Review of "Red Queen"

"No one has escaped conscription and lived."

     In Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen, there is more to who rules a kingdom than whose blood runs in one's veins. What's important is the color of the blood. Those who bleed Red are servants and laborers, while Silvers are the elite, enjoying endless luxury while using their superhuman powers to keep the "inferior" Reds in line. Mare Barrow is one of those Reds. As a pickpocket with no "real" job, she is slated to join the military on her eighteenth birthday, but she takes comfort in the knowledge that her best friend, Kilorn, and younger sister, Gisa, won't be joining her. That is, until Kilorn's master dies, and Mare must find a way to avoid conscription for them both. When a shocking twist of fate lands her before the king, she may finally have a way out for all of them. But pretending to be Silver will take strength, courage, and acting skills she never knew she possessed. And if she is to save herself and her people, she will have to risk everything.

     Red Queen is definitely much more than it appears to be. What starts out as a simple tale of self-preservation quickly evolves into a war of power, love, and seemingly magical abilities. There are so many twists and turns in the narrative that nothing, and no one, can be trusted. As Mare is fond of saying, anyone can betray anyone--and they do. From deceptive tactics in superpower duels to shocking betrayals and twists of fate, there are enough obstacles and challenges to keep any reader on the edge of their seat the whole way through. Not only must Mare pass herself off as a long-lost Silver noble, she soon becomes involved in a Red uprising that will test every ounce of her courage and power.

     Mare and the characters around her are startlingly complex, yet somehow also straightforward. First there is Gisa, Mare's seamstress sister who will singlehandedly save their family from ruin...until suddenly she can't. Next comes Kilorn, the boy who has already lost everything to the war, and the one Mare will do anything to protect. Then there's Cal, who is caring and war-loving all at once; and kind, compassionate Maven, his brother. While the primary enemy appears to be the snakelike Queen Elara, there are countless others who work for or against Mare and the cause she is learning to fight for, and it is only at the end that their true colors are revealed. This makes things deliciously believable and unpredictable, two must-haves in any good read.

     Strangely enough, although Mare spends the vast majority of this story engaged to a prince, there is very little romance in Red Queen. Sure, the crown prince has shown her kindness and is physically attractive. And yes, the prince she is actually engaged to shows signs of slowly falling for her even as she wins his heart. But while all the makings of a tragic love triangle lurk in the shadows, they are very subtle. Even Kilorn, who seems to have been who Mare was originally destined to be with, doesn't so much as flirt with her. There are, after all, more important things afoot--such as assassinations, interrogations, and terrorist attacks. This works surprisingly well with the storyline, and doesn't impede the plot one bit. If anything, it gives it just the push it needs to succeed.

     Also absent is cursing. Violence, however, is still present. This mostly consists of arena fights between powerful Silvers, with wounds quickly healed afterward. Fire, lightning, and brute strength are all used to great effect, as are mind-reading, light-bending, and the ability to control metal with one's mind. There seems to be no end to the Silvers' incredible abilities and what they can do with them. A few short scenes involving frozen blood and the discussion of treason's price are the only ones that can truly be called gory. There is a great deal of wondering whether dealing out death is the best way to win freedom, with plenty of chances for Mare and her friends to figure it out.

     I would recommend this book to teenagers with an interest in superpowers, subtle romance, and terrifying plot twists. Nothing is as it seems in Mare's blood-divided world, and no one can be trusted. The Silvers' abilities are incredibly believable, as is the kingdom's social structure and predicament. There is a legitimate reason for Mare to be in the position she is in, one that doesn't prevent her from fighting for the Reds she loves. Victoria Aveyard did a marvelous job with Red Queen, which deserves a full five stars.