I don’t remember a time when I didn’t compare a book to the concept of The Hunger Games.  The idea of a girl rebelling standing up to an authoritative government.  When I first read the Hunger Games, I thought it was revolutionary.  A tale of an independent woman changing her society because she saw something wrong was inspirational. As I continued to read books that were receiving attention, I recognized the same concept being repeated.  I came to see a rebellious teenage girl as a Golden Rule for any young adult book.  I had almost given up on the young adult genre, until I came upon Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.  This welcomed breath of fresh air left me praising the power of creativity (plot twists galore).

The broad spectrum of the story (without giving spoilers) is simply this: a forgotten son, a vengeful mother, a brother with a long shadow and a strange mutation, together have written a tragedy.  Within this society, there is a division based on color of blood: red or silver.  In addition, the silvers have special powers that make them feel superior like gods.  Yet, there is a teenage girl, Mare Barrow, who will change all of this.  She is living in near-poverty, fearing conscription to an ongoing war that has stolen her brothers.  She lives at home with her war wounded father, her disapproving mother, and her younger skilled seamstress sister.  Unlike her talented sister, Mare has no civilized skills, but she is an excellent pick pocketer.  Until a day filled with one terror after the next, Mare pickpockets the wrong (or maybe I should say right) person.  It may seem like an ordinary beginning, but rest is like nothing you have ever read.  I will tell no more of Aveyard’s master plan to capture your attention and not let go.

What really kept me entranced by this book was the descriptive language Victoria Aveyard used.  She created large scenes that gave an overall detailed understanding of the world Mare lives in, but Aveyard also wrote in depth illustrations of the character’s emotions and thoughts with only a few words.  With a few words she tells the reader the illusions that mock our innocence, the true power (and weakness) of a lie, and the truth hidden underneath the extravaganza.  Aveyard simply writes, “Words can lie. See beyond them.”  She identifies the essence of the entire book.  The lies and secrets kept only cloud the truth, you must see beyond them always.  From the beginning she tells us there will be more than meets the eye.

Following the golden rule template, however, there is a love triangle, but (of course) there is a twisted twist.  I have read this book several times now, and I still cannot say if I am torn by, in love with, or angered by this love triangle.  You simply have to read the book to understand. Tell me what you think!
If you liked what you read, there is more.  Check out my blog.