This is a world divided by blood - red or silver.
The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.
That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.
Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.
But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance - Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart . . .
Last week I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of this book and decided to get stuck into it as soon as I could. I love the creepy cover, btw.
Mare Barrows lives in a divided world. There are two classes--the Reds and the Silvers.
Mare happens to be a Red, which means she's red-blooded and lives in a small rural village. Her family barely manages to survive, so to help them along she steals whenever she can. But her eighteenth birthday is fast approaching, which means she'll be sent off to serve in the never-ending war. Three of her brothers are already there, and her best friend is just about on his way. So the future isn't bright at all.
The Silvers are rich and powerful elites who have silver blood and superhuman abilities. They consider themselves to be greater in every respect and take pride in keeping the Reds stuck in their poverty-stricken cycle while they enjoy the lavish lifestyles of royalty.
Life is completely out of balance, but no one is ever going to change what's going on. Until she discovers that there are Red Rebels trying to fight back, but doesn't have a chance to join in the fight because a chance encounter throws her life upside down. Before Mare realises what's going on, she's been whisked away from her family and taken to the castle to serve as a servant. A position that doesn't last long because on her first night, while witnessing the Queenstrial, the unthinkable happens. She displays some pretty awesome powers of her own.
The Silver crowd is horrified and confused, because Reds don't have any powers of their own. It's the reason why Silvers can keep them down and rule over them. But now Mare has obviously displayed an ability. To cover it up the King and Queen decide to create an elaborate story to conceal the fact Mare is Red, and instead make her into a long-lost Silver. But not just that, she's also betrothed to the youngest prince.
Now she's living inside the castle and discovering the ways of the Silvers. Studying, training and learning how to behave like one, Mare decides there's only one way to make it through the lie her life has become. She will shut her mouth, learn as much as she can, and will then use it against them. For the safety of her family and to give the Reds the chance of a real future, she decides to suffer through the hypocrisy. She also finds herself caught between the prince brothers.
But Mare isn't the only one plotting and scheming...
Wow. What a tale of struggle and betrayal! At first, this book seems to echo stories we might have read or heard about before, but soon makes you realise it's a unique tale of its own. It's a story of greed and power. It's about the desperate need to overcome oppression even when the odds are stacked against you. It's also a story of forbidden love that gets twisted out of proportion by the deceitful strings being pulled by those with evil ambition.
Red Queen is an awesome, action-packed book. The worldbuilding is interesting, detailed, and so vivid I got swept away in the imagery. This dangerous and unjust world is filled with a great cast, and strongly sets the scene for Mare's heartbreaking and impossible story. I enjoyed every heart-pounding minute, and can't wait to see what happens next.
This is definitely a book you want to read!
Red Queen, February 2015, ISBN 9781409155843, Hodder Children's Books