Red Queen was incredible! An explosion of fantasy, a dystopian world and the story of a girl who defies an oppressive society against the odds. At eighteen, Red citizens are sent to the front line of the Silver waged war. With best friend Kilorn without a trade, his recruitment follows the same path as that of his father who died fighting, Mere's father who is now confined to a wheelchair and her three brothers who are all currently serving. Mere can't lose another. No one has ever escaped recruitment, but with the help of The Scarlet Guard, Mere is hoping both she and Kilorn can escape.
But Mere is no ordinary Red, and her journey to freedom takes a dramatic turn which will see her betrothed to a Prince, working alongside the revolutionaries and trying to survive within the palace walls with the cruel Royals that would rather see her dead. I loved Mere. She's tough and her choices are based solely on protecting her family and Kilorn. But as her character is immersed into the Silver world, she begins to fight for not only those around her but the plight of the Red population.
We will rise, red as the dawn.Even without her ability to create and control electricity, she's a force to be reckoned with even though being betrothed to Maven is purely to keep her compliant. Mere and Prince Cal share an undeniable attraction, even though Cal is betrothed to marry another. Where Maven is sensitive and the neglected brother, Cal lives for the strategy of war and is a natural born leader of citizens and soldiers alike. From the poverty stricken streets of the Red towns, to the lush surrounds of the palace and Silver dynasty, even the secondary characters are in depth and well developed.
But what set Red Queen apart for me, was the world in which Victoria Aveyard created. Cruel and unforgiving, where hope shines in the form of a seventeen year old girl who is just starting to realise the power she holds. Red Queen is Victoria's debut. Yes, debut. If she's capable of creating such a phenomenal first release, seasoned authors should take note. Like Mere, Victoria Aveyard herself is a force to be reckoned with.