Red Queen – Victoria Aveyard

Release date: 10 February 2015
Rating: ★★★★★★★ – 7/10
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Red Queen (Red Queen series #1) blurb:

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 seventeen-year-old Mare, a red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

But Mare possesses a deadly power of her own.  One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of her potential, the Silvers hide Mare in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess.  Knowing that one false move will mean her death, Mare must use her new position to bring down the regime – from the inside.

Now Mare has entered a game of betrayal and lies.

This is Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart…

Oh my goodness.  I had no idea what I was missing out on with this book!  Victoria Aveyard should be crowned the queen of twists because I absolutely did not see half of that coming.  What a ride!

I have been glued to this book (as much as possible) for the last two days, and I cannot wait to start reading Glass Sword.  Unfortunately (for me), I decided to start reading these while in Rockhampton with family, and there are no bookshops that I can buy King’s Cage at, should I finish book two in the next week!

When I first started the book, it felt like it might have a ‘Hunger Games fanfic’ origin, but that thought was quickly banished as the story progressed.  Not to say that there isn’t a likeness between Katniss and Mare, but just that the way Mare is exploited is different to the way that Katniss was.  And Mare is a more willing participant.

The premise is that of the have’s (the Silvers, or those with mutant-style powers), and the have-not’s (the Reds, or the ‘regular’ people).  There is a clear divide between the two groups, with the Silvers enslaving the Reds, but allowing them rations to survive.  There is a another conflict within the story that is touched on – between the kingdom and the Lakelanders over a border of land.  The Silvers conscript Reds to fight, and this looks to be the fate (or has been the fate) of some of the lesser characters in this story.

The characters, to begin with, felt weak and somewhat vapid; however, as they story progresses they become fuller, conflicted and more relatable.

The story centres around three characters in particular: Mare, Cal and Maven; and how the events of the story manipulate them, and the relationships between them.  Brothers, Cal and Maven, seem to be focused on the same goal until their feelings for Mare change them.  Mare is divided in her feelings, constantly battling between what is right and what feels right.

Overall, the story is well done, with plenty of unexpected twists.  I am looking forward to book two!