In a world divided by blood, where those with red blood serve the silver-blooded elite, Mare Barrow, a red-blooded girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, discovers she possesses the powers of a silver-blood. Forced to play the role of a lost silver princess, Mare navigates power dynamics and a growing rebellion, all while uncovering hidden truths and facing tough choices amidst a dangerous conflict between Reds and Silvers.
The plot of "Red Queen" follows Mare's journey as she becomes entwined in a complex web of relationships, betrayals, and power struggles within a society where blood defines one's fate. The book combines elements of fantasy and dystopian fiction, offering a mix of intrigue, action, and unexpected twists that keep readers engaged from start to finish.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
There are themes of violence, betrayal, and war, which may be distressing for some readers.
Has Romance?
There is a significant romantic subplot that features a love triangle.
From The Publisher:
The #1 New York Times bestselling series!
Red Queen, by #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard, is a sweeping tale of power, intrigue, and betrayal, perfect for fans of George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones series.
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.
Plus don't miss Realm Breaker! Irresistibly action-packed and full of lethal surprises, this stunning fantasy series from Victoria Aveyard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Red Queen series, begins where hope is lost and asks: When the heroes have fallen, who will take up the sword?
Ratings (356)
Incredible (50) | |
Loved It (113) | |
Liked It (88) | |
It Was OK (61) | |
Did Not Like (34) | |
Hated It (10) |
Reader Stats (676):
Read It (363) | |
Currently Reading (7) | |
Want To Read (230) | |
Did Not Finish (17) | |
Not Interested (59) |
10 comment(s)
The author's dedication is to her family "who wanted to know what happened next even when [she] didn't" and like?? That should have been my first warning.
Unlikable overpowered super-special MC with an obnoxious narrative voice. I made it through one chapter and knew exactly where it was going. No thanks. Would have been more interesting if Bone Marrow got her super special powers and her super fancy new title as princess and decided to join the side she's always hated.
It was just OK, pretty sure it's like all others of same vein I have read before... Parts of this I found boring and the Romance love triangle baloney, I'm sick of them now in YA to be honest.
This could have been a lot better if more world building and concentration on the red/silver war was achieved instead of romance. Pretty disappointed and had to force myself to finish it.
I'm not falling easily in love with YA fantasy stories. This one was alright, decent plotline with the blood classes and drama. Entertaining enough but not sure if I will continue with it as I didn't find anything overly compelling for me.
First, let's get some things straight. Is this as good as
Red Rising? No. Does it have similar themes? Yes. But comparing this to
Red Rising is like comparing apples to oranges. They're not quite comparable--they're both fruit, but they taste completely different. And one has an edible skin.
This book is quite good. I started it yesterday and finished it today. It's
that good. I basically devoured it. It's as good as the Grisha trilogy, although I devoured one book after another there and the sequel for this book isn't out yet.
It takes the traditional tropes and turns them on their head. I have to say that I saw a particular spoiler moment coming, but that might've been because I just finished reading a book where the main character literally betrays almost every single person in her life. So I was already suspicious.
The pacing could be better. The story develops slowly but picks up in the last ten chapters with many twists and turns making it hard to put down.
First dystopian I loved wholeheartedly in middleschool
Perhaps it's because I'm not a huge fan of books centered around court life and political intrigue, but I wasn't a big fan of "Red Queen".
I found the concept itself very interesting, and that is what got me into this book originally. The Silvers (gifted with strong supernatural abilities) rule over the Reds (no abilities) without kindness or sympathy. The odds are very much against the Reds to ever improve their situation, until our main character, Mare, discovers a shocking secret about herself that could change everything.
I didn't feel very attached to any of the characters, and honestly wasn't all that excited by the events of the book. To be fair, the twist at the end did genuinely surprise me, but if that's all I can say about this book, it's not much.
Plot twist
Amazing world buildling and magic system and a dark plot twist. I like how she loves one brother yet schemes with another. It's a very unique dynamic.
While not my most favorite book series, I did enjoy the Red Queen series. I’m especially fond of the first book. It’s the one that set everything into motion, and there is a bit of a plot twist at the end of it.
What can you read after
Red Queen?
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
