Fairest

A Synopsis:
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. 


In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

Review: (non spoilery)
Fairest is the 'bridge' book between Cress and Winter and fills in the gaps and answers questions that readers have of Levana, the series' antagonist. The novel was short and sweet as will be this review! Fairest was fast paced, which suited the tone of the novel. It sheds some light on Levana's backstory and while I sympathise with her on some aspects, that isn't enough to justify her actions. It also displays a side to her psyche which fuels her to her actions leading up to the events of The Lunar Chronicles. 

Levana is one of my favourite antagonists of all time in that she is so complex and vague. Her contrasting beauty and evil intentions create a character that is so common to YA literature yet so unqiuely different. Levana is cunning and mad and everything I love in a villian it blows my mind.

My only complaint would be that the writing felt stunted or disjointed at times as sentences would end abruptly and new ones would start without reason. Although this book is short, it provides an interesting view on Levana and reveals her 'motives' and reasons for the evil that she does. I would definitely pick this one up if you are thinking of reading TLC and don't want to jump into Winter straight away!
4 Books.

Have a good one, J Woo.