Lecture Notes: Fairest by Marissa Meyer - "The Lunar Chronicles" Series

Book Information

• Title: Fairest
• Author: Marissa Meyer
• Series: The Lunar Chronicles
• Genres: Fairy Tale, Romance, Science Fiction
• Publisher: Feiwel and Friends, a division of Macmillan Publishers
• Published Year: 2015
• Age Range: 12 to 18
• Reviewed by: Focus on the Family Thriving Family

Plot Summary

• Protagonist: Levana, a 15-year-old princess of Luna (a colony on the moon).

  • Orphaned after parents (King Marrok and Queen Jannali) were murdered by a shell (Lunar born without bioelectric abilities).
  • Scarred from childhood when sister Channary pushed her into a fire.
  • Skilled in using bioelectric abilities to create glamours to hide her deformities.

• Family Dynamics:

  • Sister: Channary, cruel and uninterested in ruling, more focused on personal pleasure.
  • Envy and bitter relationship between Levana and Channary.

• Romantic Interest:

  • Infatuated with Sir Evret Hale, a guard, who is married to Solstice.
  • After Solstice's death during childbirth, Levana manipulates Evret with her glamour.

• Role as Queen:

  • Levana becomes queen regent after Channary’s death, ruling until Selene (Channary's daughter) comes of age.
  • Thrives on power, uses strict rule to advance Luna's productivity.

• Ambitions and Manipulations:

  • Plots to marry Emperor Rikan for an Earth alliance, after arranging Evret's assassination.
  • Attempts to kill her niece, Selene, to retain power.

Themes

• Power and Manipulation:
  • Levana’s use of her abilities to control and manipulate those around her, including her romantic pursuits.
• Jealousy and Beauty:
  • Constant comparison and jealousy from Levana towards Channary and later, Winter.
  • Reliance on glamour to hide imperfections.

Key Events

• Levana’s manipulation of Evret and her subsequent marriage.
• Plot to introduce leutmosis virus for bargaining with Earth.
• Levana’s rule over Luna and harsh governance.
• The arranged assassination of Evret and the attempted murder of Selene.

Critical Analysis

• Authority Figures:
  • Parents’ lack of emotional connection with Levana.
  • Channary’s abusive behavior towards Levana.
• Portrayal of Violence:
  • Graphic descriptions of violence, including assassination and manipulation leading to deaths.

Additional Considerations

Content Warnings

• Violence: Descriptions of murder and manipulation.
• Sexual Content: Implications of seduction and manipulation for power.
• Themes of Abuse and Control: Emotional and physical abuses depicted.

Christian and Other Beliefs

• No significant emphasis on Christian beliefs, but manipulation and power struggles are central themes.

Discussion Topics

• Impact of power on personal relationships.
• Ethical implications of using abilities to manipulate others.

Awards

• No awards mentioned.

These notes provide a comprehensive overview of "Fairest" and highlight its main plot points, characters, themes, and significant events. They also touch on the book’s portrayal of violence and moral considerations, useful for understanding the broader context of the story in "The Lunar Chronicles" series.