Although we have a core of writers who post book reviews during scheduled intervals, we welcome everyone's book reviews, no matter what!
During lulls in book discussions, it is often Siri Palreddy '20 who speaks up to pose a new, interesting question to the rest of the club. Here, she shares her thoughts about a book she's recently finished.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Mare Barrow would be an average teenager—except that her blood is red, and in the world of Red Queen, people have been condemned for centuries for the color of their blood by the silver-blooded elite.
This futuristic fantasy novel depicts a society divided between the Reds and the Silvers. The Silvers have extraordinary, god-like abilities that allow them to exert power over the Reds to establish a permanent hierarchy.
However, Mare cracks this hierarchy’s foundation when she discovers she has Silver-like powers—powers she isn't supposed to have because red blood flows through her veins. Thrown into Silver society to hide her secret, she faces foes, danger, and learns a valuable lesson about where she should place her trust.
Aveyard skillfully wrote this piece, weaving in impactful diction. I loved how the story flowed, how the plot twisted, and how the characters developed...but what I certainly disliked about this book was the lack of originality.
I had been anticipating a lot from this widely popular book. I thought that the creative and unique world building of the book would allow for the author to create more impressionable characters. However, once I had read half of the book, I felt like I was reading The Hunger Games all over again. Mare followed the usual journey of every archetypal hero. It was almost like Aveyard made a formula from all the successful young adult titles, then inserted her own characters and setting.
Nevertheless, although I was disappointed with the novel’s originality, the novel was an easy read, and I liked Aveyard’s pacing. The plot moved quickly enough to ensure that readers won’t be bored, yet highlighted the most important sections. All in all, I found Red Queen to be a likeable, but forgettable book.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a really exciting, new series which will stay in your mind and heart, I’d recommend for you to pass on this book. However, this book is interesting enough to read in your spare time. Even though I didn’t particularly love Red Queen, many people are enthralled with it, so if you have a moment, take a look at this novel.
However, Mare cracks this hierarchy’s foundation when she discovers she has Silver-like powers—powers she isn't supposed to have because red blood flows through her veins. Thrown into Silver society to hide her secret, she faces foes, danger, and learns a valuable lesson about where she should place her trust.
Aveyard skillfully wrote this piece, weaving in impactful diction. I loved how the story flowed, how the plot twisted, and how the characters developed...but what I certainly disliked about this book was the lack of originality.
I had been anticipating a lot from this widely popular book. I thought that the creative and unique world building of the book would allow for the author to create more impressionable characters. However, once I had read half of the book, I felt like I was reading The Hunger Games all over again. Mare followed the usual journey of every archetypal hero. It was almost like Aveyard made a formula from all the successful young adult titles, then inserted her own characters and setting.
Nevertheless, although I was disappointed with the novel’s originality, the novel was an easy read, and I liked Aveyard’s pacing. The plot moved quickly enough to ensure that readers won’t be bored, yet highlighted the most important sections. All in all, I found Red Queen to be a likeable, but forgettable book.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a really exciting, new series which will stay in your mind and heart, I’d recommend for you to pass on this book. However, this book is interesting enough to read in your spare time. Even though I didn’t particularly love Red Queen, many people are enthralled with it, so if you have a moment, take a look at this novel.
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