Thursday, November 16, 2017

Review (re-read): Red Queen (Red Queen #1)


Author: Victoria Aveyard
Started reading: October 26th 2017
Finished the book: November 16th 2017
Pages: 383
Genres: Fantasy, YA
Published: February 10th 2015
Source: Bought the book
Goodreads score: 4.08
My score:
Synopsis
This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.




My thoughts
I'm so excited to have this series in my bookcase in hardcover, since I actually fell in love with this series since I read book one. I always read the Red Queen books together with a friend of mine and since book 3 came out, I decided to re-read the first two. I also read the novella, which definitely added something to the story! So excited to write a review about this first book.

Pros
  • Silver blood: It's so cool that this book contains silver blood. You are reminded about the silver blood a lot, and that is good. I always form a picture in my head (like all readers, I guess) and I pictured it everytime with red blood, like I'm used to. Victoria keeps reminding you that the powerful humans have silver blood, and that made the pictures in my head different and it looked so cool in my head! Also the fact that their skin is pale, because their is silver blood in their veins, I wouldn't even have thought about that!
  • Plot twists: There is a nice bunch of plot twists in this book. I remember that I did not see them coming. Also; people you might care about a little bit could die and that keeps the tension, in combination with the plot twists, pretty high.
  • Pacing: You get to know Mare, her village, her family and her situation and after that you actually fall right into the story and it keeps going after that. The pacing was, for me, quick and something happened every chapter that kept you on edge.
  • Characters: There is a character for everyone in this story and I love that Anyone can betray anyone. You care about certain characters, you trust them, and then you don't trust them, and you trust them again. You like certain characters, and then you don't, but you kinda do...
Cons
  • Story after big plot twist: There is a very big plot twist in this story that I did not see coming when I first read the book. It was awesome!! I was so shocked and after that I finished the book within 1 sitting, like I did this time as well. I did find the story predictable after this big plot twist and that took away some of the tension I did feel throughout the book.
Overall
I fell in love with the Red Queen series in May 2016. I remember reading the second book and that I liked that one as well. I can't wait to read the third book, together with my friend Zwaantina and tell you guys all about it. I've seen negative reviews for this book as well, but I can't agree. This book is written well, has the characters, world building, plot and a bit of romance. Yay!

Other opinions about this book
"A sizzling, imaginative thriller, where romance and revolution collide, where power and justice duel. It's exhilarating. Compelling. Action-packed. Unputdownable."
- USA Today

"Aveyard weaves a compelling new world of action-packed surprises... inventive, character-driven."
- Kirkus

"A volatile world with a dynamic heroine."
- Booklist

Memorable quotes from this book
"The truth is what I make it. I could set this world on fire and call it rain."

"Anyone can betray anyone."

Thanks for reading!
Please let me know what you think about this book/review.