Review: “War Storm” (Red Queen #4) by Victoria Aveyard.

Title: War Storm

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Book: Red Queen #4

Editorial: HarperTeen

Year: 2018

Pages: 662 (Hardcover)

ISBN-13: 9780062422996

PVP: 18 € (Hardcover)

Mark: 9/10 

ABSTRACT

Victory comes at a price.

Mare Barrow learned this all too well when Cal’s betrayal nearly destroyed her. Now determined to protect her heart—and secure freedom for Reds and newbloods like her—Mare resolves to overthrow the kingdom of Norta once and for all… starting with the crown on Maven’s head.

But no battle is won alone, and before the Reds may rise as one, Mare must side with the boy who broke her heart in order to defeat the boy who almost broke her. Cal’s powerful Silver allies, alongside Mare and the Scarlet Guard, prove a formidable force. But Maven is driven by an obsession so deep, he will stop at nothing to have Mare as his own again, even if it means demolishing everything—and everyone—in his path.

War is coming, and all Mare has fought for hangs in the balance. Will victory be enough to topple the Silver kingdoms? Or will the little lightning girl be forever silenced?

In the epic conclusion to Victoria Aveyard’s stunning series, Mare must embrace her fate and summon all her power… for all will be tested, but not all will survive.

PERSONAL VALORATION

Justification

“War Storm” is the fourth and last book of the book series "Red Queen" written by Victoria Aveyard. It is a series that belongs to the genres of young-adult (YA), fantasy and apocalyptic futures. It 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 ones and the silver ones the beneficiaries). You can read the reviews of the first book here, the second one here and the third one here . Obviously, throughout this text there may be spoilers of the previous books.

Plot

As with the rest of the books in this series, the action begins after the ending of the previous book ("King’s Cage"), see, with Cal prioritizing the throne to his relationship with Mare, in particular, and with the rebellion and the Scarlet Guard, in general. How will that affect the rebellion?, What role will Cal have?, What alliances will be established?, What hidden interests are there?, What decisions will be made?...are just some of the questions that are going to try to solve.
In this book the alliances, the betrayals, the promises and the oaths take place inside the Silver High Houses of Norta, the Scarlet Guard, the royal family of the Lakelands and the Republic of Monfort. Thus, a much more concrete vision of the rebellion is raised (political, economic, social, regional implications ...) that gives meaning to the struggle and that raises the big question: should traditions be maintained (monarchy, segregation by blood...) or should change be embraced?

Characters

Mare: is still one of the best characters in the series and in this book we can see how she has matured in making real decisions regarding to her role in the revolution that is taking place.

Evangeline: as in the previous book, the fact that some chapters are narrated from her point of view has allowed me to understand her complexity, understand the reason for her decisions and enjoy her relationship with Elaine.

Cal: in this book we see his most private and most personal side addressing his wishes to respect and maintain the tradition and his thoughts regarding his relationships with Mare, Maven or his mother.

Maven: his ideas, his thoughts and his plans are revealed in this book and, above all, he tries to explain his behavior and his decisions.

Atmosphere

Compared to the previous books, in this one everything is considered on a larger scale:  it is showed what happens in Norta (with the High Houses and the Scarlet Guard)  and in all the regions that border it like the Lakelands and Monfort. In addition to being a multi-spatial approach, it is also multidimensional since it covers politics, economics, social, cultural...

Writing style

Victoria Aveyard has become one of my favorite writers in the YA genre. Although I had many and serious doubts at the beginning of this saga, right now it seems to me that she combines the moments of reflection and thought, with the dialogues and the action in a very dynamic and fluid way.

GENERAL COMMENT

"War Storm (#4)" is the ending that the magnificent series "Red Queen" deserves. A book with a complex and multidimensional plot, with a strong and empowered protagonist (Mare), with complex and diverse characters (Cal, Evangeline, Maven...), with a rebellion against oppression and class segregation, with the presence of plots and political alliances, with a tireless search for equality and justice... "War Storm (# 4)" is the perfect book to close the story of a revolution that began in 2015 with the help of Victoria Aveyard in "Red Queen  #1"

-R.