Friday, June 10, 2016

Review Wednesday: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

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Title: Red Queen (Red Queen #1)
Author: Victoria Aveyard
1st Date of Publication: February 10, 2015
ISBN: 9780062310637
# of Pages: 383
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Age Rating: 13 (Death, Bullying)

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Book Description:
This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.


Point of View: 1st person- Mare Barrow
Goodreads Rating: 4.11
My Rating: 4.00

 
Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both
View on the Cover: I thought the cover was pretty interesting. The background color is almost bland, but it makes the crown so stark and sharp. I was wondering why the crown looks upside down and why it's covered in blood.
View on Title: The title made me think that maybe this "Red Queen" is vindictive and causes many of her citizens to die.

Pros:
  • I really enjoy Mare's character. She wants to provide for her family and not become a number of the lowly citizens sent to war. She has a deep sense of purpose and justice.
  • The distinction between the citizens that are higher and lower is interesting because of their blood. Mare is a lower citizen because she has red-colored blood which makes her inferior. The silver-colored blood citizens are superior because they come from nobility and have super-human powers. The silver bloods aren't nice to red bloods and oppress them.
  • I love how this book is like a rags to riches books even though Mare didn't really do anything to gain status. She was just at the right place at the right time. She becomes an inspiration for every other Red.
  • The Scarlet Guard was an interesting and necessary part of the story. This group is full of red bloods who seek justice for the way the silver bloods treat those who are red.
Cons:
  • There is a love triangle in here and almost a love square (I think you can call it that) and I wasn't a fan of that. I feel bad for Mare since she really has no choices and is forced to comply to the king.
  • This book is really hard to get into, at least for me. It seemed very slow and that may have been purposefully done because it could be done to set up the storyline in the following books in the series.
  • I also wish there was a little more character development which I think would add more depth to the book and make it a slightly easier read.

Critics' Reviews:
“A sizzling, imaginative thriller, where romance and revolution collide, where power and justice duel. It’s exhilarating. Compelling. Action-packed. Unputdownable.” -USA Today
“Fascinating world building... Readers will be intrigued by a world that reflects today’s troubling issues concerning ethnic inequality, unfair distribution of wealth, pollution, warfare, political corruption, and the frightening power of the media.” -VOYA

Victoria Aveyard's Website:
http://victoriaaveyard.com/

Other Recommendations:
The Jewel by Amy Ewing
The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

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