Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Title: Red Queen (Red Queen, #1)
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication date: February 10, 2015
Pages: 320
Rating: 5/5 stars
Purchase: Barnes and Noble

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers. To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change. Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control. But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win? 

“Anyone can betray anyone.” 

I don't think I've ever approached a book with so much caution until Red Queen. Beautifully written and masterfully thought of, Victoria Aveyard's novel kept me on edge at all times. Though the line "anyone can betray anyone" was constantly repeated throughout the book, I still flipped each page with wariness. The intensity of its twists was enough to make me fall in love with this book. I had guesses of my own, but Aveyard proved me wrong many times. 

In all embarrassing honesty, I thought this book was going to be an Alice in Wonderland twist. I just needed to have this book from first look, and that alone speaks volumes. Cover-wise, it's eye-catching and it makes you want to delve further into this simple yet bloody book. I was not expecting its plot to be what it was.

Red Queen revolves around a seventeen-year-old girl named Mare, who is a Red. In this society, classes are divided into two: Reds and Silvers. Simply put, the Reds are commoners, while the Silvers act like gods. People in this world also have abilities, or powers if that's what you'd like to call them. The commoner Mare soon finds herself in the company of Silvers, where she discovers she may not be so common as she thinks. 

“I woke up this morning as one person, and now I'm supposed to be someone else entirely.” 

Aside from the twists, the plot itself was something I found incredible. Though it has some elements that are in other Young Adult titles, the way they are combined makes something quite unique. I enjoyed the dash of romance, the flair of betrayal, and the pinch of strength that this book exclaimed on every page. Romance and politics were brilliantly executed, keeping both at a healthy level, maintaining the balance.

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

The heroine, Mare, shows her vulnerability in such an inspiring way. In some books, the main character appears strong and does not show any sign of fear, but Mare does the opposite. She shows that she is meek and afraid, but also shows she is aggressive and determined. This brought her to life, giving her a sense of realism that anyone can identify with. Her character, together with the others, is also developed at a perfect pace.

Though romance seems like a requirement for most Young Adult books, Red Queen does not jump over the line that separates just-enough-romance and cringe-worthy-love. I approached the book with caution, but I still managed to ship her with both of the charming boys. Seeing her with both of them made me afraid and giddy at the same time. 

Overall, Red Queen is the kind of book you will devour. I sat still for four hours, reading this book from cover to cover, because it was that beautiful. In a word, Red Queen is elegant, just like its cover and just like the world it has created. 

Buy yourself a copy of this book. You will not regret it.