Red Queen
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Source: ARC provided by Publisher. Thank you!
My Rating: 4 stars
Summary:
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.
***
I don’t know why, but when I give a book 4 stars I feel the need to explain why I didn’t give it 5 stars.
In the case of Red Queen, even though the book was great, with amazing characters, a wonderful world-building and an addictive writing, I felt like it lacked of originality: It reminded me of The Hunger Games, The Selection, Pawn, X-Men, Red Rising and even of Snow Like Ashes.
You see, I loved all those books, and I really, liked Red Queen. But I was expecting something different.
Also, the “romance” made me feel confused. It was a kind of love triangle and I didn’t know if I trusted any of the princes, which was a problem as well, because I don’t trust a main character that falls in love with a prince and forget the place where she came from (fortunately, this wasn’t the case.)
Now, to be fair, let me tell you what I liked:
First of all: the ending. It wasn’t really unexpected, but it was powerful. It got me on the edge of my seat, until I read the last word.
It was action packed with amazing fight scenes and nail-biting suspense.
It was great to discover that Red Queen is a dystopian novel set in a fantasy world.
The plot was fast paced, full of twists and turns, conspiracy and betrayals. It was impossible to put it down.
Every character is intriguing. You don’t know whom to trust. You don’t know what’s inside those character’s head.
I feel like I needed to discover their secrets.
What a rush!
Since all the things I didn’t like end up with this part, I can’t wait to read the second one. Waiting for it will be a pain.
Red Queen is a wonderful debut that you won’t want to miss!
That's what I've been hearing! I've read another review today that mentioned a lot of the same books! I'm so curious now!
ReplyDeleteIt's a good book, my main problem was the romance, really. I hope you give it a chance!
DeleteHmm. A mixed review. I was all over this book. Harper was giving away ARCs at the New York Comic Con. The same thing happens every year. There is a book I desperately want. The person in front of me wins it and I don't. This past NYCC was no different. However, a book blogger a couple people in front of me was the jackpot and got all the books. Since she already had it, she gave me her copy. I was sooo happy!
ReplyDeleteI think I will like it as well, but I'd really love to love. Time will tell. I need to get to it.
Tammy @ Bo's Book Nook
Well, it still sounds good. And I understand the things with the 4 stars, it happens to me all the time.
ReplyDeleteI need to read it too, as I've had it for a while now, but so many others come up and I am left in teh same place, LOL, hopefully I will read it soon.
It's funny that you mention the similarities to other books. Sometimes when I read lots of books in a similar genre close together, they tend to seem like the same thing. Perhaps it's just saturation of the market. However, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDelete