King's Cage question

it really surprises me that the majority of the fandom is shipping the bad boy x heroine (kinda reminds me of Darkling x Alina of Shadow and Bone). I can´t connect with Cal no matter what he does, even though I was supposed to love him, I just like him, and I don´t find him interesting enough. But Maven to me is just the type of complex character I enjoy. He is twisted, but human and broken and honestly he is the only reason why I'm willing to keep reading. I dont like obsessed characters but I love bad guys having a soft spot for the girl;3 I just wished that for once in a love triangle, the heroine ends up with the underdog, not the "main hero"... unless this goes Sarah J.Maas route and (view spoiler)[she ends up with none of them, LOL. (hide spoiler)]

--spoilers--

Don't get Mare/Maven together. Never got it. Never will. Even before the twist in the first book, I never got their chemistry. Now it would just be a ridiculously unhealthy relationship, whether he was redeemed or not. Yikes.

I do like Mare/Cal and I do see the chemistry there--even from the first book. So I was disappointed in the ending (knowing there is a 4th book, of course). Both Mare and Cal are extremely flawed characters. Both can be self-possessed and narrow-minded. Both think their way is a better way. The ending, though, I felt more angry at Mare. Cal has asked nothing major of her; she's asked him to give up everything he's ever known. He finally asks for something and she not only shuts him down, she rages in her mind about how he's betraying her. Maybe his choice is the wrong choice (it likely is, in the end), but it's not so *obviously* wrong that it's a betrayal. So she walks off after, what, a 5 minute conversation? And is then informed that Cal becoming King is just a play the Scarlet Guard is making to have the Silvers destroy each other. Fantastic. So is Mare going to allow him to be an unwitting pawn? It was just... ugh...

I just CAN'T BELIEVE the people saying that Mare was putting TOO MUCH PRESSURE on Cal!! cause neither the marriage nor the fact that he did what he was MADE TO DO–what Mare EXPECTED and KNEW, during the WHOLE series, that he EVENTUALLY WOULD DO–are the reasons for Mare feeling heartbroken, it's because HE BLOODY PROMISED! BC HE CHOSE THE CROWN JUST AFTER HE'D SPENT SUCH A LONG TIME CONVINCING MARE THAT HE WOULDN'T!! AND JUST WHEN SHE FINALLY BELIEVED HIM AND LET HER GUARD DOWN, HE BETRAYED HER!!! THAT'S CRUEL!! UNBELIEVABLY AND TRULY CRUEL!!

I believe that this book could really go anywhere at this point. Victoria Aveyard loves her plot twists and suprising us with the unexpected, but with Mare, Maven, and Cal I feel it's a bit complicated. It seemed that Mare was putting too much pressure on Cal to choose her, but they both knew that Cal wasn't getting much choice in the matter. There weren't many other candidates trying to be King and he was born for the job and raised to be one. Cal and Mare also seemed like they were ignoring their problems when they finally reunited and lived happily(we all knew this wasn't going to last very long). Mare seems like she needs a guy break. For once in this book series I believe it's time for her to focus on herself and get to know this new person she was becoming. So much has changed for her in the past year of hers. I believe Maven being "evil" and all was not entirely his fault. Messing with someone's brain like his mother did, changes a person. But, Mare and Maven will never have a healthy relationship. At this point in the book he is beyond saving. I believe that all three of this characters have made some bad choices, and that will definitely change the outcome of the 4th book.

How come no one talks about Evangeline? She was shown in the book to be not so evil after all. She might act like the spoiled princess of house Samos but reading from her perspective she doesn't truly seem evil. She just wants freedom to make her own choices. I think her Mother & Father would make great antagonists. This is like GoT x Super Powered Humans.

Honestly, I would’ve shipped Maven had he tried to find help himself. I know Elara screwed him up but once she was gone he had plenty of opportunities to ask Mare to help him work through his issues. You can’t fix someone who doesn’t want to be fixed and that was the last straw for me with him. I do feel like Mare was a little selfish with Cal but I get it. She’s constantly fighting a battle she never wanted in the first place and the one thing she does want - Cal - doesn’t put her first. But I get Cal too, and he can’t just abandon the kingdom.
I think it was always meant to be Mare and Cal. Of all the people to run into on that night in Red Queen, what are the chances of it being Cal? He started her story and his feelings were there from day one. I just believe they both have some growing up to do alone before they can be together.

