LogFAQs > #970387302

The novel's "true ending" was really only conceived after how poorly received the actual game's ending was. I don't think it was something they initially ever had in mind until later, when they were playing damage control and trying to salvage the mess the story was for the fans that still cared.

The novel's true ending does fix a lot of things, though, and is overall a better read, imo, compared to what we got in the game. But most of it is built upon the "retcons" and changes they had added to the game's story post-release through the DLC, so it might feel like it came out of nowhere if you jumped to it straight from the base game.

The novel also included the stories for all the scrapped DLC that was supposed to come out as well, focusing on Aranea and Lunafreya, which was great since they got shit all of nothing in the game proper. Luna especially, wasn't really given a single notable character trait or hobby (besides loving Noctis) until the novel, so it was nice to see her finally fleshed out. Would've been nicer in the actual game, but whatever.