Fairest (2015) by Marissa Meyer is a villain-centric novella in The Lunar Chronicles series, delving into the backstory of Queen Levana, the ruthless ruler of Luna. The story traces Levana’s rise from a neglected princess to a manipulative monarch, revealing her obsession with beauty (masked by glamours), her unrequited love for a royal guard, and the brutal choices that harden her heart.
Meyer humanizes Levana without excusing her atrocities, offering a tragic parallel to Snow White’s wicked queen. Essential for fans of the series’ morally complex worldbuilding.
