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Showing posts with label Victoria Aveyard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Victoria Aveyard. Show all posts

Tuesday, 26 June 2018

{Review} War Storm (Red Queen #4) by Victoria Aveyard

War Storm (Red Queen, #4)Posted by Donna
Release Date: May 15th, 2018
Finished Date: June 2nd, 2018
Publishers: Orion
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Source: For Review
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 672
Buy: Amazon UK Amazon US / The Book Depo 
 
VICTORY COMES AT A PRICE.

Mare Barrow learned this all too well when Cal’s betrayal nearly destroyed her. Now determined to protect her heart—and secure freedom for Reds and newbloods like her—Mare resolves to overthrow the kingdom of Norta once and for all… starting with the crown on Maven’s head.

But no battle is won alone, and before the Reds may rise as one, Mare must side with the boy who broke her heart in order to defeat the boy who almost broke her. Cal’s powerful Silver allies, alongside Mare and the Scarlet Guard, prove a formidable force. But Maven is driven by an obsession so deep, he will stop at nothing to have Mare as his own again, even if it means demolishing everything—and everyone—in his path.

War is coming, and all Mare has fought for hangs in the balance. Will victory be enough to topple the Silver kingdoms? Or will the little lightning girl be forever silenced?

In the epic conclusion to Victoria Aveyard’s stunning series, Mare must embrace her fate and summon all her power… for all will be tested, but not all will survive.

The Review: War Storm is the final book in the Red Queen series by author Victoria Aveyard and if like me you have been following this series from the start then you will be seriously excited to know this finale didn’t disappoint!

I was really excited to read War Storm because even though I don’t want it to end, I do want it to end so I can see what happens. Catch 22! The Red Queen series has been one full of danger, deception, betrayal and sacrifice and let’s not forget the romance – because that’s what we’re all really here for, or I am. 

Plot wise War Storm was very slow to start with but it definitely picked up towards the 200 page mark and from then on out, I was glued to see what would happen. I laughed, I cried and I really felt every emotion each character was going through. Aveyard’s words are very compelling it’s hard not to love them. 

Cal & Mare have been through so much turmoil during this series and I desperately wanted a happy ever after for them. Not only that I wanted all my favourite characters to get the ending they deserved as well. The secondary characters are second to none throughout this series, Farley, Mare’s family, Kilorn to name a few. And even some characters that I hate to love like Evangeline. But Mare really has come on so far from the little lightning girl she was in Red Queen. And I’m really glad she finally discovers more about herself during this book.

I bet you’re wondering why I only rated it 4 stars even after I loved it so much? Well, that ending. Seriously? After four books waiting to find out how things end for Mare & Cal and that’s the ending we get? No epilogue? No ten years later? Completely gutted. I’m not one for open endings, I need closure and this ending did not provide that for me when it comes to Mare and Cal’s relationship. I guess it’s up to the reader to decide what happens next but me, I need an epilogue and I really hope the author considers writing one. 

Thank you to Orion Publishing or giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Saturday, 6 August 2016

{Review} Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard

27255774Posted by Donna
Release Date: February 11th, 2016
Finished Date:February 14th, 2016
Publishers: Orion
Genre: YA, Dystopia
Source: For Review
Format: Paperback
Pages: 464
Buy: Amazon UK Amazon US / Book Depo 
 
For fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT - the thrilling new fantasy novel from Victoria Aveyard, bestselling author of RED QUEEN.
If there's one thing Mare Barrow knows, it's that she's different.


Mare's blood is red - the colour of common folk - but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from the prince and friend who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by the Silver king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red and Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors.

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

The Review: After falling in love with Victoria Aveyard’s debut novel Red Queen it’s safe to the sequel Glass Sword was high on my TBR to read and I’m happy to say that it really is a worthy sequel.

Glass Sword continues where Red Queen left off with Mare Barrow’s, the lightening girl running for her life from the person she came to trust Maven, the Silver King. The only good spot in these events is Cal, the dethroned Silver King, is with her so there in this mess together being hunted by friend, brother and crown. After stumbling across danger at every corner Mare and Cal are taken in by the Scarlet Guard and so their journey begins in trying to rescue their friends and people that were captured but also by trying to take down the Silver King. 

I just can’t get enough of this series. As I said before Red Queen really impressed me last year and I always worry with the sequels that they won’t live up to my expectations but Victoria Aveyard really delivered. I feel the plot of the story grew more intense and thickens at every turn leaving you dying to know what happens next. It’s a story that delivers action, danger and even romance that keeps you interested all the way through. And it the characters are written in such a way that makes you feel so connected to them that you feel every emotion that their experiencing. Glass Sword really puts our heroine through the ringer and I had so much sympathy for her but at the same time, I’m one of her biggest fans rooting for her and hoping she pushes through. She isn’t perfect and she makes mistakes and that’s very clear throughout this chapter of her story. We have to remember she is only a seventeen-year-old girl who learns through her mistakes, and so she will continue to make them. This definitely makes her stronger though. 

It’s not just Mare who makes this series so good though, it’s also the secondary characters like Kilorn, Captain Farley and Cal. Cal is definitely a favourite of mine – there’s really no need for me to explain why is there? But I love his presence in the book! And the new addition of characters was an added bonus too! 

In all, if you haven’t read this series then I’d highly recommend you do. I for one cannot wait for the release of the third installment, Kings Cage!  

