Red Queen Series by Victoria Aveyard Book Review

This review covers the four main books in the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard, as well as Broken Throne, which is a collection of novellas and stories that serve as a companion and epilogue to the series. The review contains some spoilers, so if you haven’t read the books yet, you may want to skip this review until you do.

Red Queen (Red Queen Series, Book One)

Title: Red Queen
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy / Romantic Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2015
Date of Publication: February 10, 2015
Pages: 416 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0062310644
Audiobook Read by: Amanda Dolan

Red Queen follows a woman named Mare Barrow. Mare lives in a kingdom named Norta. In Norta, society is completely divided by blood i.e. the Silvers possess silver blood and supernatural abilities and are the ruling elite while Reds are ordinary people and are disenfranchised and oppressed. Mare is a Red and she makes her living and gets by as a thief. She and her family live in a poor area called the Stilts. Her world is overturned when she discovers she has powers of her own, something thought impossible for Reds.

To conceal her anomaly and maintain Silver dominance, the King forces Mare into the royal court with a compelling lie: she’s presented as a lost Silver princess, adopted, and is betrothed to a prince. In this first book, we are introduced into Mare’s world and watch how she deals with life among the Silvers while secretly aligning with the Scarlet Guard, a Red resistance group. Torn between love, loyalty, betrayal, and her own moral compass, Mare must decide what kind of person she’ll be in a world built on injustice and deceit.

Glass Sword (Red Queen Series, Book Two)

Title: Glass Sword
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy / Romantic Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2016
Date of Publication: February 9, 2016
Pages: 464 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0062310668
Audiobook Read by: Amanda Dolan

Glass Sword is the second installment in the Red Queen Series.

After escaping from Maven’s betrayal, Mare Barrow is on the run with the Scarlet Guard. She sets out to find and recruit others like her—newbloods, Reds with powers like Silvers. It’s a race against time in this book because in Book 1, Maven had access to similar information as Mare and the Scarlet Guard fear that he intends to capture or kill the newbloods. Book 2 is filled with battles, new alliances, and devastating losses. Mare struggles with her growing power, the weight of leadership, and the line between savior and tyrant.

King’s Cage (Red Queen Series, Book Three)

Title: King’s Cage
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy / Romantic Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2017
Date of Publication: February 7, 2017
Pages: 528 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0062310699
Audiobook Read by: Amanda Dolan, Adenrele Ojo, and Erin Spencer

King’s Cage is the third installment in the Red Queen Series.

At the start of the book, Mare is a prisoner, held captive by Maven Calore, the boy she once trusted. Powerless and silenced, she’s used as a weapon in Maven’s propaganda war to break the Scarlet Guard and control the kingdom. Meanwhile, Cal and the resistance rally forces to challenge Maven’s rule. Betrayal, shifting alliances, and sacrifices dominate this phase of the struggle as Mare learns the heavy cost of survival in a fractured world.

War Storm (Red Queen Series, Book Four – Final Main Book)

Title: War Storm
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy / Romantic Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2018
Date of Publication: May 15, 2018
Pages: 672 pages
ISBN-13:  978-0062422996
Audiobook Read by: Amanda Dolan, Erin Spencer, Saskia Maarleveid, Vikas Adam, and Charlie Thurston

Mare must fight alongside Cal, even as their relationship is torn apart by his choice of crown over her. The Scarlet Guard, Silvers, and newbloods are caught in the ultimate battle for freedom and survival. Loyalties are tested as alliances shift, kingdoms fall, and war consumes Norta. Mare faces her most difficult choices yet, where victory may demand losing everything. The fate of Reds, Silvers, and the future of Norta will be decided once and for all.

Broken Throne (Red Queen Series, Book Five – Companion Collection)

Title: Broken Throne
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: HarperTeen / HarperCollins
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy / Romantic Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2019
Date of Publication: May 7, 2019
Pages: 480 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1409176022

Broken Throne is not a full novel, but a collection of novellas and short stories set in the Red Queen universe. It adds to the backstory and includes epilogues to characters and events from the main series. It includes both previously published tales (like Queen Song and Steel Scars) and new novellas (World Behind, Iron Heart, Fire Light), along with bonus scenes, maps, flags, journal entries, and other extras.

