TJ
*Red Queen* delivers a slick, fast-paced blend of dystopian tension and courtly intrigue, and for much of the book, it’s easy to see why it became such a phenomenon. Victoria Aveyard builds a world divided by blood—literally—and the contrast between the powerful Silvers and the oppressed Reds gives the story an immediate hook. Mare’s journey from street thief to political pawn is engaging, and the twists sprinkled throughout keep the pages turning.
The book shines most in its atmosphere and its sense of rising danger. Aveyard has a talent for crafting dramatic moments, and the betrayals, shifting alliances, and moral gray areas add depth to what could have been a straightforward YA fantasy. Even when the characters make questionable choices, the tension and stakes stay high enough to keep you invested.
I deducted a star because I **hate cliffhanger endings**, and *Red Queen* leans hard into one. Instead of feeling like a satisfying close to the first installment, the ending feels abrupt—more like a setup for the sequel than a conclusion to this book. If you enjoy series that wrap each installment with at least some sense of resolution, this finale may leave you more annoyed than eager. Still, the worldbuilding and momentum make it a solid, if imperfect, start to the series.
*Red Queen* delivers a slick, fast-paced blend of dystopian tension and courtly intrigue, and for much of the book, it’s easy to see why it became such a phenomenon. Victoria Aveyard builds a world divided by blood—literally—and the contrast between the powerful Silvers and the oppressed Reds gives the story an immediate hook. Mare’s journey from street thief to political pawn is engaging, and the twists sprinkled throughout keep the pages turning.
The book shines most in its atmosphere and its sense of rising danger. Aveyard has a talent for crafting dramatic moments, and the betrayals, shifting alliances, and moral gray areas add depth to what could have been a straightforward YA fantasy. Even when the characters make questionable choices, the tension and stakes stay high enough to keep you invested.
I deducted a star because I **hate cliffhanger endings**, and *Red Queen* leans hard into one. Instead of feeling like a satisfying close to the first installment, the ending feels abrupt—more like a setup for the sequel than a conclusion to this book. If you enjoy series that wrap each installment with at least some sense of resolution, this finale may leave you more annoyed than eager. Still, the worldbuilding and momentum make it a solid, if imperfect, start to the series.