I am a Mare/Cal shipper. From the first night he met her, and she spilled all her secrets, there's just been a bond between them.
Mare just upsets me so much right now. She's asked so much of Cal, to turn his back on everything's he's grown up to believe and know as truth. And he's asked nothing of her until the end. And what does she do? Rages that he'll be the King. And won't join him and love him.
Plus, what's wrong with a king ruling over his country, and a JUST king at that. He's changed, he knows change is worth it. He knows he can change the country for the better, so I just don't see why she turns her back on him.
But, in the end, I can see him in a life and death situation, where she thinks she's over him, but she can't let him die and saves him. And then, eventually they settle their differences.
So, suffice to say, I'm really upset and heartbroken that she won't do anything for him, even though he's done so much for her. But, I do see Cal and her ending up together. Maybe he'll change the government from monarchy to a republic, or he'll appointment someone else to be king, and he'll be with Mare.

MAVEN DUH

Well, first off, I don't think that she'll end up with Kilorn, single, or with someone else. Although Victoria Aveyard does love to keep the plot twists coming, I feel like Maven and Cal are the only two options that will really make the series feel complete. And personally, I'm hoping for Cal. At this point, I think Maven is too twisted, too empty, and too far gone to actually love Mare and for Mare to love him back at the end. That being said, I do love his character and would love to see him happy in the end, maybe just not with Mare. Cal will always be my favorite for Mare. They make such an amazing team, and I have to say that I will be upset if they don't end up together. We're too far into the story to introduce another antagonist or love interest for Mare, in my opinion.

#Teammavenforever....i Cry when maven die😭😭

Team Mare/Cal! Mare is selfish in the end. She continues to ask of Cal and gives nothing in return. I don’t feel like Cal ever really betrays her though. Hope they work out in the end but I’m a sucker for happy endings.

Omg. I hate life
Kilorn and Mare are PERFECT
Haters gonna hate
Cal is stupid, he says he loves Mare but his actions show otherwise. He dumb and doesn't deserve Mare after all that he has put her through. I loved Cal at the beginning of Red Queen, but he is horrible
Maven, well... Maven. At least he has a reason for being a monster. I know he has a heart and he had showed it in some parts of the books, but I ship Mare×Kilorn more. But he is better than Cal.
Kilorn. AHHH Kilorn. He is amazing. He would do anything for Mare, but he tries to hide his love for her behind a smirk. He has a great personality and has never once betrayed Mare. Mare is stupid, and still hasn't realized this. Most people will say he is too in the friend zone, but that's not true. Mare thinks she hates Maven, and Cal just betrayed her for the crown, so I think in War Storm he will be the only one there for Mare. I think this will cause Mare to realize how amazing he is. Even if she doesn't end up loving him romantically, I still think (hope) that they will end up together. If not- KILL ME NOW. I will scream for 5 days straight at a wall and cry until I have no more tears. I hate Cal, he had always seemed to odd to me. I will hate and curse the entire series if they end up together. And if she doesn't end up with Kilorn, she is the most stupid person in the entire universe and I hope Kilorn ends up with someone who actually cares about him.
Oh and also... 
Has anyone noticed that in Glass sword when Kilorn explains why he locked Mare up with Cal in the cell and had a good reason, she barely noticed or cared much at all, even when it helped all of them. It got them the information they needed and helped Mare get Cal out of the cell, even though Kilorn hates Cal, he did it for Mare.
And
When Cal said he could fly the plane there was a whole page talking about how awesome Cal can fly the plane EVEN THO HE HASN'T DONE IT YET. Mare is all caught up in how awesome she THINKS he can fly the plan, that all she said to Kilorn was 'oh.'
Kilorn deserves so much more than Mare has given him, if she would just realize this 

Oh and Cal is too messed up. Like at the ending, people could say Mare is being selfish, but that's just because they like Cal. I mean- what did Cal expect? If he really knew her then he would know that that isn't even an option. Mare has tried so hard to get away from the crown, he is just stupid. I'm mad that Mare hasn't dumped him before this. And I don't like to think of relationships as 'dating'. I mean, saying Kilorn and Mare are 'dating' just isn't right. If they were in a relationship, I would think it's more of a teasing/ loving relationship. They would laugh and make jokes and elbow each other, but they would still have cutsie moments. Sorry I ship them sooo hard but let's face it- all of us Mareven and Kilmare fans are doomed. Mare is going to make the stupid decision. Maybe it's better, Maven and Kilorn might be too good for Mare. Oh and Maven is NOT a monster. Elara is though

