A review by kishbokai
Broken Throne by Victoria Aveyard
3.0
The final, final book in this series. I didn't think I would give it a 3/5, but that's the outcome.
The book honestly felt like the DLC to Botw. Even though I'm a big fan of both, the DLC felt unnecessary and should have been added to the main books. For example, the two novellas at the start should have been placed in each book. They would have had way more impact that way than being tossed in this book.
However, I'm jumping ahead. So, let us move onward into this book.
You can divide this book into two major parts: Worlding building info dump and 6 short stories before, during, and after the series.
Worlding info dump:
In my last review, my major complaint was the lack of worldbuilding. The final book had to go deep within the worldbuilding in order to conclude the war itself. However, it never truly built a foundation for that and moved on as if the readers knew the actual politics of the world itself. In this book, we are finally treated to that history. Though it still barely counts as worldbuilding or any real meaningful information. They're parts that, quite literally, repeat themselves or list a timeline of rulers, but never dive into what each ruler bought to the table. Not every ruler has to, but if you're going to only have a small number, they should all bring something major to the table. The other countries are merely mentioned in passing that we now have that foundation, but the house is still weak and collapsible.
Case in point, the short story, Fire Light disgustingly proves my point.
Not to push right into the short stories, yet, I have to bring a small part of it. Almost all the characters are dreading this meeting, and it is described multiple times how tired they are. The conversations have many issues the countries are facing, or vast solutions to fix them that I barely understand. Not because they're complex, but because the world is too simple for these conversations. I can only assume these issues exist since they were never developed throughout the books. It's too little, too late to start doing that now. Doesn't help that the characters are also bored out of their minds that I can't help feel the same.
If the characters dread their own meetings about their countries' policies so much that they start to ignore the meeting itself, why should I spend my time reading it?
Now for the short stories which I rank from best to worst.
1. Iron Heart - C'mon, a short story about Evangeline and Elane is bound to be first. Not only is the character drama excellent, but the conclusion of Evangeline's arc is beautiful. She not only is able to move forward but moves forward with great pride and a future wife by her side. Also, the romance is so well that my heart did feel like beating out of my chest a couple of times. 5/5, no complaints from me.
2. Fare Well - This is a pretty interesting one. It was meant to be the last conversation between Maven and Cal, but we do know how Mare and the Scarlet Guard broke him out, giving him another chance. To have that be the last chance in their heads is intriguing. Maven has an amazing dialogue about his past and future death. Though it gets a 4/5 because of Cal's part. I really hate the guy.
3. Fire Light - From the fourth book, I never wanted these two to be together again. Cal not only betrayed her, but their relationship turned into a symbiotic need for the two of them. They mentally and physically couldn't be without each other because of their issues. It certainly isn't the healthiest way to deal with things, and I was happy Mare needed time for her own. I actually really liked Mare's chapters as she was trying to get adjusted to the new world in front of her and attempt to move on. But fucking Cal, man. Every chapter that has him starts with his tales of woe over how alone he is, and that he can't heal on his own. That Cal is going through very tough things, and blah, blah, blah, I don't fucking care about this guy. He could have died in that battle over the bridge, and I would have been cheering to the heavens. Every time he was depressed, I was happy on the inside. I hate that he convinces Mare to date him again. And yes, I said that even though you could say it was a mutual agreement. I will always bring Cal at fault. So, fuck him, and here's a 3/5.
4. Queen Song and Steel Scars - In my mind, these two are the same story. Not because they were originally in Cruel Crown, but simply because they're both equally boring and end in a similar way of kicking off Mare and Cal's troubles. Farley and Coriane have the same quality of doing one singular important thing and then spend the rest talking about very minor things. I honestly think they should have been in books one and two separately since they would have a much bigger impact than being in the aftermath. Reading Coriane's diary right after Cal's father died would have been heartbreaking, and the same with Shade in book two. So, here's a 2/5 for being boring, but I did enjoy Farley's and Shade's dialogue.
6. World Behind - This is fucking awful. Imagine a hollow tree with the most beautiful branches. Then an ax is thrown into the side almost knocking the tree down, but it somehow holds. That's what this story does. It's a one-shot that should have never seen the light of day with a prototype Evangeline and Cal that has a really poor romance that feels straight out of fanfiction. World Behind gets the honor of a 1/5.
With that all done, I've finished the Red Queen series. Despite my dislike for this book, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The fact I was passionate enough to write such long reviews for this series attest to that. I will miss reading it. Reading Mare's depressing thoughts, hating on Cal (FUCK YOU CAL, I HOPE YOU HAVE A PAINFUL DEATH TIBERIAS), loving every moment of Maven's evil actions, and seeing the unpredictable story unfold.
