Red Queen
Mare Barrow lives in a segregated world. There’s the ‘Silver’, the ruling class of citizens that wield extraordinary powers, and the ‘Red’, the powerless inferiors of the silver. Mare belongs to the latter. Born into poverty because of the colour of her blood, she, like her family, like all Reds, struggles to survive. There’s hardly enough food and even less job prospects. Without a talent or apprenticeship, Reds are forcibly drafted into the army. Being recruited means an eventual and agonising death for many.
With three older brothers already drafted, Mare and her family rely on Mare’s little sister, Gisa. Gisa has a great talent for sewing, which grants her not only a stable job but also support for her family. Mare is not so lucky. Though she’s skilled when it comes to picking pockets, Mare doesn’t possess any type of lawfully marketable gifts. Mare knows it’s only a matter of time before she’s drafted.
Devastated and beaten, Mare attempts to pick one last pocket before she’s taken from her home. Instead, by chance, Mare meets a handsome and mysterious stranger named Cal. This initial meeting changes Mare’s life irrevocably.
Red Queen is a dystopian throughout but a lot darker than most already on the market. I loved how Silvers were considered ‘mutants’ because of their wide range of abilities. These abilities include healing, metal control, fire control and mind control.
Mare turns out to be more than she originally seemed. She becomes a strong symbol that both the Reds and Silvers want to use and abuse.
This story is about deceit, lies and using others for your own means. Numerous people want the throne and they will do whatever it takes to get it. You just can’t trust anyone.
Red Queen focuses more on character development and world building rather than romance. This was nice because once the romantic elements started heating up, it didn’t feel forced; it felt organic and well worth it.
Fans of X-Men, Game of Thrones and other dystopian books like The Selection are sure to enjoy this book. There are elements of each, which then combine into a captivating read.