Cal was outright unfair since he himself promised to be by her side at all cost and o well
guess what?
he damn broke the promise.
i feel like mares gone through SO much that she can't trust anyone. And when she finally did, that is Cal, betrayal just knocked her out cold all over again.
Poor thing.
But what's more , Cal knew ALL of this. He knew her disability to trust anyone and he should have been honored by her trust.

but what did he do with it?
hmm... interesting question.
he spat right on her trust. I don't think she would get over that. I mean come on...
HOW MUCH MORE????
she stayed at the end of the dagger for for so long never trusting anyone, surrounded by vile and vicious enemies at center of which was maven.

AND THEN when she finally returned
let me rephrase that
when she finally escaped practically breathing for the first time somebody had to smack her down now didn't they.

hence our dearest CAL
i expected nothing else from him that i can assure you.
Cal shouldn't have done that. After all Mare sacrificed her very own freedom for his.

I don't get why everybody loves him so much????
like dude his selfishness can fill the well of samarah or something.
at first chance of his retrieval to the throne he betrayed EVERYONE.

GOD. IF I COULD JUST KILL HIM.

I feel like Cal IS going to overthrow maven off the throne which leads to other endless possibilities...
but u know that could happen since cal was much better at all this stuff than maven

If you ask any boy about what he would choose between a crown and the girl he loves, the answer is always the former. Everybody knows that.

I am on team maven.

I'm sorry, but Maven is so twisted.
I think Cal did the right thing leaving Mare, it was heartbreaking, but still.
I love Mare as a character, but I think she should've excepted Cal's choice.

I don't know, it just feels kind of wrong, but I can't really approve of their choices!

Well Cal chose, didn't he? So Maven may be a messed up, stalker but, in a way, he stayed loyal in a creepy obsessed way.

I feel like mare and cal is kinds the boring predictable route. Even from the first moments that mare and cal met it was just so plain and predictable for me...their relationship has always kinda made me bored. I think mare and haven would be a much much much more fun and exciting romance than the cliche romace of heroine x hero

I love Maven - but unless a whisper or maybe Tyton can fix his brain I don't see Mare being involved with him in any way. I honestly hope she doesn't kill him.

As for Cal..I think his actions were to be expected. I think he did the right thing, and not just for himself. If he didn't step up with a claim to the throne, people would still only have Maven to rally around. I think Mare acted rashly because she was hurt - they were both put into a difficult position and she wrote Cal off way too quickly.

Also does anyone else ship Kilorn and Gisa??

Mare needs time to herself as she was pulled into the silver world. I do see Mare and Cal though. I understand that Maven never betrayed her in a way but he's a dark figure of unstable emotions, becoming a toxic relationship for both of them. Cal for right now though is too blinded by not his "needs or interests" but by his father's interests and ideals. You need to realize he was raised to be a king and he doesn't want to fail his father. Mare needs to realize as well she can't run away from her problems, and Cal needs to realize his own emotions and individuality for a small time. I do see then Cal and Mare being together and having a very healthy relationship where both can trust each other and show affection. Mare needs to realize she needs to step up and follow not her needs affections anymore but what she wanted to fight for. Then from there, I can see Mare and Cal marrying, Mare accepting she needs to become queen but on the other hand. With their arcs finished like I said and realizing what they need to work on, Cal can finally show affection to her truly as well for Mare showing affection and trust to him, and supporting each other all the way for a change. I can totally see them ruling still as a Monarch but creating a new Era where Silvers and Reds will mingle, The war will end and find a treaty of some sort allowing a fair situation, and giving a true honor to Shade's death. Evangeline, I know as well I'm not forgetting about her, I always see her being with Maven instead, some may argue he's unfixable but I disagree that he can be fixed, Mare clashes with Maven's personalities like opposites but Evangeline is secure like Mare and can give so much more to Maven and as well as Maven can give a lot to Evangeline. Still, we have to see what happens from there, I still ship though Cal and Mare, just they need to realize their work (Mare) and personal individuality (Cal) then that's when they can be together.