It gives readers some information about past events (such as the backstory of Coriane, Cal’s mother) and post-series developments (what comes after War Storm). If you want to know what Happens with Mare and Cal, then check out Fire light. Because this is a collection, each novella has its own focus and cast, though many tie into the main cast from Red Queen:

• Queen Song — Focuses on Coriane Jacos (mother to Cal). It recounts her courtship, marriage, and struggles with mind-powers and jealousy especially involving Elara.
• Steel Scars — Follows Diana Farley early in her involvement with the Scarlet Guard, showing her mission and how she begins to recruit and act in the rebellion.
• World Behind — Introduces new characters: a Red smuggler and a Silver princess (Lyrisa).
• Iron Heart — Focuses on Evangeline Samos and Elane Haven after the war, their lives in Montfort, and how they rebuild while coping with their pasts.
• Fire Light — Deals with Mare Barrow, Cal, Kilorn, and their relationships/adjustments after War Storm. It shows attempts at healing and renewed connection in the new world.
• Fare Well — A very brief piece (a short scene) from Maven’s perspective as he says goodbye to Cal before his execution.

Main Plot & Characters

• Mare Barrow: She is the protagonist. Mare is a Red with unexpected power “lightning” abilities. She becomes a pawn in Silver politics but intends to use her new position to further the cause of the oppressed. At the start of the book, she has to pretend to be Mareena Titanos.
• Tiberias “Cal” Calore: He is the Crown Prince of Norta. His relationship with Mare becomes central. Most people call him Cal instead of Tiberius. He is nicknamed “the flame of the North.”
• Maven Calore: He is Cal’s half-brother. Betrayal and shifting loyalties are part of his arc.
• Farley (Diana Farley): At the start of the book, she is a Captain in the Scarlet Guard. Farley is a leader among Reds who resist Silver rule. She becomes Mare’s connection to the rebellion. She later becomes a General.
• Kilorn Warren: Mare’s best friend, whose conscription into the war is a major motivating factor for her actions.
• Julian Jacos – A Silver scholar and Cal’s uncle, who helps Mare learn about her abilities.
• King Tiberias Calore VI – The ruler of Norta, father of Cal and Maven.
• Coriane Jacos – She was Cal’s mother and the former Queen. She was married to King Tiberias Calore VI.
• Elara Merandus – She is Maven’s mother and a powerful Silver whisper (mind-controller).
• Gisa Barrow – She is Mare’s younger sister. Gisa is skilled with embroidery.
• Shade Barrow – He is Mare’s older brother. He is later revealed to have powers of teleportation (a newblood).
• Bree and Tramy – They are Mare’s brothers.
• Evangeline Samos – She was betrothed to Cal and expected to become queen. Evangeline is a powerful Silver magnetron, meaning she can manipulate metal. She is the daughter of Volo Samos and sister to Ptolemus.
• Ptolemus Samos – He is Evangeline’s brother. He leads the Archeon city guards. He is also a magnetron.
• Volo Samos – He is Ptolemus and Evangeline’s father. He is married to Larentia Viper.
• Lucas Samos – He was assigned to protect Mare at the palace. Lucas is Evangeline’s cousin and is from House Samos.
• Larentia Viper – She is Volo Samos wife and the mother of Evangeline and Ptolemus.
• Walsh – She is a Red servant who worked at the castle.
• Wren Skonos – She is a healer and has a relationship with Ptolemus.
• The Colonel – He is Farley’s father and plays a major role in the Scarlet Guard.
• Premier Davidson – He is the leader of Montfort. He was also on Julian’s list as a newblood. Montfort operates a democracy where their leaders are elected.
• Carmadon – He is Premier Davidson’s husband. He is from Montfort.
• Cameron Cole – She can suppress people’s powers.
• Morrey – Cameron’s brother. He is 15 years old.
