Should I read this before or after the other books in the series?

Reading this book after the first three novels in the series is recommended to avoid spoilers for the main plot. While it functions as a prequel, it was written and published to be experienced as an installment within the larger narrative arc.

Is this book necessary to understand the main series?

The story provides significant background on the primary antagonist, but it is not required reading to follow the central plot of the series. It serves as a companion piece that deepens the context of the villain's motivations rather than advancing the main timeline.

Fairest

Reader reviews of Fairest

Kyrie · 2026-10-21T07:50:09.000000Z

Ah fair Levana... I WAS going to skip this short story. But then I saw it in the bookstore and the urge to buy just fell over me. I'm very glad I bought it. This not only gives insight into Levana, but also into Luna. Now, you expect to be sympathetic to Levana and understand why she is who she is... but after reading this.. She just pisses me off more! Not to say that I didn't feel sympathy for her character - Marissa Meyer did a wonderful job with Levana's backstory. It's just that - she's a crazy bitch, and totally responsible for every bad thing that's happened to her. With the exception of some bad times in her past. She consciously chose to do everything she did, even when she noted it might not be right. This book made me appreciate her even more as the villain in the lunar chronicles. It was a great read, and made me want Winter to come out even quicker!

Levana’s Story

Fairy Tales Science Fiction

Pages: 272
Published: 2015
Language: English

Synopsis

Before she became the tyrannical queen of Luna, Levana was a young woman with a desperate heart. This story reveals the tragic past that shaped her into the villain fans of the Lunar Chronicles know. Discover the secrets and heartbreaks that led to her cruel reign.

10 reviews