Red Queen (Red Queen, #1)

by Victoria Aveyard

My eighteenth birthday is coming, and with it, conscription. I’m not apprenticed, I don’t have a job, so I’m going to be sent to the war like all the other idle ones.

So like…is there gonna be dragons on this “conscription day”?? (Please let there be a sexy shadow wielder at least)

Kilorn Warren. A fisherman’s apprentice, a war orphan, and probably my only real friend. We used to beat each other up as children, but now that we’re older—and he’s a foot taller than me—I try to avoid scuffles.

We all know it’s never the first guy that shows up. And this is literally the childhood best friend. It’s giving Dain Aetos

Our backs are bent by work and unanswered hope and the inevitable disappointment with our lot in life.

Sounds like a regular Tuesday

Strongarms usually make up at least one-half of the fights, their skills and abilities better suited to the arena than almost any other Silver. They seem to revel in it, using their superhuman strength to toss other champions around like rag dolls.

Like…a brawny?

Only Silvers can fight in the arenas because only a Silver can survive the arena. They fight to show us their strength and power. You are no match for us. We are your betters. We are gods.

Soooo Elite V ordinary?

I can only watch as the officer lays my sister next to me. Her eyes are on mine as he brings the butt of his gun down, shattering the bones in her sewing hand.

They broke her sewing fingers

I’m Cal, by the way,”

Yep. This the one. This the guy.

Something sharp meets my fingertips, making my body jolt. An exposed wire or faulty switch, I tell myself. It feels like a pinprick, like a needle spiking in my nerves, but the pain never follows. Above us, the porch light hums to life.

Oh look she wields lightening. Now we really need a shadow wielder too!!

Tiberias Calore the Sixth, King of Norta, Flame of the North.

“Calore” as in…heat? Also Calore as in…cal…? Cal’s dad?! Of course🤨

The crown prince is Cal.

CALLED IT😭

So what am I to do with you?” Is he asking me? “You could let me go. I wouldn’t say a word.”

At least she’s honest💀💀

“You know my advice, Tiberias,” the queen adds, her eyes on the king. “And it will solve both our problems.”

Keep her in the palace until she develops her powers, marry her off to prince Cal. BET.

You are Silver, a lady of a lost High House, a noble with great power, and one day, a princess of Norta.”

Made her way through the social ladder hella quick huh

“A Silver—a princess?” My eyes betray me, flying to Cal. A princess must marry a prince.

CALLED IT

“You will marry my son Maven, and you’ll do it without putting a toe out of line.”

Well. Half called it. That said. 2 brothers fighting for the same girl?? “I think I’ve seen this film before” and I DEFINITELY. DID!!! NOT!!! Like the ending!!!!!

“She’s not my mother. She’s Maven’s, not mine.”

OMG and they’re half brothers too!!!!

“You and your brother have everything, Prince Maven,” I whisper in a voice so fervent it might be a prayer. “You live in a palace, you have strength, you have power. You wouldn’t know hardship if it kicked you in the teeth, and believe me, it does that a lot. So excuse me if I don’t feel sorry for either of you.”

“Get a grip you ungrateful brat” but said nicely

The pair of them shoot bright red fireballs into the air, exploding targets as they rise and fall. Each one is a perfect shot, and even from up here, I recognize their smiling faces. Cal and Maven.

Oh look the princes are training together here too. I wonder where I’ve seen this before. (Pls don’t have the same ending)

There are more bruises, and scars as well, even though I’m sure he has access to an army of healers if he wants them. For some reason, he’s chosen to keep the scars.

I wonder where I’ve seen THAT before too

I’m going to be king one day. I don’t have the luxury of being selfish.” “I’d think the king would be the only person with that luxury.” He shakes his head, his eyes forlorn as they run over me. “I wish that were true.”

Tragic. The prince wants what he can’t have

“I’m in the palace, the center of their world. I’m quick, I’m quiet, and I can help the cause.”

Girl who’s not like everyone else happens to find herself in the heart of the corrupt government and in contact with revolutionary group and offers to help them from the inside. Damn. I wonder where I’ve seen that before too

I stumble over the words, feeling myself flush. “I don’t know if dancing with you in a dark room is exactly okay.” Instead of arguing, Cal just laughs and shrugs. Another song, slower with a haunting tune, fills the room. “The way I see it, I’m doing my brother a favor.” Then he grins crookedly. “Unless you want to step on his feet all night?”

Hey remember when a a certain dark haired grey eyed boy taught a certain silver haired blue eyed girl how to dance?! So she also wouldn’t step on his brother??

Maven is his mother’s son.”

Watch Maven being a double agent and actually is just gathering info from the red guard to the queen. But to play his role and get them to trust him he has to betray some Silvers. So his mum (the queen) told him who to give up. She prolly found out by looking into his brain

Anyone can betray anyone.”

His lips are on mine,

Sorry? Where did this come from? This is like their third proper conversation??

Worst of all, little houses surround each factory in an ordered square, one on top of the other, with narrow streets in between. Slums.

Sounds familiar

We killed a dozen of theirs, and they kill a thousand of ours.

HTTYD MENTION!!!!

and I will not be the king who ruins this country. This is my legacy, my father’s legacy, and I have a duty to it.”

The last guy that said that died at the hands of his brother (I’m still not over it. You were supposed to dodge 😭😭)

Cal might be born to rule, but Maven was meant for it. And Maven is willing to change the world for us, for the Reds he was raised to spit on.

Ngl but she’s been singing such high praise for Maven for a bit that I’m starting to get suspicious. He’s too…perfect?

How much he loves me.

Girl bffr you shared one kiss and had one maybe two conversations??

“Kilorn wanted you to have this,” she adds, holding out her hand. In it is a tiny green stone, the color of his eyes. An earring. “He said you’d know what it means.”

Oh :( forget the other two I’ll have kilorn instead😭😭

“You used me.” Finally, Maven condescends to look back at me. “Catching on, are you?”

CALLED IT

draws water across the weak fire like a lapping wave. The water hisses and spits, flash-boiling into thick clouds of steam.

This feel like a scene from Avatar where anatara is fighting Zouko

voice I vaguely recognize.

It’s her brother and he’s been alive the whole time

Shade. Alive and like me.

*yawns* predictable