Reviews with content warning for Police brutality - Red Queen

This was a DENSE book. It was THIQQUE with world building and just… so fuckin much political anguish. The scenes of torture and abuse and the beheading scene were intense and the corrupt, the betrayal, the pain. It was a whole lot. And the surprise ending was… wow.

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readwithde's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Another day, another strong, female YA/NA novel about overthrowing the government.

I have to say, this might be one of my favorite fictional worlds, and the story happening around and to the MCs is so overwhelmingly amazing. Mare, a simple thief and Red girl ends up having an amazing ability, just like the elite Silvers who rule. Like many female leads, she is thrust into this new world of court, politics, and betrayal, where only power and strength are honored.

Unlike the other heroines, Mare remains thoroughly different. She doesn't learn courtly intrigue, she doesn't come to understand the Silvers, and she never chooses romance over her family, her friends, and her Red blood. The comfort and protection and specialness never trick her into forgetting the pain and atrocities of her people. Also, she trains a bit, but she is still outmatched by those who have had decades of work; at the end of the book, she is stronger, but not unrecognizable. It's refreshing.

I saw a few of the twists coming, but it didn't run the story for me. The princes Cal and Maven are interesting and consistent, the Scarlet Guard is active as its own entity (aka not waiting around for the MCs), and the Silvers all have their own games and loyalty.

I loved it, and I'm dying for the next book.

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ravenclawincabin13's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

It was an amazing book with a lot, A LOT of plot twists and it kept me on my toes don’t know who to love and who to hate.
Really like the plot idea and the premise of the book, some things were a little predictable and cliche but super worth it! Can’t wait to read the rest of the series

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