I am torn about Cal and Mare and how things got between them at the end and I was so upset they ruined their relationship but at the same time I support their decisions since they both made them in regard of their people and I felt how torn they were, since they both had a mission and if their paths were the same for a while, they still felt the strong need for their higher purpose and their duty towards their people which was more important than their love, I can see them maybe fixing things between each other and with their people, which is going to take a lot of work from them both, It was made clear in the book how Maven's mind worked and how disturbed he was. The three characters got so detached and lonely due to the abandonment or death of people close to them and I think they each made their decisions based on that because I felt how at the end the were drained trying to keep it together.

You know what?after the ending i was like screw these brothers mare should remain single or get someone else.
although i feel like maven will die in the last book in order to "redeem" himself.let's just say i wanted mare to end up with maven but that's not gonna happen.and i don't like cal at all.
and therefore i am rooting for mare to be single and happy but that's never going to happen either...
honestly this is the first book in which i can't pick a ship.in every other book i've this sixth snse that makes me pick the rightship up but not in this book.
way to go victoria.

***SPOILERS***DO NOT READ UNTIL YOU'VE FINISHED THE BOOK!!

********


I am definitely reeling from the ending, but maybe it's because I completely understand Mare's choice. I was very proud of her for sticking to her guns and not giving in to Cal in the end...I reread the scene over and over taking new bits of information. It pissed me off that he let her walk away, wtf? Clearly he didn't love her as much as he thought he did. You don't let the love of your life walk away. Period. The scene also showed how selfish Cal can be, which is not who Mare is or what she needs. She takes care of the people she loves but in that moment she chose herself over Cal's "needs" and I respect her for that. I don't really see a happy ending for either of the Calore brothers...but who knows! I was happily surprised by this book. Way better than the second installment. I am making my prediction now...while Mare is mourning the loss of her relationship with Cal she will dye her hair purple. The other electricons dye their hair the color of their sparks and Mare's color is purple...Some women change their hairsyles after a breakup! I could totally see Mare doing that, especially because the author points out so many times how her hair is graying on the ends...Other than that I'm assuming that at this point, unless Cal abandons everything he wants or Maven's mind is healed (fat chance), Mare will end up alone. I think I'm okay with that given her options. Maybe a new love interest? I can't ever see her with Kilorn, so he's out in my mind. If she ended up with him, it'd be like Peeta/Katniss. In this case for this story, it wouldn't be satisfying for Mare's character.

~some spoilers~
I didn't care for any of their choices to be honest! Sorry to sound negative and yes it is still a fiction. My prediction is that it will be somewhat predictable in the last book of this series. She'll probably end up with Cal or be on her own. Maven is already married to someone else and lost; so is Evangeline - at least secretly. Mare is still all bitter on Maven and still girly crush on Cal, though the last chapter of that book gives me reason to pause. So, there you go...

I didn't realize there was a 4th book, so I was absolutely furious at the end of this one. I just couldn't believe she left it like that. I'm not pleased with Cal, but I am proud of how Mare has grown and I'm excited for the next one, but I hope the length actually makes sense because I felt like this one was easily 50 or more pages too long.

oh god. I've just finished the king's cage. I am almost at the point feeling depressed. My expectations were rlly high (waiting for another plot twist or something like that). But just how this came to end like this ? Why why why ? After all who is Mare ? How pathetic ? Why everyone can't choose her over throne ? I ship Mare and Maven (Cal and mare is good too, but my preference) . Maven is not a bad boy. I rlly hoped he would have a more drama with Mare. I have been waiting for King's cage for ages. There shoud better be 4th book. I really can't conclude this as a end to this brilliant Redqueen series. Pls Vic Aveyard! Does anyone know about next book? I just can't believe. After all these struggles and lies.....This book is not short one, but somehow I feel King's cage was short. Basically, Mare captured and got free, after that with her squad she attacked back and the came at the decision of next king. I mean, poor Cal, Maven and Mare ? Ohhhh. If smn relates to my feeling, pls share with me. Rn I have to contemplate it agaiiin.