• Elane Haven – She has a relationship with Evangeline Samos. She is also from a prestigious house. Her father is Jerald Haven.
• Ada Wallace – She is one of the newbloods Mare recruited. She has the ability to memorize everything (perfect memory).
• Belicos – A father who was killed in the Hall of the Sun (the palace).
• Will Whistle – He ran a shop near Mare’s home. Whistle is not his real last name. It was through him Mare met Farley.
• Jon – He is an eye (a seer). He sees what is to come and also futures that would not happen.
• Anabel Lerolan – She is Cal & Maven’s grandmother. King Tiberias Calore Vi was her son. She is an oblivion and her touch is deadly. Cal calls her Nanabel.
• Tyton, Rafe, and Ella – They are newbloods. Their ability is lightening power just like Mare. They call their type of ability electricons. Tyton has a more advanced ability than all of them.
• Farrah – She is a newblood recruited by Mare. She has the ability to manipulate or muffle sounds.
• Prince Bracken – He is a Prince of Piedmont and father to Prince Michael and Princess Charlotta.
• Prince Michael and Princess Charlotta – They are Prince Bracken’s children.
• Iris Cygnet – She is the King of Lakelands daughter.
• Queen Cenra – She is the Queen of Lakelands. She is Iris and Tiora’s mother.
• Tiora Cygnet – She is the King of Lakelands daughter and the heir to the Lakelands throne.
• Ibarem, Tahir, and Rash – They are triplets that have the ability to communicate with their minds even though they are miles away.
• Mr. Cole – He is Cameron and Morrey’s father. He and his family live in the techie slums.
• Norta – The main setting of the series, ruled by the Calore dynasty. It’s divided into regions controlled by different Silver houses.
• Lakelanders – Norta’s main rivals and enemies across the lakes, often at war with them.
• Piedmont – A southern nation with its own royal family, plays political roles later in the series.
• Montfort – A mountainous republic where Reds and newbloods live freely; becomes an important ally.
• House Calore – The royal family of Norta (burners, fire manipulation).
• House Merandus – Whispers (mind control); Queen Elara’s family.
• House Samos – Magnetrons (metal manipulators); This is Evangeline, Ptolemus and Volo Samos house. They would later become, the Kingdom of the Rift.
• House Jacos – Scholars; Julian belongs here.
• House Iral – Silks (graceful, agile fighters).
• House Haven – Silvers who can create invisibility. Elane is from this house.
• House Laris – Storms (weather control, often tied to the seas).
• House Provos – Oblivions (explosives, destructive powers).
• Nolle – Arvens (ability-cancelers, used as guards called “silencers”).
• House Skonos – Healers.
• House Osanos – Nymphs (water manipulators).
• House Blonos – Tutors with memory-reading powers (like Lady Blonos, Mare’s etiquette teacher).

Writing Style

The Red Queen Series introduces us to a world that is richly built with a hierarchical class systems and supernatural powers, but is facing war and dissent. The book gives us memorable and unforgettable characters and like many other books that are this detailed, some of these characters will test your patience and you may find yourself disagreeing with a lot of their decisions. With that said, we really enjoyed this series. Yes, there were pacing issues in some of the books and some character motivations that seemed questionable but overall, this is a great series with good storylines.

Throughout the series, we hear from various characters and their perspectives, including Mare, Cal, Maven, Evangeline, Cameron, Elane, Iris, and Coriane. We learn about the different houses and places like Piedmont, Montfort, Lakelands, and of course Norta. But what we loved most is the fact that there are so many connected stories that exist in this world and the author has created a vast universe with endless possibilities. You definitely get a glimpse of just how much more there is to explore in Broken Throne.

