Author: Victoria Aveyard
Published: 2015
400 pages
Setting: Fictional future world of Norta, in what used to be part of the United States
In Mare Barrow's world you are either a member of the ordinary, lower class Reds, those with red blood who have no chance of control over their own lives, or Silver, an elite class with silver blood and supernatural abilities which gives them power over the Reds. Mare is born a Red. She bleeds red blood and her only chance to help her family survive is her skill as a thief, However, Mare is not your ordinary Red. After she is chosen to serve at the palace at the ceremony for choosing a new queen, an accident reveals that she has the power to control electricity and lightning. Her new-found ability gains her admittance to not only the Silver world, but a place as a future princess by betrothal to the younger son, as well as great deal of danger. Not every one is as they seem, and Mare is caught between her new "family", whom she isn't sure are entirely trustworthy, and her loyalty to the Red revolution, who are counting on her to be the strongest chance they have of finally overthrowing Silver oppression.
Elements of Young Adult books:
Fast-paced- Mare moves quickly from thief in the village, to servant in the castle, to newly "discovered" Princess with previously unknown powers.
Likeable Young Characters- Mare and the other characters are all teenage, and very likeable. There is sympathy with them even though you are not sure who is good and who is evil.
Issues- The characters face tough issues of leadership and pretending to be someone other than you are for the protection of loved ones, as well as the usual teen love stuff.
Read-Alikes:
The Young Elites by Marie Lu
The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Personal critique: This was a great book! The story holds together very well, and you are kept guessing until the end as to which side is good and which side is bad. The elements of dystopia were mixed well with the elements of fantasy to produce a highly enjoyable story. I can't wait to read the next one, Glass Sword!
I always think that I don't like dystopian novels, but then I read one and love it. I think it is because they are so different from what I typically read and I enjoy the fast pace of young adult books. This one sounds interesting! It just might be added to my list.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your very descriptive annotation. As a 'not a fan of dystopian, less than part-time teen staff member" I truly appreciated your insight on this popular YA title.
ReplyDeleteExcellent annotation! Full points!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy YA reads; however, I don't know if this one would hold my attention. It seems almost like a YA Game of Thrones, and for some reason even that book couldn't hold my attention. Sometimes what I think I would like doesn't gel for me. I love fantasy reads, but then there are some I just can't get into such as Johnathon Strange and Mr. Norrell. I also really enjoy horror, but I cannot through an Ann Rice book if my life depended on it. Maybe it is all the descriptions of places, backtracking to explain a current happening, or the in-depth family history distracts from the point that in being made in parts of the story.
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