Book Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard! (@victoriaaveyard)

Red Queen (Red Queen #1)
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publication Date: February 10, 2015
Published: HarperTeen

My Rating:

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.

As if living in a world where the color of your skin could get you killed, now there’s a world where the color of your blood, is everything.

The slivers, the royals, the most respected people in the land, because of their literal sliver blood and special abilities. Then there are the reds, the peasants, the ones who have to struggle every day to make ends meet, because there is nothing special about them, at least that’s what everyone is led to believe. Mare Barrow, is just a teenage girl who does everything she can to fend for her family, until a trip to the market with her sister, turns into a fight that leaves her exposed. Now, Mare is forced to be a lost silver Princess, and is promised to Prince Maven and is thrown into a world where anyone can betray anyone. Will she put on the charade and portray a lost princess or will she join the Scarlet Guard, the red rebellion, and remember who she really is? 

There is a lot of hype surrounding this book, so of course I picked it up to see what all the hype was about. For some reason, every time I read a book with a female protagonist who can kick ass, my mind goes straight to Katniss Everdeen. She paved the way for badass females like Mare, and Mare has a lot of potential, but she isn’t at badass just yet, which I liked. Not everyone is born with a bow and arrow in their hand, but Mare is definitely born with the need to fight for her family. She has to steel, because that’s the only way she knows how to provide for her family, especially now that she’s the oldest living home, while her brothers are out in the world. I really admire Mare, for supporting her family, even though steeling isn’t the best way, it’s a way that works for her and it bothers me that her parents don’t give her credit. The credit goes to her little sister, Gisa, because she is a seamstress and has talent. Like steeling without getting caught, isn’t a talent. However, my favorite part of the story is when Mare learns that “Anyone, can betray anyone,” I love that quote, and I love how Mare consistently repeats it to herself throughout the story, in her situation it’s hard not to. As far as least favorite parts go, I just expected more, there were times where the story grabbed me and times when it didn’t. With so much hype, I just expected an out of the park story, but this was just average.

Overall, this story was really interesting and I’m curious to see where it goes, I’m just not sure if I really want to pick up the next novel. I do however, recommend this book, because there are a lot of people out there who love this book and it’s been on the best seller list for a really long time, and my opinion is just one in a million. So, if you love fantasy and want to dive into this world, then go for it. I give this novel 3 moons!