don't have a favorite.

Which character – as performed by Rebecca Soler – was your favorite?

Rebecca was great with all of the characters. I love how she brings them to life and how you can feel the emotion of them.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was surprised to learn more about Levana's life before the series began. I was shocked and disgusted to far she was willing to go to get what she wants and how she believes she deserves everything.

Any additional comments?

Great series. Loved the prequel. While I felt sorry for Levana, I still hate her.