Reviews with content warning for Racism - ملکه\u200cی سرخ

Distinctly teen YA, but not necessarily a bad thing. There are multiple love interests and lots of political intrigue, but I really loved that the main character didn't get too swept up in that! The majority of the time she focuses on her family/community and protecting them propels her actions. She's definitely a teen main character- there were several times where she would be like "we can do this, and everything will be solved!" and I was reading it like "GIRL NO THERE IS SO MUCH MORE NUANCE TO THIS SITUATION THAN THAT AND IT WONT BE SOLVED OVERNIGHT PLEASE DON'T- oh, she's doing it. goddammit." Haha but that means I was engrossed in the story and attached to her survival! Definitely cool worldbuilding, I'm going to devour the second book tonight.

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bendersreads's review against another edition

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mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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dorothysbookshelf's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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readwithde's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Another day, another strong, female YA/NA novel about overthrowing the government.

I have to say, this might be one of my favorite fictional worlds, and the story happening around and to the MCs is so overwhelmingly amazing. Mare, a simple thief and Red girl ends up having an amazing ability, just like the elite Silvers who rule. Like many female leads, she is thrust into this new world of court, politics, and betrayal, where only power and strength are honored.

Unlike the other heroines, Mare remains thoroughly different. She doesn't learn courtly intrigue, she doesn't come to understand the Silvers, and she never chooses romance over her family, her friends, and her Red blood. The comfort and protection and specialness never trick her into forgetting the pain and atrocities of her people. Also, she trains a bit, but she is still outmatched by those who have had decades of work; at the end of the book, she is stronger, but not unrecognizable. It's refreshing.

I saw a few of the twists coming, but it didn't run the story for me. The princes Cal and Maven are interesting and consistent, the Scarlet Guard is active as its own entity (aka not waiting around for the MCs), and the Silvers all have their own games and loyalty.

I loved it, and I'm dying for the next book.

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llsugarspicell's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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sofmar917's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Great book, fast plot and good plot twist.

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