Title: The Red Queen Author: Victoria Aveyard Series: Red Queen #1 Genre: YA Fantasy Content Warning: Mild language and violence (war)

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 Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. That is until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power. Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime. But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart. – Goodreads

My Thoughts

Whoa. I liked this. Some of the violence was a tad graphic for my taste, but the writing was decent and the story was intriguing. I liked the concept of power (superhuman abilities) being tied to blood, and I liked the creative variety of abilities that exist in this world. The villains were pretty dastardly, but I did see it coming a mile away. There were also a few plot points that felt a little forced or convenient. But it was a fun, compelling read that kept me turning the pages (well, listening). You’ll like this if you liked the Hunger Games (which I didn’t), Divergent (which I did), or Red Rising (which I didn’t). Apparently, these sorts of books are hit and miss for me. This one happened to be a hit. Score: (4 / 5)  

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