This book was such a waste for me. I have waited so long and I was rooting for the Mare Maven ship but somehow it crashed and burned. I think Maven will die in the end of book 4, and Mare may forgive Cal. Cal will try to clean the mess made but I don't think he is a strong enough character. Who knows maybe because Maven is away from the palace now he can try to heal(not gonna happen) I can see that it will be a very bleak ending. On one hand Maven is obsessed and the other where Cal doesn't love Mare enough...It could have been done so much better. Victoria should have at least not played around with our minds so much and lead us in false directions. I am so angry that she toyed with my ship :/

Up until this book, I was always hoping Mare would end up with Maven. In Glass Sword, I was hoping all those terrible actions weren't really him, but now we see that it was. He seems too far gone now. I love him as a villain, but he would not be a healthy love interest.

I'm not really sure what will happen to him in the next book. There's a conversation between Mare and Cal where Cal mentions that maybe there's a whisper out there that can fix all the damage Elara caused to Maven. I think that would be a too convenient ending, but I'd be ok with it. The only ending I can see is with Maven dying, as much as that pains me.

I hope Mare and Cal find a way to be together, but I know that whenever Victoria Aveyard is asked whose team she is on, she always says team Mare. Maybe she'll end up alone. I sure hope not, though, after everything her and Cal have been through.

I'm hoping for a Maven redemption ending but I'm not going to hold my breath. Honestly I'm not surprised about Cal because in every book when it comes to the option "Save the Kingdom" or option "Mare" he will always choose the former. Truthfully Cal was the healthier choice in partner for Mare but honestly he has been raised to be a king first and all other personal agendas/desires placed second so no matter what happens in the end he will never chose Mare. Also their chemistry falls flat to me literally the only thing Mare ever discusses is his looks and throws out lines on "his kind heart" to not make their relationship seem vapid. Personally, even though Maven is wrong in many ways if he redeems himself then I'm all for them or what about damn Evangeline? I love the metal girl after this book I'm down for some Hero Mare and Queen Evangeline let them reign together. Sadly though Mare does not want to be a queen so I think for happiness sake she needs to end up alone and get as far from politics as possible.

I have always rooted for Mare and Cal, so the ending of this book greatly disappointed me. I do believe that Mare and Cal will still end up together though, so hopefully Aveyard follows through with this. Who knows though--it could even be Kilorn! (doubt it though). I find it sort of surprising that everyone seems to ship Mare and Maven, but that's just me. This is kind of random, but I wonder if Mare will put in the earring that Cal gave her..

I understand them.

For Maven, his mother made him into the broken boy he is now. And I love how Victoria wrote his character even though some people are saying she ruined him. He's the kind of villain you don't feel hatred for but instead, pity.
For Cal, I saw his choice coming from a mile away so I didn't hate him. It was all he's ever known, the path he was made to take ever since he was a child. Heartbreaking as it was, I love how Victoria ended it this way. Sometimes, love isn't enough. Deep inside, we are all a little selfish.
For Mare, we also knew how she would react. And I don't blame her. She made Cal promise, she thought he was on her side. But.. T___T

Aaaargh. I can't move on. I feel like I might explode. I've been listening nonstop to the playlist I made for Mare and Cal. Haha. I wish, I sincerely wish they would end up together. Or else, my heart will not be able to take it. T________T

I will always be on team Maven. I do hope that Mare and Maven become a couple because I feel like pairing Mare up with Cal will be a bit boring if yknow what I mean. If Mare ends up with Maven then (for me) the story will be even more interesting. How much this pains me to say, but I agree with other people when they say that Maven will be killed off in the 4th book. You can kind of see it coming :( I do hope that Maven can be redeemed somehow. However, Victoria said that Mare and Maven will most likely not happen which makes me sad ;( (lol) Personally, I find Maven's character so much more interesting than Cal's. Well this is my opinion so yeah :D

Well, Maven is just messed up. I mean I sympathize with him, and he's a great character, but as a love interest???? Mm, no.
I've always been on team Cal, but HE needs to figure out what he wants. He's made his choice now, and, crushing as it was, for the sake of the plot, I think Mare should stay single. Who says she needs a guy?
Also, Evangeline: YES.

I feel like I'm the only one who loves Mare and Cal but that ok.

