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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Definitely wasn't what I was expecting but I did go in kind of blind. I was pleasantly surprised and read it fairly quickly so I must have enjoyed it. Now onto the next one and hopefully to finish the whole series in one go.
*1.5 stars*
Here's the thing. I give 2 stars to books I'm kind of "meh" about, but not ones where I really disliked so much about more than one aspect of the book. That's the case here. Even though I liked certain bits of this book, I didn't like so much more. The stars are for the writing, and the plot twist (1 and 0.5 each). I think that's why I would read other books by Aveyard; everything necessary for me to like a book, she has. I just didn't like this one.
Why?
Let's start with the plot. That's my main issue. I've heard so many similar stories before, and nothing about this book seemed original or surprised me (besides for the twist at the end, though I should have figured it out from the foreshadowing). I saw even from the synopsis on Goodreads that this was the case, but I both had hope for it and read it simply because of all the hype surrounding it.
My problems with the characters have much to do with the plot, and that's because they're all flat. I didn't care about the main character, Mare, and not just because she’s a generic YA main character: she’s just plain annoying, sarcastic, and outright rude. There’s nothing redeeming about her personality to make me even like her a little. This is pretty sad, seeing that if I like the characters in a book but the plot isn't super original, I would still like the book enough, and vice versa.
Besides Mare, the characters aren't even characters. They're plot devices. They didn't feel like real people with actual personalities, rather they were all there to accomplish something in the plot. And these plot devices are the same plot devices I've seen time and time again, and I would definitely call them tropes. There's Mare's younger sister, meant to create contrast (and perhaps jealousy...) between them. There's Mare's "neighbor best friend" character. The Silver girls are all there for hate reasons (there are a lot of characters whom Mare describes as hating her on first sight for no reason at all). Farley's purpose is with the rebellion (and it seems that there is a Farley in all YA books, whether or not they're the main character...the flat, sarcastic, b.a. warrior who's not afraid of anything). Even the legs of the love triangle are just there to be the legs of the love triangle (though of all the characters, they were probably the ones I disliked the least). I didn't feel any chemistry between anyone. It was just all wrong.
At some point not too far into the book I became bored enough to question skimming. I forced myself to continue reading, until I started Olympic speed-reading, the closest thing there is to skimming.
So I'm not a fan of this one. I might continue the series, to see if it gets better (if I ever have the inclination to, what with my huge TBR)...
UPDATE: everyone says the series only gets worse. There’s no way that I’ll ever have time to continue.
Here's the thing. I give 2 stars to books I'm kind of "meh" about, but not ones where I really disliked so much about more than one aspect of the book. That's the case here. Even though I liked certain bits of this book, I didn't like so much more. The stars are for the writing, and the plot twist (1 and 0.5 each). I think that's why I would read other books by Aveyard; everything necessary for me to like a book, she has. I just didn't like this one.
Why?
Let's start with the plot. That's my main issue. I've heard so many similar stories before, and nothing about this book seemed original or surprised me (besides for the twist at the end, though I should have figured it out from the foreshadowing). I saw even from the synopsis on Goodreads that this was the case, but I both had hope for it and read it simply because of all the hype surrounding it.
My problems with the characters have much to do with the plot, and that's because they're all flat. I didn't care about the main character, Mare, and not just because she’s a generic YA main character: she’s just plain annoying, sarcastic, and outright rude. There’s nothing redeeming about her personality to make me even like her a little. This is pretty sad, seeing that if I like the characters in a book but the plot isn't super original, I would still like the book enough, and vice versa.
Besides Mare, the characters aren't even characters. They're plot devices. They didn't feel like real people with actual personalities, rather they were all there to accomplish something in the plot. And these plot devices are the same plot devices I've seen time and time again, and I would definitely call them tropes. There's Mare's younger sister, meant to create contrast (and perhaps jealousy...) between them. There's Mare's "neighbor best friend" character. The Silver girls are all there for hate reasons (there are a lot of characters whom Mare describes as hating her on first sight for no reason at all). Farley's purpose is with the rebellion (and it seems that there is a Farley in all YA books, whether or not they're the main character...the flat, sarcastic, b.a. warrior who's not afraid of anything). Even the legs of the love triangle are just there to be the legs of the love triangle (though of all the characters, they were probably the ones I disliked the least). I didn't feel any chemistry between anyone. It was just all wrong.
At some point not too far into the book I became bored enough to question skimming. I forced myself to continue reading, until I started Olympic speed-reading, the closest thing there is to skimming.