Memorable Quotes

• “We will rise, Red as the Dawn.” — tagline for the rebellion.
• “He is his mother’s son.”— Julian Jacos
• “Words can lie.”— Julian Jacos
• “Strength and power.”— Popular saying by King Tiberius and his people
• “Anyone can betray anyone.”— Julian Jacos
• “Anyone, anything, can betray anyone, even your own heart.”— Julian Jacos
• “By my colors”
• “To look powerful is to be powerful.”— Elara
• “The truth doesn’t matter, it only matters what the people believe.”— Julian Jacos”
• “Home is no longer the place we are from. Home is safe with them.”— Mare’s reflections
• “A newblood king would sit the throne you built him.”— Cameron Cole
• “For now I can rest, and heal my iron heart.”— Evangeline Samos
• “No one is born a monster.”— Cal
• “If not for the rage curling in me, I would be impressed.”— Cameron Cole
• “As you enter, you pray to leave. As you leave, you pray never to return.”— Farley
• “Monsters are most dangerous when they are afraid.”— Mare’s reflections
• “Monsters are so easily made especially in people like us.”— Mare Barrow
• “Not a god’s chosen but a god’s cursed.”— Julian Jacos
• “I know metal Princess. And I know that any steel that does not bend is fated to break.”—Evangeline‘s letter to Iris Cygnet
• “I’m the muscle.”— Kilorn
• “I’m done with crowns.”— Cal
• “Cal follows orders. He’ll be following his father’s wishes until the day he dies.”— Maven
• “We destroy. It’s the constant of our kind.”— Julian Jacos
• “We destroy, but we also rebuild.”— Mare’s reflections
• “A cell is still a cell, no matter how you dress it up.”— Mare Barrow
• “Because the war is not a war at all. It’s an extermination.”— Farley
• “One hundred years of war, and my son will bring peace. He will not die fighting. He will not. HE WILL NOT.”— Coriane Jacos
• “And a war is a war. Mare Barrow, no matter how good your intentions may be.”— Premier Davidson
• “There’s no way to complete a puzzle with missing pieces or put together shattered glass.”— Julian Jacos
• “It’s an exclusive club you’re joining, I have to be on hand to welcome you to the abdicators.”— Cal
• “No one is born evil, just like no one is born alone. They became that way through choice and circumstance. The later you cannot control but the former….”— Julian Jacos
• “And rise alone.”— Jon
• “To rise, and rise alone.”— Mare’s reflecting on Jon’s words
• “I’m still waiting.”— Cal
• “Terrified.”— Cal
• “Long live the true King, Tiberius the seventh.”
• “I’ve lived through the rule of four kings. I know greatness–and sacrifice–when I see it.”— Anabel Lerolan to Cal

Final Thoughts on the Red Queen Series

The Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard gives us a world defined by power, politics, and rebellion. It includes shocking betrayals, heartbreaking choices, and complicated relationships that linger with you long after the final page.

Aveyard takes us on a journey and it’s amazing to watch Mare’s evolution from a simple Red girl in the Stilts to a powerful figure in a divided kingdom. Cal and Maven’s dynamic also adds even more tension, as it shows how love and loyalty can easily twist into rivalry and regret.

While some books in the series move at a slower pace, the story itself and the characters make it worth your time. Broken Throne ties everything together beautifully, and gives readers like us some closure to characters we’ve grown to care about while expanding on the world beyond Norta.

If you enjoy books like The Kindred’s Curse Saga, The Hunger Games, The Selection, and The Powerless Trilogy, then the Red Queen series is absolutely worth reading. It gives you fantasy stories with strong female leads, political intrigue, and a touch of romance.

Rating of The Series

Characters ★★★★★ (5/5)

Plot ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Writing ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Book Cover ★★★★★ (5/5)

Audiobook (Narration only) ★★★★★ (5/5)

Overall ★★★★⯪ (4.5/5)

Have you read The Red Queen Series yet? If so, how did you feel about Mare, Cal and Maven’s choices? Who were some of your favorite characters and which of the books in the series did you enjoy the most?

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