Ok..so I'm going to need the next book immediately.

Where do I start with Red Queen???? I loved everything about this story and it all starts with that amazing cover. I mean, there are just some books that the cover just grabs me and the second I saw this one last year, it went right on my to read list…I don’t even think I read the book summary right away – I love it that much!

But that is the added bonus because the story within the cover was fantastic! I forced myself to wait to start this one…mostly because I didn’t want to have to wait so long in between this book and the next (everyone knows how impatient I am, right??). Once I was able to start, I really couldn’t put it down. No spoilers here though so don't blame me if this review doesn't give a ton of detail.

First, Aveyard creates some great characters and gives us enough back story and development to help move the story along and although some might feel it was an “info dump” I didn’t feel that way at all. There tends to be a (very) thin line between too much and not enough information given but I thought that Aveyard did a great job of establishing the overall story as well as who these characters were.

In addition to that, another piece of the story is that the Silvers run things. They have certain strengths/powers that add an x-men feel to the story. Some can manipulate water, fire, or electricity. Others can control metal and still others can get inside people’s minds. The Reds on the other hand are the laborers and the ones who go off to fight the war the Silvers started over a hundred years ago and the Reds are suffering by fighting for them.

Mare Barrow knows she is destined to head to the war – just like her brothers. She isn’t apprenticed and supports her family as a pick pocket and one of her attempts to steal from the wrong person, puts Mare into a situation she never thought she would be in. What I liked about her is that she is strong and smart and willing to do what she needs to in order to help her family – even if it means she isn’t doing what is considered the right thing (stealing). This is what ultimately drops her into the situation she finds herself in…Wow, I am being incredibly vague, huh?? Along with her good points, there are some things about Mare that drove me crazy. She didn’t always make the right decision but I can’t hold it against her, she is only seventeen and in quite a few situations where she doesn’t really have a choice around how things will go for her.

Along with Mare, another character to mention is Kilorn, the boy who grew up with Mare in The Stilts. He was apprenticed to become a fisherman when something unexpected happens which is another part of the story that sets things in motion. There are a whole lot more characters that I could mention here but I don’t want to ruin any bit of the story by saying something that may give anything away.

There were a number of twists and turns in this story and it has a lot of action which kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. The end of this book made me immediately want book two in my hands and I really don’t know what to expect next. If you haven’t added this book to your to read list yet, definitely do it now and then be sure to get your hands on this book as soon as it comes out. If you enjoy fantasy and/or dystopian genres, love action and intrigue, I don’t think you will regret it.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!