Red vs. Silver: Red Queen Series Review

In a world where the color of your blood determines your station in life, Mare Barrow must figure out who she is and how she can change the world around her.  This is the Red Queen series review.

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“Anyone can betray anyone.”
― Victoria Aveyard, Red Queen

Book Title: Red Queen (#1), Glass Sword (#2), King’s Cage (#3), War Storm (#4 To Be Released May 2018)
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publication Date: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopia
Goodreads Rating: 4.08 Stars
My Rating: 4.5 Stars

(From Red Queen)

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.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart…

1. Ok this is a series review. I was going to review just Red Queen. Except I couldn’t stop reading long enough to write down coherent thoughts. I jumped from book to book without stopping to breathe or cook or clean (sorry, husband). I’ll try to not spoil anything, as always, but whew. Emotions.

2. Mare freaking Barrow. This main character has SO MUCH SASS and I really just love it. Throughout the books, she transitioned through a street-smart wiseass who had no problem thieving for her family, to a political prisoner who wants nothing more but to blend into the shadows, to an out-and-out leader who thinks of nothing besides winning, to a compassionate leader who considers the thoughts and feelings of those around her. And honestly, I love nothing more in a book than a female character with a good arch and real problems and truth in her personality.

3. There’s no sugarcoating here. One of my favorite aspects of this series is the real mental illness that goes on. So many novels have characters who bounce back effortlessly from the horrors or war, but in this series, the characters (ALL OF THEM) are constantly questioning their mission, wondering if it’s worth it, second guessing their decisions, agonizing over lost friends and kills they had to make, and debating if they want to keep moving forward. There is a truth and honesty in their depiction of war and rebellion, and I love seeing the characters grapple with their choices.

4. The equality in this book though. I was surprised that the national conscription age for everyone to join the army was 18, no matter your gender. The main character was, I suspect, a person of color, along with many of the other main characters. One of the main points of view in the third book is a character in a lesbian relationship. But the best part about it? None of this was made a big deal out of. It was revealed slowly, naturally, like it’s all no big deal. But in YA literature, it definitely is a big deal.

5. There’s literally no down time. These books are action packed from start to finish. There were times that I had to put down the novel because I had too much anxiety from the events in the book. I had forgotten how GOOD a YA dystopian could be, and this series did not disappoint (other than me realizing that the final installment of the book won’t be released until May…) 

This series is badass characters, fierce villains, class hierarchy, feminism and equality, thoughtful characters, and nonstop action. Read. This.

“The truth is what I make it. I could set this world on fire and call it rain.” Red Queen

“So you choose him?” “Cal betrayed me, and I betrayed him. And you betrayed us both, in a thousand different ways.” “I choose no one.” Glass Sword

“To stand in front of a person who is your whole world and be told you are not enough. You are not the choice. You are a shadow to the person who is your sun.” King’s Cage

“If you know someone’s fear, you know them.” Red Queen

“Those who know what it’s like in the dark will do anything to stay in the light.” King’s Cage

“No one is born evil, just like no one is born alone. They become that way, through choice and circumstance.” Glass Sword

“Then I remember―monsters are most dangerous when they’re afraid.” King’s Cage

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