Book Review #5: Red Queen
- Victoria Aveyard
- Jan 9, 2018
- 3 min read
Flame and shadow. One cannot exist without the other.
Rise, Red as the Dawn
Read: December 23,2017
Format: Paperback
Rating:
Legend meets X-Men!
Well if anyone has read Marie Lu's Legend, we can all agree that Cal and Mare are somehow like June and Day but also opposite in so many ways. For one, Cal is the rich, dignified, loyal to the throne and his government, and yet so sweet, so kind, dreamy kind of guy. Just like June in Legend (but of course, this isn't about Legend so let's not go there :D ) I also chose X-men, because for some obvious reasons there are mutants and special powers and the division between normal and gifted citizens.
First of all, let's go the characters. I love Lucas! I want this review to be spoiler free so I'm not gonna say anything, so let's just leave it at that. I just love how funny he is and how fast he befriended Mare. Another character I liked is Cal. It"s really easy to like him! Other than being the prince, I love how he works and not just sit on his throne and wait to succeed his father. I also like the fact that he can stand on his own, and there will be something left in him even if you take out his title. I love that he's willing to see the world, to get his hands dirty, to sweat himself, if it means better world, better ruling and anything to improve the lives of his people. Another reason to like about him, he's just so hot. Literally and figuratively hot!! I also liked Maven at first, but let's not even go there. I just wanted to state a fact that Maven is also hot and under different circumstances, you would totally like him too! On the other hand, Mare is so bad ass, so awesome. She's really so brave even though she's decided on being the opposite. She's also the definition of strong, both mentally and physically. I adore the fact that she's willing to get her hands dirty for her family, for their livelihood. If it means getting herself almost killed, or being arrested, then so be it just so her family will get to see another day. I think her love for her family is really beautiful.
Other random characters that I loved and noticed: Kilorn and his determination to prove something for himself, to not rely on her best friend for protection anymore. Farley and her bravery and will power. Her determination and skills make a great combination! The Queen, why does it always have to be the step mother who's so evil all the time? Oh and Evangeline is a very interesting character. I wish there was more of her in this book. She's got fire in her personality that I would have loved more to see.
My excitement over the characters are quite the opposite when it comes to the plot and twists of this book. It's just that this book is so cliche. You're so engorged in the story, on what's about to happen, that you don't really feel it turning into a cliche plot. How the unfavored sibling is always looking for a spotlight; or the sibling who's trying only to please the parents are made to look bad or perfectionist or snobbish (like you can never reach him); or the step mom ( well we all know the kind of stories about step moms!!) who only wants what's "best" for her child, who's only 'protecting" herself and her son's future.
Although it was expected to have ended that way, it was still fun to read.I just had a rough time imagining the city and all those houses, but I'd still recommend it but let's not expect too much just because of the hype this book got. It was still exciting and there were scenes that would really keep you hooked, but that's just it.
So even though I had a lot of issues, I still had fun reading Red Queen. I will surely read the next one Glass Sword, I cannot not know what will haven to all the Reds, SIlvers and all the in betweens.
Have fun reading!
BB Belle
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