A Conflict of Blood

Aveyard, V. (2015) Red Queen. New York, NY: Harper Teen

In the kingdom of Norta, there are two kinds of people, there are Reds and there are Silvers.  These classes are divided not only by the color of their blood, but the presence of super powers in the Silvers.  They use these powers to oppress the red population into labor and poverty.  Mare Barrows is a red, and one destined for conscription into the army, like her brothers.  Unless you’re apprenticed like her sister Gisa or friend Kilorn, as soon as you turn 18 you’re sent to the trenches.  Mare has no special skills, so she tries to help her family the only way she can, by being a pick-pocket.   That skill is what she plans on using to help Kilorn when his master dies and he is left jobless.  She travels with Gisa to the city to try and steal something worth enough to buy Kilorn’s freedom.  When she fails though, her sister tries and is caught.  As punishment, Gisa’s hand is broken, and with it her chance at having a job.  Heartbroken, Mare starts stealing without paying much attention when they get back to town.  She attempts to steal from the wrong guy though, and is caught.  Instead of being angry, the strange man talks to her and gives her money.  Turns out, he’s the crown prince, Cal, and he gives her a job at the royal residence.

Her first day as a servant is her last.  During the queen’s trial event, she falls from a balcony onto an electric dome.  This should have killed her, but instead she absorbs the energy.  Apparently she too is special.  The king and queen decide to create a lie that she is a lost silver noble, and she is betrothed to the second prince, Maven.   She now spends her days in lessons, learning how to be a Silver, and how to harness her powers.  During this time, she finds out her brother Shade is dead.  With this event, she decides to join the rebel group, the Scarlet Guard.  Maven joins with her.  Cal meets with her for some midnight dance lessons, presumably to her help her prepare for the upcoming ball.  Then he kisses her.  During the ball, the Scarlet Guard makes its move, assassinating 3 Silver targets, chosen by Maven.  Things fall apart a bit and Mare’s friends are captured.  She assists in their escape and the royal family moves back to the capitol.

Here Mare and Maven meet once again with the Scarlet Guard, and plan a coup.  It seems it’s all going wrong, until Mare finds out it’s all been according to plan.  Maven has betrayed her.  The queen forces Cal to kill his father, framing him for the betrayal. Maven takes the throne.  Cal and Mare are sent to an arena to be put to death.  They are able to turn the tides and escape.  Mare finds out there are more like her out there, and she’s determined to find them.

This book was amazing!  My wife and I listened to the audiobook format while on a road trip.  Every time we stopped listening, we could barely contain our excitement.  It has mystery, intrigue, superpowers, love triangles, and amazing adventure.  Amanda Dolan, who reads the book, does a superb job.  I wish she would read every audiobook I hear.  I really liked this post-apocalyptic , dystopian world Aveyard created.  You don’t often hear a story in which the people with superpowers are the bad guys.  I recommend this book to anyone who likes the fantasy genre, or YA books in general.  I can already guarantee I’m going to be checking out the sequels.

I read this book because it was on the Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list.