Today, I’m finally wrapping up my reviews for The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer. ✨ I had such a fun time reading this series over the summer (Yes, I am aware that it is now winter), and writing these reviews have been a great way to be briefly reunited with the lovable characters. If you haven’t yet, check out my full reviews and discussions for Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter!

FAIREST (THE LUNAR CHRONICLES #3.5) BY MARISSA MEYER

This book was such a whirlwind because we learn so much about Queen Levana’s past and how it drove her to become the evil tyrant she is in the series. 👑 Fairest made me pity Levana because of her tragic past, but it also made me want to punch her in the face because she’s become incredibly manipulative and a straight-up sociopath. At some points, I had to stop listening to the audiobook because I was too shook by Levana’s actions and her rationale behind them.

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

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. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series.

In the previous books, we saw Levana as an evil villain, but she felt very distant. We didn’t truly understand her history and how it led to her tyranny on Luna. Fairest introduced her young ambitious self and how lack of love from her family shaped her to become cruel and bitter. That desperation for love and attention drove her to desperate measures for a husband.

I would give this book 4/5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Marissa Meyer does a great job of drawing out emotions from the reader, leaving us with feelings of frustration but also sympathy. At first, I was disappointed that Queen Levana didn’t have a redemption story or tragic past that clearly explained all her evil actions, but the more that I think about it, I’m glad that remains this conniving and manipulative character we can freely despise. I also really enjoyed seeing Cinder, Winter, and Jacin as kids!

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STARS ABOVE (THE LUNAR CHRONICLES #4.5) BY MARISSA MEYER

Stars Above is a collection of short stories set at different points throughout the series. Before I start, let’s take a moment to appreciate this gorgeous cover. I think it’s the most beautiful AKA my favorite of the series. 😍 I’m a little torn on my feelings for this book because while some stories were a wonderful way to learn more about and be reunited with favorite characters, others were simply filler and didn’t introduce us anything new.

Spoiler-free Summary: The enchantment continues….

The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

My absolute favorite short story in this book was Something Old, Something New. It’s the epilogue we absolutely needed after Winter, and one of our favorite couples (my favorite couple) gets married! 🎉💖 I also loved learning about Michelle Benoit and baby Scarlet and seeing Wolf, Captain Thorne, and Cress as kids before they become the heroes of their respective stories.

Stars Above gets 3.5/5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Some of these stories weren’t as good as others, but the final one definitely wrapped the entire series up with a nice little bow on top. I definitely recommend this book if you’ve finished the series and miss the lovable characters! 

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If you purchase the paperback or hardback version from Book Depository, I make a small commission which helps keeps my blog running. 🛍️ They have free shipping worldwide, so talk about a win-win solution!

HAVE YOU READ EITHER OF THESE BOOKS? WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS! 💕