So I'm not a fan of this one. I might continue the series, to see if it gets better (if I ever have the inclination to, what with my huge TBR)...
UPDATE: everyone says the series only gets worse. There’s no way that I’ll ever have time to continue.
This book was phenomenal. I listened to the audiobook, and I was hooked. Mav got me. I should have seen that coming but then Kal was always on her side and was just heart breaking. That ending though! What in the world! This book was beautifully written. I actually had this book on my TBR forever ago. I'm happy that I finally came around to it. I should have never waited. But now I can continue the story and not wait for the next book. Victoria this was amazing. I will definitely do a re-read since I purchased the kindle version. Hehe.
Would have given 4 stars but the plot twist was a cliche.
adventurous
medium-paced
Red Queen is the debut book of Victoria Aveyard and also one of the most expected releases of 2015. Joining the dystopian world with great technologies advances and wars with the fantasy world with kings, queen and magic, Red Queen is a great YA book that grabs the reader’s attention all the way through.
From the moment I started hearing about this book and wanted to read it and I really liked it! From the story to the world, the characters and the plot twist at the end I loved this book!!
Starting with the characters let’s focus on Mare. I finished the book liking her but there are a few things that I don’t particularly like about her. She spends the entire book saying that she can’t trust anyone but what she does is exactly the opposite. Someone tells her something she believes it without questioning; someone is nice to her she thinks that they’re trustworthy people. She’s very naïve and even though she’s in a completely different place very distinct from what she’s used to, she, being a thief, should know better.
When it comes to Cal I don’t really know how I feel. I didn’t trust him the entire book and regardless of being wrong in the end I still don’t like him but I hope that this opinion will change.
Now my favorite character…Maven. I loved him from the first page to the last page! I don’t really know why I liked him since the moment he appeared in the story but the thing is that I did. He is the younger brother, constantly compared to his big brother and heir of the throne, always in the shadows but he is so much more than that! Maven is very intelligent, observer and someone who fights for what he believes.
I started reading this book with the idea that it was 100% fantasy so in the beginning, when the dystopian elements started to show up I didn’t quite liked the idea. However as I kept reading my opinion changed and I ended up enjoying the mix between fantasy elements and dystopian elements, this was explored in a very original way (to me was original because I never read the books that Red Queen is being compared to). And that polt twist at the end??? MIND BLOWING!! I already knew something big was going to happen but I never expected that!
I really liked this book and I really recommend it!!
From the moment I started hearing about this book and wanted to read it and I really liked it! From the story to the world, the characters and the plot twist at the end I loved this book!!
Starting with the characters let’s focus on Mare. I finished the book liking her but there are a few things that I don’t particularly like about her. She spends the entire book saying that she can’t trust anyone but what she does is exactly the opposite. Someone tells her something she believes it without questioning; someone is nice to her she thinks that they’re trustworthy people. She’s very naïve and even though she’s in a completely different place very distinct from what she’s used to, she, being a thief, should know better.
When it comes to Cal I don’t really know how I feel. I didn’t trust him the entire book and regardless of being wrong in the end I still don’t like him but I hope that this opinion will change.
Now my favorite character…Maven. I loved him from the first page to the last page! I don’t really know why I liked him since the moment he appeared in the story but the thing is that I did. He is the younger brother, constantly compared to his big brother and heir of the throne, always in the shadows but he is so much more than that! Maven is very intelligent, observer and someone who fights for what he believes.
I started reading this book with the idea that it was 100% fantasy so in the beginning, when the dystopian elements started to show up I didn’t quite liked the idea. However as I kept reading my opinion changed and I ended up enjoying the mix between fantasy elements and dystopian elements, this was explored in a very original way (to me was original because I never read the books that Red Queen is being compared to). And that polt twist at the end??? MIND BLOWING!! I already knew something big was going to happen but I never expected that!
Spoiler
I didn’t see that plot twist coming at all!!! Didn’t suspect a thing!!! When I read it my jaw dropped specially because it involved Maven and now he is the villain!! I always suspected of Cal, like I already said I didn’t trust him but never in a million years would have guessed that Maven was the one who was going to be a traitor!!! Still my favorite and everything I said about him is true, he just uses his abilities in a wrong way…I really liked this book and I really recommend it!!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great story but poor execution.. It was still very entertaining though
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Parts of this book were very fun but the trials seemed so mundane here and very forgettable.