“The gods rule us still. They have come down from the stars. And they are no longer kind.”  

                                                                                                     -Red Queen

  Red Queen, written by New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard, is the first in a four-book series. Since its publication by HarperTeen in 2015, the novel has won the Choice Awards for the Best Debut Goodreads Author, among other awards and nominations. Red Queen, categorized as Young Adult Fantasy, features a dystopian world where social hierarchy is defined by the color of blood- red or silver. This is a thrilling novel that fans of George R. R Martin’s Game of Thrones and Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games will love. 

The story is told by 17-year-old Mare Barrow, from the Stilts, who must survive the cruel world that persecutes those with her red blood. A life-changing event then drags her unwillingly into the golden world of the Silver caste where she makes an important discovery about herself. After learning the distinct trait she possesses, she will be a crucial part in bringing down the Silvers’ reign of injustice. Stubborn Mare will accept the reality she is handed, but not before changing the course of history in the process. She will come to realize that she, too, is special, but in a different way, her own way. 

Victoria Aveyard does an excellent job of bringing the story to life. Her writing is fast paced and never bores readers. There is no need to wait for the action to begin. She has many intriguing lines that make readers question everything they think they know so far. Two examples are “Anyone can betray anyone” and  “Power is a dangerous game.” These types of lines sprinkled throughout the book help to push the storyline forward and keep the plot captivating.

 As great as her action-packed writing style is, it’s not perfect. Aveyard does not focuses on the aspect of setting. She does not include an abundance of setting details and is quick to tell what is happening in a scene but not what’s in the scene. This is not disastrous though, since these minor details can be filled in by readers and each reader’s take on the book has a larger chance of being more unique. The author may not tell the specifics on every building the characters see, but she does a magnificent job of conjuring a plot that contains even more ups and downs than a rollercoaster. Victoria Aveyard, by all means, is a crafty writer. She knows how to keep her readers compelled as pages keep turning until the very end.

Just because the story is centered on Mare’s discovery about the dynamics of power, that doesn’t mean the book has no tether to reality. A large issue, specifically in the teen stage, is the idea of conforming. The Reds, with their seemingly unimportant blood, are considered outcasts by the leading Silver class. Mare herself is an aberration that shouldn’t happen and she is forced to change into the ways of the power-driven and cold-hearted Silvers. She has trouble adjusting to the lavish, but empty society of the creme de la creme in her world. This is reflected in our current society where teenagers feel they have to change to a certain way to be accepted and fit in with everyone else.

Victoria Aveyard delivers the story of Red Queen beautifully. This is a sweeping tale of power and betrayal many readers would enjoy, no matter whether they are a Silver or a Red.

“This is life and death. I’m not playing for a throne or crown or prince… I’m different.”