Reviews with content warning for Xenophobia - Red Queen

To simply put, Red Queen would remind you of any young adult dystopian replica that revolves around the issues of classism where youth has taken the strongest voice of resistance against dictatorial leadership. We might have been very much familiar with the titles due to their explosive popularity, nonetheless, each tale writes a uniqueness that defines their individuality.

Perhaps, that novel quality lies in the illustration of conflicts between the sub-human race in regards to power and privilege. The existence of Mare Barrow is constructed as a usurper of the luxurious lifestyle that Silvers have devoured, threatening the stronghold of the status quo because of a lowly Red producing a similar superpower that is believed to be limited for the elites. It pushes the elites to do something quite severe in handling the case—either she is molded into one of them while secretly being watched as a guinea pig of research or destroyed to save the extravagance before she turns to slaughter them.

In doing so, Aveyard prepares one step further for the Red Queen to transform into something much more significant that could change the game from the one presented, intensifying a peaked climax that reveals a more dangerous momentum in a plot twist that has been foreshadowed since the beginning of the chapter. The betrayal she ensues is wickedly crafty yet coldly mortifying to witness, solidifying her talent to twist interpersonal and political conflicts in a fiction.

While the plot is consistently engaging from the start to the finish, the initial establishment of the characters leave much to be desired: they exist for the sake of existing as the typical tropes of dystopian fiction, presenting their characterization into seemingly one-dimensional writing that lacks any spark. Fortunately, the historical background that is gradually revealed in the book helps to keep them from being a total bore-fest, pushing these characters to grow as the tale goes darker on each page. As a result, it culminates into a portrayal of main characters that have gone beyond the measly introduction of their names.

Do I like it? Surely, I do. That ending alone is certainly satisfying as a cliff-hanger that gets me on board for the next books. Although, I couldn't say that this is the strongest debut I've seen in a while.

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claire_fitzgibbon13's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Kept me on my toes the whole time, the plot twists were so amazing and devastating, never would’ve saw them coming. I loved this book, and love Mare so much.

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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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mfieldshalva's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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