I do think Mare was selfish in not hesitating to reject cal, but honestly you can't get rid of the fact that Cal chose his crown over Mare no matter how much you try to hide it. Although it would feel so easy to just pick a side, I find myself unable to- Mare is selfish but it's understandable why she didn't choose Cal, Cal is foolish but it's understandble that hearts can never change. IM SO TORN T_T

I feel like at the end there are 4 hearts which broke- Evangeline, Elane, Mare and Cal. Mare could be blamed for destroying her relationship and being selfish or Cal but I seriously feel that it was the situation. You can't expect Cal to walk away when he can literally save the whole kingdom now (he dosent know its a part of the Scarlet Guard's game). This for supposed to be his life from the start it was his legacy. For Mare I understand her choice too, she's learnt her lesson with Maven ( He's still one of my fav villains) and now she seems to despise power. She dosent want any part in the ruling or destruction of this world. I think all she wanted was a normal life now (or as normal as her life can ever be.) she just doesn't want to step into 'another King's cage.'

I just feel like if everyone would explain themselves and the others would understand then a lot of this would be solved. Evangeline could be with Elane and Mare with Cal. If the other silvers understood.

This is just my opinion.

I don't like any of them really. I do not like Cal. I'm on team Mavenn here. Honestly, my opinion, in the end, I was glad Cal chose his throne over Mare. Hes getting a chance to fix the kingdom. After reading this book, I actually like Evangeline once you get to know it from her view and she said she had a tiny bit of feel for him as well. Im rooting for Cal and Evangeline to get together again. I think there's no way Cal is gonna choose Mare or Mare will ever want to be with Cal on his throne or be part of the silvers and the kingdom. Ya they did mention a whisperer would be able to fix Maven. That would be interesting to see what he does then. Be nicer? Apologize? Would the others forgive him? It's so annoying and hard not knowing!! Team Maven still though! I also think she may not end up with any of them. (Sorry for being double minded)

I have always been on team Maven, and I honestly don't think that will ever change for me. I love the action and emotion between both Mare and Maven, and I think it's really 50/50. It's kind of obvious Mare likes Cal even more, but Aveyard has always been really good at making you believe one thing, then she breaks your heart and says something entirely different! I love it! I love Maven ( to many people's hate), and i hope dearly that somehow he redeems himself, Mare loves him, and Cal gets t be king. ( or something like that.....)

I was kinda disappointed with the relationship between Mare and Cal in this book. Seeing Cal through Cameron's perspective pretty much confirmed my suspicions about him. He's accepting of Mare but not her "people". He will fight for her, but not for her cause, only for his self-interest. I feel like one of the many reasons Aveyard wrote the book through several different POV was to give an accurate portrayal of the characters in the series. Seeing Mare and Cal through Cameron's and Evangeline's POV showed their true colors. Mare truly had a lot of character development in this book while Cal didn't.

I feel like Maven and Mare could have had a chance if he never betrayed her. Maven really does seem to understand Mare and her him, but I can never really ship the two because the relationship would be abusive. Maybe for once we will get a YA book where the female character doesn't end up with a guy? I think that would be pretty cool. If not I'm rooting for Kilorn. He's literally the only male character in this book that doesn't drive Mare crazy and supports her. Not to mention he is genuinely sweet. Unlike other characters *cough* Cal *cough*

Also, just a pretty crazy theory. I know VA stated in an interview that Team Maven isn't a thing, but maybe she has seen the hype and relented? Cal mentions trying to find a Whisper who can heal Maven so he can go back to "normal". If this were to actually happen, then maybe Mare wouldn't want to kill Maven any more and forgive him, and THEN they would end up together...?

I know, pretty out there but just a thought...

I disagree. I know a lot of people are complaining that Mare is asking for too much, but Cal knew from the beginning the Guard wanted to overthrow the monarchy completely, and he specifically promised he wouldn't just return things to the status quo. I understand why he chose to return anyway (it's his birthright, he thinks he can be a good king, etc.), but that doesn't make Mare's position unreasonable, either.

Personally, I think this is the book where both ships officially sunk. While we understand Maven's actions better (his character development was amazing in this book), it's clear he is past redemption at this point. And Cal's inability to keep to his promise - and Mare's inability to forgive him - will likely prevent them from getting back together anytime soon.

It looks, to me, like Mare is going to end up single at the end of book 4 (assuming she survives). If anything, she might have a "friendly marriage" to Kilorn after all. Tragic, really, because Cal and Mare made such an amazing team on everything except this one vital issue.