Goodbye Red Queen.
Rise, red as the dawn.
The book honestly felt like the DLC to Botw. Even though I'm a big fan of both, the DLC felt unnecessary and should have been added to the main books. For example, the two novellas at the start should have been placed in each book. They would have had way more impact that way than being tossed in this book.
However, I'm jumping ahead. So, let us move onward into this book.
You can divide this book into two major parts: Worlding building info dump and 6 short stories before, during, and after the series.
Worlding info dump:
In my last review, my major complaint was the lack of worldbuilding. The final book had to go deep within the worldbuilding in order to conclude the war itself. However, it never truly built a foundation for that and moved on as if the readers knew the actual politics of the world itself. In this book, we are finally treated to that history. Though it still barely counts as worldbuilding or any real meaningful information. They're parts that, quite literally, repeat themselves or list a timeline of rulers, but never dive into what each ruler bought to the table. Not every ruler has to, but if you're going to only have a small number, they should all bring something major to the table. The other countries are merely mentioned in passing that we now have that foundation, but the house is still weak and collapsible.
Case in point, the short story, Fire Light disgustingly proves my point.
Not to push right into the short stories, yet, I have to bring a small part of it. Almost all the characters are dreading this meeting, and it is described multiple times how tired they are. The conversations have many issues the countries are facing, or vast solutions to fix them that I barely understand. Not because they're complex, but because the world is too simple for these conversations. I can only assume these issues exist since they were never developed throughout the books. It's too little, too late to start doing that now. Doesn't help that the characters are also bored out of their minds that I can't help feel the same.
If the characters dread their own meetings about their countries' policies so much that they start to ignore the meeting itself, why should I spend my time reading it?
Now for the short stories which I rank from best to worst.
1. Iron Heart - C'mon, a short story about Evangeline and Elane is bound to be first. Not only is the character drama excellent, but the conclusion of Evangeline's arc is beautiful. She not only is able to move forward but moves forward with great pride and a future wife by her side. Also, the romance is so well that my heart did feel like beating out of my chest a couple of times. 5/5, no complaints from me.
2. Fare Well - This is a pretty interesting one. It was meant to be the last conversation between Maven and Cal, but we do know how Mare and the Scarlet Guard broke him out, giving him another chance. To have that be the last chance in their heads is intriguing. Maven has an amazing dialogue about his past and future death. Though it gets a 4/5 because of Cal's part. I really hate the guy.
3. Fire Light - From the fourth book, I never wanted these two to be together again. Cal not only betrayed her, but their relationship turned into a symbiotic need for the two of them. They mentally and physically couldn't be without each other because of their issues. It certainly isn't the healthiest way to deal with things, and I was happy Mare needed time for her own. I actually really liked Mare's chapters as she was trying to get adjusted to the new world in front of her and attempt to move on. But fucking Cal, man. Every chapter that has him starts with his tales of woe over how alone he is, and that he can't heal on his own. That Cal is going through very tough things, and blah, blah, blah, I don't fucking care about this guy. He could have died in that battle over the bridge, and I would have been cheering to the heavens. Every time he was depressed, I was happy on the inside. I hate that he convinces Mare to date him again. And yes, I said that even though you could say it was a mutual agreement. I will always bring Cal at fault. So, fuck him, and here's a 3/5.
4. Queen Song and Steel Scars - In my mind, these two are the same story. Not because they were originally in Cruel Crown, but simply because they're both equally boring and end in a similar way of kicking off Mare and Cal's troubles. Farley and Coriane have the same quality of doing one singular important thing and then spend the rest talking about very minor things. I honestly think they should have been in books one and two separately since they would have a much bigger impact than being in the aftermath. Reading Coriane's diary right after Cal's father died would have been heartbreaking, and the same with Shade in book two. So, here's a 2/5 for being boring, but I did enjoy Farley's and Shade's dialogue.
6. World Behind - This is fucking awful. Imagine a hollow tree with the most beautiful branches. Then an ax is thrown into the side almost knocking the tree down, but it somehow holds. That's what this story does. It's a one-shot that should have never seen the light of day with a prototype Evangeline and Cal that has a really poor romance that feels straight out of fanfiction. World Behind gets the honor of a 1/5.
With that all done, I've finished the Red Queen series. Despite my dislike for this book, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The fact I was passionate enough to write such long reviews for this series attest to that. I will miss reading it. Reading Mare's depressing thoughts, hating on Cal (FUCK YOU CAL, I HOPE YOU HAVE A PAINFUL DEATH TIBERIAS), loving every moment of Maven's evil actions, and seeing the unpredictable story unfold.
Goodbye Red Queen.
Rise, red as the dawn.