By Cara Young , Columnist
Good books make us love them by allowing us to see a new world, take on new vocabulary, and, in some cases, new insults. Great books make us hate them for not allowing us to enter them. Victoria Aveyard has provided us with one such book. Even being geared toward young adult audiences, it is an exceptional read for adult readers as well. For example, Aveyard gives the reader some excellently detailed gladiator fight scenes and torture sequences that highlight the barbaric and violent world these characters suffer in while seamlessly bringing out the contrasting beauty and wonder of this world’s architecture and natural landscape.
Between the powerful character archetypes and delicious subplot, audience members will not be left to wonder why this book won the Goodreads Choice Award the year it was published, 2015. Goodreads is a popular social media outlet for readers.
“Red Queen” does share characteristics common of the fantasy genre, but should not be overlooked because of this fact. Aveyard has taken this Disney-esque plot line and thrown in a dystopian twist to create a world in desperate need of a peaceful leader, but where every prince is born to burn the world to gratify their own personal whims.
Now when I say burn, I mean to literally heat it to ash. These titans can manipulate elements from fire and water to magnetic fields and the minds of others. These off-brand X-Men take on the label of Silvers, after the color of their blood, and claim sovereignty over the surf class of humans who are designated as Reds. The Silvers rule over their kingdoms with cruelty, greed, and no remorse for the pits of Red bodies used to block bullets. Our main character is a poverty-stricken, jobless, 17 year-old, soon-to-be princess named Mare Barrow. As a Red in Mare’s world, birthdays feel more like a ticking clock. If an 18 year-old Red is found without a job, he or she is conscripted to the front lines of the battlefield to take punishment in the form of iron and gunpowder. The price for Mare’s freedom is a small fortune, and this spunky, sarcastic, somewhat shady young lady sets out to steal her life back from the pocketbooks of those who had taken it away in the beginning.
After a spectacular failure and a nationally televised slap to the face, Mare is tossed into a situation far more deadly than the front lines. I speak, of course, of the royal court standing face to most often shoulder with her very own super villains. She’s no longer unarmed, though, after an electrically cruel incident teaches Mare that her blood may be ordinary, but she certainly isn’t. Can this inexperienced sheep in wolves clothing survive in a new level of fiery power, bloody rebellion, unrequited love, and elaborate betrayal?
“Red Queen” is a wonderful read that takes the reader on a ride with unexpected loops and lobs that will have you reaching in between the text for more. I, for one, will not be missing the next installment.
“Red Queen” by Victoria Aveyard is a must read according to columnist Cara Young. Full of plot twists and powerful characters. Photo by Michelle Lecumberry.
