Red Queen 2-Book Paperback Box Set: Red Queen, Glass Sword

by Victoria Aveyard

Power is a dangerous game.

This beautiful box set includes the first two books in Victoria Aveyard’s #1 New York Times bestselling Red Queen series, Red Queen and Glass Sword.

Mare Barrow, a lowly Red in a world of red-blooded laborers and silver-blooded elites, thought she knew what her future held. But when she learns that her red blood has been disguising a secret ability, one usually reserved only for Silvers, her life is turned upside down. How will the Silver ruling class keep her secret hidden from the increasingly restless Red population and their Scarlet Guard revolutionaries? And how will Mare use her sudden power to change the caste system, the kingdom, and the world—forever?

Corrupt courts, unnatural abilities, and forbidden romance spark a revolution in the first two electrifying installments of Victoria Aveyard’s blockbuster Red Queen series.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopia

880 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2016

About the author

I'm an author/screenwriter who likes books and lists. This site is the nexus of my universe.

I wrote the #1 NYT bestselling series RED QUEEN the #1 NYT bestselling REALM BREAKER trilogy. Next up, my adult fantasy debut, TEMPEST, coming 2026.

The genres I'm into include YA, Fantasy, Historical, Adventure, Apocalyptic - if people are dying, I'm buying.

Reviews

[JJ Weir · Rating 4 out of 5]

If "The Hunger Games" and "Divergent" had a baby, this would be it. If you're a fan of either, then this is something you'll enjoy.

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Red Queen series grabbed my attention from the moment I noticed them, promising me a new young adult fantasy addiction. After reading reviews, however, I started to question how I would feel towards the series – it seems to be a series that divides people, with some loving it and others hating it. Thus, I entered with trepidation.

I wasn’t crazy about the first book. There were things about it I enjoyed, but I wasn’t won over by it. I was feeling generous, though, and enjoyed the possibilities, so I gave it a four-star rating with the hopes of more in book two. When it came to book two, I found my feelings were more negative than positive. I felt as though the possibilities were not reached, some of the highs were lost, and not much happened compared to what could have been. Towards the end of the book, things picked up, but it wasn’t enough to win me over. This time, I had to give the book a three-star rating, as nothing would have me rounding up.

Unfortunately, it seems as though this series is not for me. I tried the first two books, and although I am interested in where things will be going, it is not enough for me to keep reading. I hate doing it, but I feel as though this will be a situation where I Google what happened. I’m not invested enough to continue, and with so many books sitting on my to-read list, I’m going to focus my attention on books I know I will enjoy rather than spending time on a series I’m not invested in.

I can understand the appeal of this series, and can see why many will enjoy it, but it is painfully obvious to me why it isn’t a series for everyone.

[Sandy Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, giving just enough clues to recall first book read a year ago without being repetitious. Mare Barrow, Cal, Farley, Kilorn and Shade have just escaped and their adventure begins. They intend to overthrow Maven, the cruel prince, and his mother who can bend your mind to her will. As you know from the Red Queen, Elara made Cal behead his father and Mare make announcements she didn't want to causing havoc in the country. Their mission is to find other red bloods with silver blood traits and overtake the Crown. It's an exciting adventure and reminds me, once again, I shouldn't start a series until all the books are complete so I'm not left hanging.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just realized that the Calores (and any other Burner) are basically human hair styling tools. Like they can just use their fingers to curl their own hair. They can just run their hand through their hair and it would straighten as if they used an actual flat iron. I am 100% certain that Burners do their hair like this.

Imagine people in the Scarlet Guard and bunkers find out about this and they go to Cal for him to do their hair. So imagine Cal standing there, hair twisted around his fingers using his heat.

If push comes to shove, I think Cal should be a hairstylist.

[Edit~A · Rating 4 out of 5]

- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mare is boring : most of the time, she is tormented, the rest of it, she is slow and uncertain about everything. I couldn’t even believe in the love story one second, made me feel absolutely nothing. So so disappointed, i really thought the idea had so much potential but in the end, i couldn’t get attached to a single one character. Something good though : mare likes her power, and she is honest about it. (Well she couldn’t be tormented about something more I guess.)

[Eleni Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after i was reccogmended it online and was expecting it to be brilliant but unfortunately, i was proven wrong. The idea was good, and the author had obviously taken a while thinking up of it and refining it, however, i feel like there was too much compressed into one book and some of the plot twists were fustrating and hard to follow. I do however, admire how the author manages to keep the reader second guessing and I imagine this is one of those books that get better as you go through the series and learn more about characters.
overall, I think this book is best desribed as ya high fantasy, for people looking for a more complex book you can get stuck into easily.
four stars.

[Seph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review of Glass Sword (the reviews are turned off for it atm so I shall discuss it here).
I loved this book. I think the pacing is incredible, and I adore Mare's character in this book (a morally grey main character is one of my favourite things). The rest of the characters are also amazing - they're all so different, and I really like how a lot of the new characters both dislike and distrust Mare. This book is a credit to its genre - it's tropey, but not unbearably so, and the many different twists are done really well!

[Nara Bat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty sure I read this back in middle school, and at the time I thought it was a nice book to get into. Good book only if you’re a young teenage girl. Because now i couldn’t pull myself through it again.

The whole plot is super slow and honestly kinda boring except for the younger brother (iykyk). He carried.

It kinda gives Hunger Games vibes… but like, slower. And, dare I say, even more boring.

[Bathsheba Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread to prepare me for the 2nd two that I haven't read yet because I may have forgotten how they went. Thats the thing I enjoy them when I read them but then forget all about them when its over. Mare is pretty annoying through, reminds me of whatshername in 4th wing she was kinda annoying/the same too. Actually my memory isnt great, but that story does borrow a lot from this story. I must prefer my heroines to have a lot less of a conscience about having to be stabby.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like Red Queen enough to get Glass Sword...it was slow and sad. Got tired of the bloodthirstiness and the heroine's moaning and feeling sorry for herself. The writing isn't bad, just didn't live up to my expectations.

[Rachel Dixon-makrucki · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 good continuation, Mare is getting a bit annoying and I always hate love triangles.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

[Hailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book and awesome characters........ still not my favorite

[Bailey the BookNerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of love/hate this book...
I loved how Cal and Mare’s romance has blossomed and how her brother fell in love

[Jasper]

LOVED IT

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started slow but cant wait for the next book we want MORE MAVEN!!!!!

[Juey · Rating 5 out of 5]

gooooooodddddddd

[Laura Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! The story was so engaging, and I couldn't help but become attached to the characters. It's a feel-good read that leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling

[Kylie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite but still good

[Ani Terzian]

Exciting, but I think that there could be more in the slower parts of the book.

[Sara Peercy]

Horrible book, waste of time.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

OOOOOOO these were so hella entertaining!!! It's been too long since I've read them so I forgot everything... but I just remember being SO invested!

[Jessica Clement · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had really high hopes but it lowkey felt like the powerless trilogy, shatter me series and hunger games all mixed together in a disappointing way

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a little while to get into but I enjoyed it otherwise some parts really drove me nuts I can't wait to read the next one !!

[Courtney Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm dying to know when King's Cage comes out

[Fatima Valencia]

OMG these books are just so amazing its like I can't even begin to describe it

[Yianna Yiannacou · Rating 4 out of 5]

See individual book for reviews

[Erica lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

plot twist? a saw that coming but dang i was quite mad at the traitor but so far so good i hope mare gets what she deserves

[Rachael Drenckpohl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. Reread #1.