If I had to choose a favorite genre, it would have to be high fantasy; I suppose I have always had a thing for princes and happily ever afters, even when I was a child. However, when it comes to books, there definitely are not always happily ever afters. That is not usually the problem though. No, the problem most always lies in a boring plot, and dull characters. I have grown used to such disappointments, but that is what made this book so great: it was near perfect. The characters had depth and I was invested in them, the romantic rectangle actually worked in this case (especially since it was not anywhere near the focus of the book), and the plot was just wow.
The first character introduced in the story is Mare, the main character. She was rebellious from the very start, and of course that always warms my heart when I am reading a book. Mare was sort of the Katniss of this novel, so if you liked her it is a pretty sure bet you will enjoy reading about Mare as well. She is dissatisfied with the way society is run, and so it was very easy to empathize with her. Early on in the book, we meet her love interests, the two princes (that is right, there are two) and her childhood friend. Each of these interests is almost completely different, and it is intriguing to see the different ways they impact Mare and her decisions in the novel. Honestly, it was really hard to choose between two of the three, but the ending pretty much made it clear who I was supposed to choose (gosh, that was a major twist). I absolutely cannot wait to read more about Mare and the other characters in the next book, as well as how they will deal with certain...tensions.
From almost the very beginning, readers are introduced to the plot, so unlike with other books, there is no waiting for something to happen. The entire time I was reading, I could not flip the pages fast enough; I just wanted more, more, more. I do not think it is easy to encounter a storyline with such a twisty, turney plot. It is really hard to guess what is going to happen at any single moment, and there are surprises galore scattered throughout the book. The novel focuses a large part on the rebellion, yet the author still manages to add the perfect blend of romance and court drama. This is no doubt a great book for anyone a fan of high fantasy, and possibly dystopias as well.
The best part of Red Queen is most definitely the ending. I am usually pretty sharp about figuring out the real ending despite any red herrings, but the last part of this book was like a train that came out of nowhere and ran me over. It was most assuredly a woah moment. And that is only the icing on the cake, so what I am trying to get at is that you should make haste and add this to your TBR if you have not already.
I really did not expect that I would love this book so much, and so I am very glad I decided to take a chance on this when I did. The novel rates pretty high on my "books read in 2014" shelf; the only real problem is that since the book is released next February, I will have to wait more than a year for the next novel in the Red Queen Trilogy to come out.
The first character introduced in the story is Mare, the main character. She was rebellious from the very start, and of course that always warms my heart when I am reading a book. Mare was sort of the Katniss of this novel, so if you liked her it is a pretty sure bet you will enjoy reading about Mare as well. She is dissatisfied with the way society is run, and so it was very easy to empathize with her. Early on in the book, we meet her love interests, the two princes (that is right, there are two) and her childhood friend. Each of these interests is almost completely different, and it is intriguing to see the different ways they impact Mare and her decisions in the novel. Honestly, it was really hard to choose between two of the three, but the ending pretty much made it clear who I was supposed to choose (gosh, that was a major twist). I absolutely cannot wait to read more about Mare and the other characters in the next book, as well as how they will deal with certain...tensions.
From almost the very beginning, readers are introduced to the plot, so unlike with other books, there is no waiting for something to happen. The entire time I was reading, I could not flip the pages fast enough; I just wanted more, more, more. I do not think it is easy to encounter a storyline with such a twisty, turney plot. It is really hard to guess what is going to happen at any single moment, and there are surprises galore scattered throughout the book. The novel focuses a large part on the rebellion, yet the author still manages to add the perfect blend of romance and court drama. This is no doubt a great book for anyone a fan of high fantasy, and possibly dystopias as well.
The best part of Red Queen is most definitely the ending. I am usually pretty sharp about figuring out the real ending despite any red herrings, but the last part of this book was like a train that came out of nowhere and ran me over. It was most assuredly a woah moment. And that is only the icing on the cake, so what I am trying to get at is that you should make haste and add this to your TBR if you have not already.
I really did not expect that I would love this book so much, and so I am very glad I decided to take a chance on this when I did. The novel rates pretty high on my "books read in 2014" shelf; the only real problem is that since the book is released next February, I will have to wait more than a year for the next novel in the Red Queen Trilogy to come out.
Book Synopsis: Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard's sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king's palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?
Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood--those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.
To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard--a growing Red rebellion--even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.
Source: Received a copy from Harper Teen for review.
Title: Red Queen
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publication Date: February 10, 2015
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genre: High Fantasy, Romance, YA
Pages: 400 pages
