Review: “Red Queen” (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard.

Title: Red Queen

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Book: Red Queen #1

Editorial: HarperTeen

Year: 2015

Pages: 469 (Hardcover)

ISBN-13: 9780062310637

PVP: 16 € (Hardcover)

Mark: 8/10

 ABSTRACT

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.

PERSONAL VALORATION

Justification

Red Queen is the first book in a homonymous series books written by Victoria Aveyard of which now four have been published (Red Queen, Glass Sword, King's Cage and War Storm) as well as a set of prequel stories. In this way, this series has established itself as a reference within the genres of "young-adult" (YA), fantasy and apocalyptic futures. Following the publication of the last of the books this month, I decided to review the saga and, for this, I will make a review of each of the books.

Plot

The story is about Mare Barrow, a girl with red blood and, therefore, a lower estate than silver blood. Like many protagonists of YA books, Mare keeps her family, in this case, making small robberies while her three older brothers fight in the war. A series of events force her to leave The Stilts (the area where she lives) and take her to court with the royal family (all of them silver bloods and with abilities or superpowers), where she has to adopt a new personality. Soon Mare is immersed in the Scarlet Guard, a clandestine organization that seeks to overthrow the political regime and eliminate the blood distinction.

Characters

The protagonist of this story is Mare Barrow and, frankly, is the typical protagonist of this type of dystopic stories, both physically (white, athletic, brown hair and eyes ...) and psychologically (“I have never considered myself attractive nor feminine”, “I do what is necessary to take care of my family”, “I am the center of the universe”, absent from any reflection beyond superficial thinking, slightly obsessed with boys, “I prefer to fight, to dance”...).

There are also some interesting secondary characters:

Cal: he is the future heir to the throne, silver blood and with the power to control the fire (it is a burner). We can observe its two faces throughout the book: on the one hand, as an heir and soldier and, on the other, as a simple boy.

Maven: is the second son of the king and, like Cal, has the power to control the fire; nevertheless, he has a secondary role both in the royal line and in the heart of his father. He is close, understanding and kind to Mare.

Kilorn: have you read "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins? Kilron is Gale: he has grown up with Mare and they have shared experiences and memories.
The Barrow family: it is not a perfect family, but it is marked by war (the father is in a wheelchair and the three older brothers are in the battlefield). It is necessary to make a special mention of Gisa, Mare's little sister, seamstress of the silver and with whom she is always comparing and measuring.

In this way, although Mare as a protagonist I think it does not add much to the story, the rest of the supporting characters (especially Cal and Maven) bring a new air to the plot. In addition, the characters with villain roles in this world are really appreciable.

Atmosphere

The world that arises in this book and that will be developed in the rest of the series has positive aspects: the distinction of blood in two estates and the fact that one is associated with having superpowers, the presence of an organization that advocates change ... But the biggest problem in this world is that, in general terms, I've already read it, that is: it does not show many creative and original aspects that are not different from books like “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins, “The Darkest Minds” by Alexandra Bracken, “The Grisha” by Leigh Bardugo, “The Selection” by Kiera Cass...

However, it seems that at the end of the book it is begining to address in more detail certain aspects of the atmosphere that may be interesting for the next volume and the rest of the series.

Writing style

Victoria Aveyard's writing is dynamic, attractive and very fluid. However, I have two existential problems in this book (caused more by my own perception than by the style of writing). On the one hand, the internal monologues of Mare seem circular to me: the same aspects are treated on many occasions and the same conclusions are reached. Therefore, this style of narration (related to the type of protagonist that the book has) prioritizes this debate and superficial reflection on other aspects that are also relevant: the scenarios, the behavior ... On the other hand, I do not like the repetitions of sentences that are made throughout the book (for example, “Anyone can betray anyone”). I know that this seeks to remember certain aspects of the plot, create concrete feelings ... but I find it very repetitive that in so few pages certain sentences (which, personally, I do not see so interesting) are used constantly.

GENERAL COMMENT

Red Queen is a promising start of a YA series, which deals with inequality, injustice and rebellion in a dystopian world in which divisions take place according to the color of the blood (the red ones being the harmed and the silver ones, the beneficiaries). Although in certain aspects it is a proposal similar to the rest of the books that make up these genres, Red Queen proposes some interesting secondary characters and some villains that will give a lot to talk about in the following novels. If you want to embark on a superpower odyssey, if you want to be part of the change and the rebellion, do not hesitate, this book and the Red Queen series are the best choice.

-R.