Red Queen (Red Queen, #1)

by Victoria Aveyard

Before the door slams behind us, I hear Evangeline yelling and Cal’s usually calm voice yelling right back, roaring over her like a storm.

Literally what a king

“This is the first completely Silver legion going into the trenches,” he says evenly. “They’re going to fight with the Reds, dressed as Reds, serving with Reds. The Lakelanders won’t know who they are when they get to the Choke. And when the bombs fall, when the enemy tries to break the line, they’re going to get more than they bargained for. The Shadow Legion will take them all.”

“You gave me the idea.” “What?” “When you fell into Queenstrial, no one knew what to do. I’m sure the Lakelanders will feel the same.” Though I try to speak, no sound comes out. I’ve never been a point of inspiration for anything, let alone combat maneuvers.

AKA his love letter to you

“When?” “When you leave for the capital, after the ball. You’ll go south,” he murmurs, “and I’ll go north.” A cold shock of fear ripples through me, like when Kilorn first told me he was going to fight. But Kilorn is a fisher boy, a thief, someone who knows how to survive, how to slip through the cracks; not like Cal. He’s a soldier. He’ll die if he has to. He’ll bleed for his war. And why this frightens me, I don’t know. Why I care, I can’t say.

Because you like him!!

This world is Silver, but it is also gray. There is no black-and-white.

“Two birds with one stone,” I breathe, feeling hot tears threaten to fall. As difficult as this might be, I’ll trade her life for Cal’s. I’ll do it a thousand times.

Because you LIKE HIM

“What happens if we fail, Maven?” His breath rattles in his chest as he inhales, fighting to remain calm. “Then we’ll be traitors, both of us. Tried for treason, convicted—and killed.”

Oh… that’s comforting

“A prince’s place is with his princess. With Evangeline,” I add hastily. Good one, Mare, my mind screams. The air around us thickens with heat, though Cal doesn’t move at all. “She’ll be all right, I think. She’s not exactly attached to me. I won’t miss her either.”

Oof

“I’ll miss you, Mare.” As much as I want to stand still, to stop time and let this moment last forever, I know it’s not possible. Whatever I might feel or think, Cal is not the prince I’m promised to. More important, he’s on the wrong side. He’s my enemy. Cal is forbidden.

GAH I CAN’T

Anyone can betray anyone.

The touch is electrifying, but not like I’m used to. This isn’t a spark of destruction but a spark of life.

BECAUSE HE’S GOOD 🥹😭

Cal is a cliff, and I throw myself over the edge, not bothering to think of what it could do to us both. One day he’ll realize I’m his enemy, and all this will be a far-gone memory. But not yet.

I don’t like this foreshadowing

Fear will get me killed.

“I just want this to be over.” “It won’t end tonight, Mare. This won’t be over for a long time. You know that, right?” He speaks like someone much older, much wiser, not like a seventeen-year-old boy.

👀🤔

Though he tries to hide it, a shadow crosses his face. I know that look very well. I used to wear it myself, when my parents would hint at me to be more like Gisa, even though that was impossible. I went to sleep hating myself, wishing I could change, wishing I could be quiet and talented and pretty like her. There’s nothing that hurts more than that feeling. But the king doesn’t notice Maven’s pain, just like my parents never noticed mine.

It’s always the quiet ones that snap 🤔 when are you gonna snap Maven?

“Every happiness to you, Lady Mareena. I can see this one suits you.” She jerks her head toward Maven. “Not like fancy Samos,” she adds in a playful whisper. “She’ll make a sad queen, and you a happy princess, mark my words.”

👀 what does that mean?!

When Cal’s eyes meet mine at the exact moment his hands close around her fingers, I feel a thousand things at once, none of them pleasant.

Oofda

In my perfect world, Maven won’t have to hide his heart and I won’t have to hide who I truly am. Cal will have no crown to wear, no throne to protect. These people will have no more walls to hide behind. The dawn is coming for you all.

Somehow I feel like this is going to come to fruition is a very VERY different way than what Mare wants

Maven is his mother’s son, Julian said once. He couldn’t be more wrong.

Or is he and Maven is just really good at hiding it? 🤔

Cal spots me through the crowd, grinning that smile I love, and starts to come toward me. But he will never reach me, not before the deed is done.

He wants you bby 😭

No one tries to pull me away; no one notices me at all. They are afraid. For all their strength, all their power, they still know the meaning of fear.

“MARE!” Strong arms pull me along the floor, dragging me away from the woman I let die. “Mare, please—,” the voice pleads, but for what, I don’t know.

Cal 😍

“I’m fine.” He doesn’t hear me again. “Cal, I’m fine.” Relief floods his face, and for a second I think he might kiss me again. But his senses return quicker than mine. “You’re sure?”

