This book was a 3.5 or 4 star read for me. It took me a minute to get into the writing, and to stop comparing it to books I've read before; while the ending was gripping to say the least, there were many predictable plot lines as well. While I think this was an entertaining read, and I will definitely pick up the sequel when its released this year, I also think it has its problems.
I'm going to go through everything in a spoiler free way, and then get to spoilers at the end of the post so don't be scared if you haven't read the book yet!
THE PLOT.
There were unfortunately many times when I was reading that I felt like I was reading a story I already know. This story feels like a combination of Hunger Games meets The Selection (which is interesting because the Selection is described as The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor...). There are many things especially in the first portion of the story that is very Hunger Games-esque and the general dystopian government has a similar set up as well.
Theres also the general plot of bringing the girl from rags to riches. Teaching her the ways of court and royalty/nobility/what have you. I couldn't help but feel like I was rereading the Selection, especially when we meet a character at court who reminded me of Celeste.
THE WRITING.
While Victoria's story was very similar to stories I've read before though, I also loved other parts of her writing. She wrote this story in third person present point of view, which I'm coming to realize I really love in a story that is thrilling such as a dystopian. It makes it feel like anything can happen because there's no assumption that your narrator survived what is happening in the story! I loved that.
I also loved all of the super powers described in the stories. I thought it was fun that each type of power had a nickname such as "greeny" for those who can control the earth and "nymph" for the water controllers. It was a very cute unique way to describe the powers we were seeing.
I also thought Victoria did an amazing job in writing her sinister villains. I was sufficiently angry and frustrated with the evilness of the villains in the best way possible!
(Fun fact: I fancasted the King in this book as the King from Reign aka our new Valentine for the Shadowhunters tv show. I think this was the best decision ever.)
THE CHARACTERS.
I'm going to have to warn for spoilers here. I want to get into some specifics about individual characters.
Mare. There are some mixed feelings here. I did enjoy that unlike many stories with a "hero" who is different than the rest and must rise to the occasion, Mare doesn't try too hard to run away from the role she must play in this game of court and government. I love that she wants the change and wants to be a part of the change. But even with that said, I feel like Mare was a little generic. She's not the perfect daughter, but she loves her family more than anything. She hates those in power who have wronged her people, but she still may be in love with one or both of the princes. I love that she wants to prove herself and her power but her emotions seem very generic in regards to her relationships with other characters in the story.
The cast of Reds. (Kilorn, Farley, Mare's family, etc)
I'm worried that Kilorn is a love interest, and I'm not into it. He also reminds me a lot of Aspen in The Selection and I found myself rolling my eyes a lot reading his scenes.
Farley is so badass, and I hope whats her face from GOT (brienne of tarth) plays her in the movie. I was so glad to see that she survived the climax of the story, but I also felt it was too easy that everyone lived. I hope that doesn't continue with the entire series, and our hearts will be ripped at some point.
Mare's family fell a little flat for me, in regards to Mare's relationships with them. There was so much negativity from Mare about her family, that I found myself a disinterested when Mare would worry about them. It didn't mesh well.
When we find out Shade is dead, I wasn't as sad as I wanted to be when reading about Mare's breakdown when she visits her family. And then when we see Shade alive at the end, I once again was not surprised. I saw it coming but I also just didn't care because I hadn't cared that we thought he was dead either.
The cast of Silvers. (Evangeline, Lucas, Julian, etc)
Lucas and Julian were probably my favorite characters. I loved Julian and I loved getting to know more about his powers and also how much he knows about the Reds. I felt his relationship with Mare once again could have been more fleshed out, because when he decided to leave at the end to go on the run, it just didn't hit me as emotionally as I felt Victoria was trying to make it. He was fun though and I'm always a fan of the character that gives us information about the world.
Lucas was also just a cute little comedy relief. I thought he was fun.
Evangeline is basically Celeste in The Selection, except WORSE. I love when she yells "she's mine!" during the execution scene! I want so badly for the scene where Mare and her duel it out, and Mare wins. I want a nice epic death for her, but I have a feeling she might see some redemption in the end.
The King and Queen.
Alright lets talk about our villains. Like I already said they were probably my favorite part of this story. This powerhouse of a marriage was terrifying from the first time we see them together from afar. The King is terrifying in his own right, but of course the Queen is just... yikes. Nightmares about her I swear.
The betrayal of the queen was insane. Its not that I didn't see it coming for her, because I did but I think I wasn't expecting it to happen in the first book. I expected the power house to maintain control together for a while longer. The scene with the Queen controlling Cal to make him kill the king was probably one of the more emotional scenes of the book. I loved the description of seeing that Cal was scared to do it, and hearing the King have some humanity, telling his son it's okay and he knows its not him. Wow probably the best part of the whole book!
Maven. okay. I need to talk about my heartbreak for a minute because I was so down for a different type of inevitable love story in a dystopian and I DIDNT GET IT. We met Cal first, and of course Mare is not betrothed to Cal but his brother, and so everything is leaning toward Cal for our OTP of this book. BUT I WANTED THIS TO BE DIFFERENT. I wanted her to want Maven, and I loved that we were seeing more strength in his character! When we see him come out as a rebel to Farley and Mare I got so freaking excited! and then BOOM my dream was destroyed because he was always his mother's son. I AM UPSET.
Cal. Can we just not with Cal? I'm so over the wishy washy feelings of Cal. I have to do what i'm supposed to and be king even if things are wrong???? no. I don't like it. And I know we probably will see some character development within Cal to realize that everything is wrong and ugly with his kingdom, but I'm still annoyed that Mare was falling for him before that.
SOME SPOILERY PLOT POINTS
I absolutely loved the idea that the reds are lying with their technology and making the radiated areas of the land look radiated when they're not in order to have a rebel base. That realization on the train was pretty fucking cool.
I was also terrified at the moment when Mare realizes her blood is down in the cells, and the queen will find out it was her who set the rebels free. The moment of terror flew through me, and I was so anxious until its resolved... which of course it was always resolved because the Queen is fucking everywhere.
Cal's excitement over the motorcycle... oh my god it was hilarious in such a good way. I loved Mare's reaction, saying something along the lines that its a death trap. It was such a normal conversation to have in this fantasy book. I loved it.
I thought it was interesting to get to hear bits and pieces about how red technology and silver power coexist, intertwine, and are also separate depending on what they're talking about. I found it fascinating and hope the whole concept gets more flushed out and delved into.
Okay time to talk about the ending. I know I talked about it a little when I discussed Shade and Farley, but I'm just a little disappointed that everyone we cared about survived. Its such an unrealistic idea that everyone Mare had met (almost) would have surprised such an intense attack on the rebels, and I didn't like it. I think I'm most annoyed that Kilorn is still alive and obviously going to create a love triangle. Can we not.
Thats everything I needed to say about Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard! Did you guys like this book? Are you planning to read the sequel?
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