Book Review: Red Queen 

By Victoria Aveyard 

5 Stars 

Red Queen is part of the Red Queen series, consisting of 7 books written by Victoria Aveyard. It follows the story of Mare Barrow as she navigates her world of Norta, where one's status depends on the colour of their blood - Reds and Silvers, commoners and royalty. Because of this, the Reds are treated like slaves and sent off to the battlefront if they fail to get a job till they turn 18, which was exactly what was about to happen to Mare.  

 With the help of the crowned prince Cal, Mare was able to get a job working for the King. It was during this time period where she discovered her hidden power - wielding lightning. Throughout the book, Mare has to make it through politics in play and power struggles coming her way. 

My rating for this book is a solid 5 stars because I absolutely loved this book! I took on this book because it was well recommended by everyone, the internet and classmates, and sure enough, I ended up loving everything about it. The plot is complex and well-detailed, but not too much to be boring. The various power plays and plot twists are numerous and always keep one guessing, showing how things are not always how they seem. The fast-paced events kept the story interesting and made me keep reading even through some significant reading blocks. The characters were well-written, and it was easy to relate to them, especially Mare (as it was her perspective). It was also easy to imagine what it would be like to be in their shoes. This is important because the setting in which the story was in, with supernatural powers and rebellions, was definitely not the world readers are used to, and the ability Victoria Aveyard has to transport us there with such ease is truly inspiring. The different conflicts were surprisingly related to real-world concepts and things we are still struggling with today. The story of Reds vs Silvers mimics conflicts seen and experienced by many globally. It makes people relate and reflect on issues of racism and segregation, among many more.  

To conclude, if you're looking for a book with a balance of real-world scenarios intertwined with fantasy, look no further, for this is the perfect book for you! 

Reviewed by Nishka 

View in Library Catalogue: Print | Downloadable Audiobook | Audiobook CD