I wish he would and you do too!!

“How can this be mine?” My blood is not this color. You know that. He nods. “Of course,” he whispers. “I just—I saw you on the ground and I thought . . .” His words trail away, replaced by a terrible sadness in his eyes.

MY HEART OMG 😭🖤

“This doesn’t make sense,” I murmur to myself, trying to remember every facet of the plan. Maven never told me about a bomb. Never. And Kilorn wouldn’t let me do this, not if he knew I would be in danger. They wouldn’t do this to me.

WAIT A MINUTE

Lucas takes my silence for shock, but he’s wrong. What I feel now is anger. Anyone can betray anyone.

MAVEN

“There was an explosion after the shots. A bomb.” Maven furrows his brow, confused, but he quickly masks it with rage. “Bastards.”

Are you really confused??

“One day you men will learn to pay attention and all the world will tremble. They are a disease, one you allowed to take hold. And it’s time to kill this disease where it grows.”

My grip tightens on Cal’s arm, feeling the tense muscles beneath. He relaxes into my touch, looking like a great weight has fallen off him.

MY SHAYLA

Evangeline half drags Ptolemus out, letting the bars knit together behind her. “You are weak, my prince,” she hisses into Cal’s ear.

What a bitch

“I don’t know how,” she mutters, “but I hope you become queen one day. Imagine what you could do then? The Red queen.”

And roll credits

“Red queen. Has a nice ring to it.”

Maven steps into my path, his lips quirked into an amused smile. “You’re up early.” Then he leans in, speaking in a low whisper. “Especially for having such a late night.”

And how do you know 👀

“There was no bomb.” What? “It was an explosion, but it was also an accident. A bullet punctured a gas line in the floor, and when Cal’s fire hit it . . .” He trails off, letting his hands do the talking. “It was Mother’s idea to use that to our, ah, advantage.” We don’t kill without purpose.

Hmm

Silvers fleeing from Reds—lions running from mice. The king and queen oppose each other, the court has their own alliances, and Cal—the perfect prince, the good soldier—is a torturous, terrible enemy. Anyone can betray anyone.

“Why don’t they leave?” He just shrugs. “This is the only life they know. Most techies will never leave their own alley. They can’t even conscript.” Can’t even conscript. Their lives are so terrible that the war is a better alternative, and they’re not even allowed to go.

me. I must not forget this, something tells me. I must not forget them.

But I have to try. If only for Gray Town, for the ones who have never seen the sun.

“He thinks speeches are a waste of time. Cal likes action, not words.” That makes two of us, but I don’t want to admit I have anything in common with Maven’s older brother. Maybe once, I thought so, but not now. Not ever again.

Like the others, you are Red and Silver, and stronger than both. I think you are the future. I think you are the new dawn.

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.

Revolutions cannot be rushed.

“Cal will never turn his back on his crown, on your father.” “I know my brother. If it comes down to it, to saving your life or saving his crown, we both know what he will choose,” Maven fires back. “He would never choose me.”

YES HE WOULD

It was him who saved me from Evangeline. Cal who saved me from escaping and bringing more pain upon myself. Cal who saved me from conscription. I’ve been too busy trying to save others to notice how much Cal saves me. How much he loves me.

And we love Cal 🥹😭

“I feel nothing for Cal,” I whisper in his ear as we clamber out of the transport. He smiles, his hand closing around mine, and I tell myself it’s not a lie.

GIRL

“I still don’t know why you cared. You didn’t even know I was different.” A moment passes in silence, broken only by the bark of lieutenants far below, still drilling even as the sun sets. “You were different to me,” he finally murmurs.

Oh honey 😭😩

And as much as I hate to admit it, I can’t blame Cal for feeling caught between two worlds. After all, so am I.

This is just Cal, I tell myself. The boy who loves music and cycles. Not the soldier, not the general, not the prince. The boy. He will always choose you.

Cal doesn’t answer, and I expect to see the rage I feel reflected in his eyes. Instead, I see nothing but sadness. He whispers again, and the words make me want to fall down and never get up again. “I wish things were different.” I expect the sparks, I expect lightning, but it never comes. When I feel cold hands on my neck and metal shackles on my wrists, I know why. Instructor Arven, the silence, the one who can make us human, stands behind me, pushing down all my strength until I’m nothing but a weeping girl again. He’s taken it all away, all the strength and all the power I thought I had. I have lost.

FUCKING HELL MY HEART HURTS

The sun begins to rise behind Cal’s head, framing him against the dawn. It’s too bright, too sharp, and too soon; I have to shut my eyes.

Foreshadowing?? 🥹🥲