By Arthur Slade
4 Stars
Crimson is an engrossing addition to the fantasy of the young adult genre written by Arthur Slade: a dark world of magic and danger, resilience. It revolves around Fen, a young girl who grew up in a harsh society governed by Queen Servilia, ruling using magical red dust to hold on to power. Fen's life becomes increasingly reordered as she discovers that she has wild magic—her hair turns deep crimson red—placing her on a dangerous course of rebellion and self-discovery. 
Slade has done an impeccable job in creating this world: detailed and immersive. It skillfully evokes an atmosphere of oppression under Queen Servilia's reign, drawing contrasts powerfully between the queen's enforced uniformity and wild magic burgeoning everywhere. A fast-paced and suspenseful story that flows at a breakneck pace from its beginning, making it quite difficult to put down once started.
Fen is a well-written lead character whose path through development and determination is credible and inspiring. This fight against such overwhelmingly potent forces trying to dictate the course her fate shall run is so amazingly relatable. It is marked with moments of both vulnerability and strength. The late supporting characters are brilliantly thought out, where each one brings more depth into the storyline and plot, accumulating multifarious dynamics with the rich voices and intentions that add in.
The writing of Arthur Slade is, at times, both elegant and accessible, with a precision that keeps the story moving without bogging the reader down with extraneous detail. The dialogue is sharp and works to further flesh out real characterizations of the characters.
A masterful blend of action, fantasy, and emotion, Crimson delivers chip-offs of power, freedom, and identity, all intellectualized in a very thought-provoking way. It is definitely a must-read for fans of this genre and a good read for those craving something with action and a strong heroine.
Reviewed by Becky
View in Library Catalogue: Print
Add a comment to: Book Review: Crimson