Red Queen (Red Queen 1)

#bookreview#redqueen
by Victoria Aveyard #victoriaaveyard
Published February 10th, 2015 by HarperTeen
###/5

Red Queen is a Young Adult Dystopian Fantasy, told from the point of view of Mare, a young girl trying to survive everyday life; providing for-; and protecting her family against the Silvers – god-like humans with powers and abilities. Silvers (silver-blooded humans) rule Reds (red-blooded humans) in a Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones kingdom. Life is hard, and it’s about to get so much harder.

I give Red Queen a very respectable ### out of 5 octothorps (I don’t give half octothorps; I rather decide if I like it less or more and adjust my rating accordingly). My review contains spoilers, as this book is very difficult to review without giving away some character profiles and a plot overview.

What didn’t I like:

1. Dystopian novels like Hunger Games, Game of Thrones and YA fantasy sagas like Twilight and Harry Potter have dramatic and suspenseful moments. Events that keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering: “what is going to happen next? How are they going to get out of this?”
Unfortunately, in Red Queen, I was not sitting on the edge of my seat. Aveyard’s writing style is very bland when building up the suspense to key events and life-or-death moments – there was no drumming in my head. All events unfold in the same slow-paced, run-of-the-mill, everyday-life narration.
I found myself turning back a page and rereading sections thinking: “did I scan-read, did I miss something?????No, I didn’t, it’s just the writing style”

2. Throughout the story, I was very aware of Kilorn, Cal and Maven’s feelings towards Mare. Their feelings are not described in obvious words but in a well-written undertone. I could not say the same for Mare’s feelings towards Kilorn, Cal nor Maven. Aveyard did an unsatisfying job of describing or hinting at Mare’s feelings. In the end, big proclamations are made, and again, with no real build-up.

3. I prefer 3rd person narration and I would have loved to hear the events from one of the other characters’ point of view. Specifically, Cal and Kilorn; it would’ve added so much depth to this book.

4. I made 4 predictions as the story unfolded. All 4 came to pass. I am not proud of the fact that I predicted so accurately, I am disappointed in such a predictable ending.

What I liked:

1. The first chapter had my attention with First Friday, as it provided a very good introduction to the fantasy part of the book and gives you a crash course in the Silvers’ abilities and powers.

2.Mare is likable and relatable – she is a young girl with hopes, dreams, self-doubt, annoyances, and disappointments. She cares deeply for her family and her people and wishes she could provide a better life for them. I have to admit; later on, I had to change my perception of Mare, as I had a picture in my mind of a scruffy little thief and found it hard to imagine her as a princess – it had nothing to do with her looks, but again, something to with the Aveyard’s writing style. Mare‘s decisions though, are selfless and based on her want to do better for her people.

3. Each character has their own place in this hierarchy within a hierarchy world and they know what their duties and roles are (maybe slightly stereotypical, but not enough to take away from the interlinking relationships). There is a healthy mix of romance, intimacy, protectiveness and family loyalty. This kept me wanting to read more as I felt connected to them personally. I could feel what they feel, I could think, what they think. This part the Aveyard nailed!

In conclusion:

Even though the writing is not brilliant, I am hoping Aveyard grew in her writing throughout the remainder of the series. I found the story enjoyable enough to continue with the series until such time that it goes on the #dnf pile (hence the 3x ###/5).

Favorite quotes:

“It makes me afraid for the boy who taught me how to dance.” – such a tender moment and beautiful description.
“A hierarchy within the hierarchy.”

More books by #victoriaaveyard

Glass Sword (Red Queen, #2)
King’s Cage (Red Queen, #3)
War Storm (Red Queen, #4)
Queen Song (Red Queen, #0.1)
Cruel Crown (Red Queen, #0.1-0.2)
Steel Scars (Red Queen, #0.2)