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leftievereads's review against another edition
5.0
I can't believe it took me so long to read this but I really did enjoy it. I had a feeling I would, but my mood also happened to be at the perfect place to enjoy this book to the fullest (I had just finished rewatching the hunger games films and was looking for that dystopian feel). This book absolutely did not disappoint!
I think the story premise is really interesting, and the themes of power, classism, revolution, lies, and betrayal all hit really hard.
Now for some spoilery thoughts, because I have to talk about them:
I absolutely did not see Maven's betrayal coming. Although, in hindsight, I do see how it was definitely hinted to us. I just wanted to believe that our boy was with us, but I guess I was tricked right along with Mare. Although it is upsetting, I'm grateful that it paves a way for Mare to end up with Cal (which I assume is endgame, although tbd).
As for Mare's brother...
I was really hoping that we would find some sort of plot twist, he's actually still alive action because it is fairly common in books and for once I was really glad to see it. Admittedly, that sort of surprise had begun to feel cheap to me because it happens so often in books, but this time I wad happy to see it because I was really curious about Mare's brother and what his powers are - if they're the same of different from Mare's. And if anyone else in her family has the same gifts. I guess we'll see when I read the next book.
I think the story premise is really interesting, and the themes of power, classism, revolution, lies, and betrayal all hit really hard.
Now for some spoilery thoughts, because I have to talk about them:
I absolutely did not see Maven's betrayal coming. Although, in hindsight, I do see how it was definitely hinted to us. I just wanted to believe that our boy was with us, but I guess I was tricked right along with Mare. Although it is upsetting, I'm grateful that it paves a way for Mare to end up with Cal (which I assume is endgame, although tbd).
As for Mare's brother...
I was really hoping that we would find some sort of plot twist, he's actually still alive action because it is fairly common in books and for once I was really glad to see it. Admittedly, that sort of surprise had begun to feel cheap to me because it happens so often in books, but this time I wad happy to see it because I was really curious about Mare's brother and what his powers are - if they're the same of different from Mare's. And if anyone else in her family has the same gifts. I guess we'll see when I read the next book.
marion_as's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
wrenlikethebirdd's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
2.0
ba2su's review against another edition
2.0
i feel severely underwhelmed. i went into this with low expectations because I’ve seen the hype and slander, and this was just disappointing to read for me. I’ll keep this direct because i don’t want to expend anymore of my energy on this book, but this was truly forgettable. the premise and concept is intriguing, but the world-building felt half-assed and nowhere near well fleshed out, the love triangle was just stupid, and mare’s perspective was dull to read. i don’t want to slander Victoria Aveyard because i think that she is genuinely talented, but her writing style is just not for me, I had to force myself to finish this book. overall, i’m debating whether or not to finish this series, and i probably won’t but we’ll see.
danigranada's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was a re-read for me, and I still enjoyed it just as much! I loved how I caught details I missed the first time— like some interactions or little “clues”. It was interesting to see how everything was subtly set up from the beginning.
That said, I remember struggling a bit to get into it on my first read. The pacing at the beginning felt a bit slow as the world and politics were introduced, and it took me some time to connect with the characters. But once things picked up, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down! The second half, in particular, had me flying through the pages.
If you enjoy fantasy with high stakes, and plenty of twists, Red Queen is definitely worth a read. It keeps you on your toes, and just when you think you know what’s coming, it surprises you.
That said, I remember struggling a bit to get into it on my first read. The pacing at the beginning felt a bit slow as the world and politics were introduced, and it took me some time to connect with the characters. But once things picked up, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down! The second half, in particular, had me flying through the pages.
If you enjoy fantasy with high stakes, and plenty of twists, Red Queen is definitely worth a read. It keeps you on your toes, and just when you think you know what’s coming, it surprises you.
tanacef's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
tylee_02's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
gluchie's review against another edition
3.0
The first time I read Red Queen was in 2017; I was sixteen years old and finally ready to grow from Percy Jackson and Divergent into other popular books for teens at the time. I was given a copy of this book by my grandmother, and I was initially hesitant to read it due to the massive hate bandwagon this book had garnered. Needless to say, I blindly hopped on that bandwagon as I read the first two books. Now I’m back to see if it still holds true, like I did with The Raven Boys and Caraval.
Red Queen is a story I’ve read and seen many times before in different forms, with tropes that are overused— sometimes severely. However, it’s not an entirely bad book. It’s more well written than some books that are being published todaycough cough Zodiac Academy, Lightlark, Sanctuary of the Shadow, someone stop me, though I’m not the biggest fan of the frequent chunky paragraphs that lessen the dialogue.
Mare Barrow is very much your typical Mary Sue female main character with special Chosen One powers. Cal is very much your typical forbidden love interest. The Red blood vs. Silver blood plot is very much your typical caste-based book plot. But the plot twist with Maven, despite remembering it from my initial read, is what bumps this up half a star. While it’s technically somewhat predictable, it’s still a well thought out plot twist and ending for an author’s debut novel of a 2010s young adult series.
TL;DR: I understand why many didn’t enjoy this novel, but I don’t think that the hate train that this book received was completely deserved.
Red Queen is a story I’ve read and seen many times before in different forms, with tropes that are overused— sometimes severely. However, it’s not an entirely bad book. It’s more well written than some books that are being published today
Mare Barrow is very much your typical Mary Sue female main character with special Chosen One powers. Cal is very much your typical forbidden love interest. The Red blood vs. Silver blood plot is very much your typical caste-based book plot. But the plot twist with Maven, despite remembering it from my initial read, is what bumps this up half a star. While it’s technically somewhat predictable, it’s still a well thought out plot twist and ending for an author’s debut novel of a 2010s young adult series.
TL;DR: I understand why many didn’t enjoy this novel, but I don’t think that the hate train that this book received was completely deserved.
nicki_marie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0