Thank you to Orion Publishing for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Wednesday, 27 July 2016

{Review} Cruel Crown (Red Queen 0.1-0.2) by Victoria Aveyard

27409389Posted by Donna
Release Date: April 21st, 2016
Finished Date: July 27th, 2016
Publishers: Orion
Genre: YA, Dystopia
Source: For Review
Format: Paperback
Pages: 208
Buy: Amazon UK Amazon US / Book Depo 
 
Two women on either side of the Silver and Red divide tell the stories no one else knows.

Discover the truth of Norta’s bloody past in these two revealing prequels to #1 New York Times bestseller Red Queen.

Queen Song

Queen Coriane, first wife of King Tiberias, keeps a secret diary—how else can she ensure that no one at the palace will use her thoughts against her? Coriane recounts her heady courtship with the crown prince, the birth of a new prince, Cal, and the potentially deadly challenges that lay ahead for her in royal life.

Steel Scars

Diana Farley was raised to be strong, but being tasked with planting the seeds of rebellion in Norta is a tougher job than expected. As she travels the land recruiting black market traders, smugglers, and extremists for her first attempt at an attack on the capital, she stumbles upon a connection that may prove to be the key to the entire operation—Mare Barrow.

Plus a Glass Sword sneak peek!

The Review: Cruel Crown features two prequels to Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen series. I'd recommend to read them in between Red Queen and Glass Sword. I've read it after both books but I think it would have interested me more if I'd read it while awaiting the release of Glass Sword because it has an exciting sneek peak at Glass Sword included too. Both novella's together are only around 150 pages so this is a very quick read. 

Queen Song: Ever since I read Red Queen I've been interested to read more about Queen Coriane who is Cal's Mother. However unfortunately - and this isn't a spoiler - Coriane isn't in the remainder of the series because she died years ago but with her being such a big part of Cal and Julian's lives - my two favourite characters - it's not surprise why I'd want to get to know her more. If I'm honest, I was expecting this to be about her life as a Queen, however it was only a small part because for the most of the story is focused on her life before becoming Queen and, in all honestly, her life was pretty sad. But this doesn't stop Coriane being interesting and she's such a sweet girl. I was just hoping that the author would give us more information at her later days in life rather than before. It was still really good to see how her and the King fell in love, him them only being a Prince. And it was of course nice to see that their feelings for one another were real and not forced by the Queenstrial which is how the heir to the throne is normally picked his bride. I really enjoyed Coriane's story but I only wish it was longer.

Steel Scars: I'm not sure what to say about this one. I didn't really like it which was disappointing because I was looking forward to reading more about the red side of the story. Some familiar faces pop up and while that's great not much really happens in the novella and with this one being nearly 100 pages it did start to drag. Captain Farley is an interesting character but this novella didn't add anything to her story. We don't get to know her better. 

In all, Cruel Crown would have be an interesting read with just the Queen Song's novella but some fans may like Steel Scars. It's a nice little bonus to add to the collection of books though even if one novella is much stronger than the other.

Thanks to Orion Publishing for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Saturday, 1 November 2014

{Review} Red Queen (Red Queen Trilogy #1) by Victoria Aveyard

17878931Posted by Donna
Release Date: February 10th, 2015
Finished Date: September 26th, 2014
Publishers: HarperTeen
Genre: YA, Dystopia
Source: For Review
Format: eARC
Pages: 320
A thrilling new fantasy trilogy for fans of DIVERGENT and THE HUNGER GAMES.

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

The Review: I’ve read a lot of fantastic books this year and I was hoping Red Queen would be the next one but it isn’t just fantastic, it’s absolutely phenomenal and definitely a must read of 2015!

Mare Barrow’s world is divided two ways by red and silver blood. As a Red, she is counting the days until her conscription date arrives, where she will have to fight the Silver’s war. But in the meantime Mare continues to work the only way she knows how – picking pockets to help her family survive, while the Silver’s  – the royalty – live their lives in luxury because their supernatural abilities rule the world. But when Mare is suddenly given a job at the palace working for the King, Mare discovers that she has gifts of her own, but how can that be when she has red blood coursing through her?

In an attempt to hide Mare, the King forces a new identity on her as a lost Silver Princess and now she has to marry the younger son of the King. But as that day draw near and an opportunity arise for Mare to join the rebellion come ahead, she can’t help wish for her own life back and even more so when she has to push her own feelings aside for someone she’s come to care for. Can Mare do the right thing and help her people survive but look after the ones she loves too?

What a phenomenal debut novel by Victoria Aveyard! I hadn’t heard of Red Queen until I came across it on Goodreads. The cover alone made me want to read this book but with an intriguing plot too, and I just knew I had to read it….and I’m so glad I did. Admittedly, the story has a slow start. You all know how impatient I am so at one point I didn’t have much faith that the story was going to improve –  it was interesting but nothing grabbed me. But at around 15% and that was it, I was hooked and I couldn’t put it down! The plot of the story is complex, compelling and very interesting. It has many twists and turns throughout the story that keep you guessing. The story also brings love, hope and betrayal and you never know who to trust.

Our main character Mare is thrown into a world she knows nothing about. Her life has changed and she’s taking on a role that has to be played 100%. She cannot fail because failing means death for her and her family. I loved Mare. Yes she was a little rash at times but I felt as though her emotions were real and realistic to her surroundings. It’s not an easy transition but she remains strong throughout the story and I enjoyed being able to connect with her as a character. 

There are so many other secondary characters – the two princes, the king, the queen, the best friend of Mare, her family. They really added to the depth of the story and you honestly don't know who to trust for one minute! 

In all, Red Queen is a fantastic read that I urge you all to read.

Thank you to HarperTeen for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 
 
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