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Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard ARC Review

ebook, 307 pages
Published by HarperTeen
Expected Publication Date: February 10, 2015 
Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

This book is like Shadow and Bone mixed with The Selection and The Hunger Games. Maybe that makes it sound cliche but it's definitely not. Although it has similarities to the books I listed above, it stands on its own. The plot and characters are so complex that nothing and no one is as they appear. The writing style is well-detailed and evokes a lot of emotion. While reading, I found myself in the character's shoes and feeling all of their emotions. I finished this book yesterday and a few of the scenes are still playing in my head and making me want to cry. This book has it all for you dystopian lovers out there. There's magic, action, suspense, drama, and love.

I had two main problems with this book. First, parts of it are a bit slow but it's understandable because the author has created a whole new world for us so it takes some time to explain. It's very detailed; I could clearly picture everything in my head. I just found it to be a bit slow.

The second was that it was unclear who the main love interest is, which makes it unique but also makes it harder to connect with the main character's emotions. On the other hand, it makes love not the main story line, which I prefer. I would definitely recommend this book and I can't wait for the next one.


1) The story was just so complicated and dramatic. It was very well thought-out and had a good pace. There is so much that happens but it doesn't feel overwhelming. I forced myself to read this slowly and carefully because I wanted to imagine every little detail so I could be fully immersed in the plot.

2) I'm glad that there is so many other things important to the plot other than the romance. Sometimes when dystopian novels are so focused just on that the rest of the story suffers. This not just the not the case with this book. There is just the right amount of romance and it blends well into the plot.

3) All of the characters are just as detailed and complicated as the plot. No one is as they appear and it's great.

4) The main character has flaws that other characters never forgive her for. It's common in the majority of YA novels that the main character is this righteous heroine, that could do no wrong, and when she screws something up it's somehow not her fault or it was out of her hands. Although Mare has her amazing qualities she is also flawed which makes her more relatable.

5) The main character has other complicated relationships other than her love interest. There are her relationships with each member of her family. Each one is well-defined even though they are not a large part of the plot. I especially loved her relationship with her brother Shade.


1) Mare goes back and forth on who she's in love with. One minute she loves someone, then the next she hates them, it's very convoluted. It sounds worse by the way I'm describing it but considering the plot of the book it's understandable as to why she struggles with who to trust and love but I just wanted something a tad more concrete.

2) There are large sections that are a bit slow, but as I said, this isn't a huge problem because Aveyard is world-building and that's to be expected.

Kilorn Warren. A fisherman's apprentice, a war orphan, and probably my only real friend. We used to beat each other up as children, but now that we're older--and he's a foot taller than me--I try to avoid scuffles. He has his uses, I suppose. Reaching high shelves, for example.
Dear family, I am alive. Obviously.
If there was ever a person begging for an elbow to the face, it is Evangeline Samos.
Cal bold and reckless, things he never was before. He takes me by the hand, pulling me to him. He's betraying his only brother. I'm betraying my cause, Maven, and myself, but I don't want to stop.

Anyone can betray anyone. 

His lips are on mine, hard and warm and pressing. The touch is electrifying, but not like I'm used to. This isn't a spark of destruction but a spark of life.

As much as I want to pull away, I just can't do it. Cal is a cliff and I throw myself over the edge, not bothering to think of what it could do to us both. One day he'll realize I'm his enemy, and all this will be a far-gone memory. But not yet.

Thank you Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for my ebook copy of this ARC.

12 comments:

  1. I haven't read this yet but WOW is that a gorgeous cover! <3

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    1. I know, right? They say don't judge a book by it's cover, but it's difficult when it's that beautiful.

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  2. This book sounds amazing.. I'm totally reading it next ^_^

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  3. this book must be amazing if you gave it 5 stars

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    1. Haha. Well, just because I think so doesn't mean others will.

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  4. I'm currently in the middle of Outlander, but this Red Queen is definitely next!

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    1. I've been curious about Outlander, how is it?

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    2. It deserves some eye rolls in parts, but I really liked the first two! There are some steamy scenes, so I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but if that doesn't bother you check them out! The TV series is pretty true to the books as well.

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    3. That's right, I forgot that it was a TV series as well. I'll add them to my long list of books to check out haha.

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  5. I've also been super curious about Outlander! And the Red Queen! So many books I want to read..

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    1. There are so many out there I want to read, but it's hard to find the time for them all.

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