Reading Challenge 2024: Red Queen – Victoria Aveyard

Hello loves!

I hope you’re all well and enjoying the lovely weekend. I am fully settled into my new house and I can’t lie, it’s just so lovely. I’ve got some lovely new garden furniture as well now. It’s all coming together nicely! Today I’m here to share with you my book choice for the reading challenge. The random generator selected: Read a book by someone born the same year as you. Thankfully the blogging community helped me here and my dear blogger pal Josh over at Chai & Biscuits for bringing Victoria Aveyard into my life! Let’s get on with it!

What’s it all about?

This book starts off with a clear division: Reds or Silvers. The colour of their blood. The Silvers seem to be more powerful, embody more supernatural powers, become holy and have the Reds as their impoverished inferior servants. At eighteen years old, if without employment or an apprenticeship, men would be sent to fight in the war between the two sides. Centred around Mare, a 17 year old Red, has a family she adores but her brother is fighting in the war. When Mare learns that her best friend, Kilorn Warren, will be sent to war following the death of his master, Mare plans an escape. She’s directed to Farley, who is the captain of the Scarlet Guard, a rebel group of Reds who want equality between the Reds and the Silvers.

Mare has no choice but to steal in order to make up the money needed for Kilorn’s escape. Clumsily, she get’s caught but instead of turning her in, he decides to give her some money. Who is this elusive man? Cal, a servant from the palace. The following day, Mare is taken to the palace to become employed as a kitchen servant. At first this appears to come out of the blue but the mystery is soon resolved. Cal is actually the crowned Prince. During the Queenstrial, the Silvers nobilities most powerful daughters compete for Cal’s hand in marriage. Unfortunately, Mare accidentally shows her own talents, her electrokinetic powers, against a girl, Evangeline Samos, who eventually becomes Cal’s intended bride.

“Flame and shadow. One cannot exist without the other.”

Mare is captured but because the king fears an uprising should a Red be discovered to have supernatural powers, Mare is engaged to Maven, Cal’s brother with a cover story. She is to be the daughter of a Silver general who died on the battle field and was adopted by the Reds at the war front. Mare feels torn as she realises that she is in love with Cal. However, she soon grows to develop feelings for Maven instead.

Living life as a royal challenges Mare. She acquaints herself with Maven and Cal and also becomes good friends with Julian, Cal’s uncle. He teaches her to control her powers. Cal gives her the opportunity to say goodbye to her family but learns that her brother was killed for desertion. This is a turning point for Mare. She’s furious that her brother has been killed and as a result, joins the Scarlet Guard. She meets Farley to discuss plans but is furious again when she learns that Kilorn joined and Maven too. The brings Mare and Maven closer together and they become lovers. Their plan involves disrupting a royal ball and killing several, targeted important Silvers. This doesn’t quite go to plan, innocent people are killed and Kilorn, Farley and other members of the Scarlet Guard are captured.

By the end of the novel, nothing is as it seems and the majority of characters are betrayed. But this isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning…

“I told you to hide your heart once. You should have listened.”

Final Thoughts

This isn’t my normal go to genre but I really did enjoy branching out and reading it. I absolutely cannot guarantee that I will read the rest of the series (we all know I’m terrible with things like that anyway) but I appreciate the opportunity and the reading experience that this book gave me. I can’t wait to see you all soon. I’ve got a super book review in the week as part of a tour that I know some of you will absolutely love!

Big Love xxxx