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Victoria Aveyard
American writer of young adult and fantasy fiction and screenplays
Red Queen
Synopsis
Mare Barrow lives in a world divided by blood. The Reds are common laborers, ruled by a Silver elite whose god-like abilities, controlling fire, metal, minds, make them all but untouchable. Mare is a Red from the Stilts, scraping by as a thief until an accident at the Silver palace reveals that she, too, has a power, one no Red should possess.
To keep the impossible a secret, the king disguises Mare as a long-lost Silver noble and betroths her to a prince, dropping her into a dangerous royal court where every smile hides a knife. Torn between the boy she is promised to, the brother who watches her too closely, and the growing Red rebellion that sees her as a symbol, Mare learns that anyone can betray anyone. The first book in Victoria Aveyard's bestselling series is a propulsive fantasy of court intrigue, uprising, and the treacherous cost of power.
Genres
Characters
Mare BarrowProtagonist
A Red thief who discovers she has a Silver-like power and is forced to pose as a noble.
Elara MerandusAntagonist
Queen of Norta and a whisper of House Merandus, able to read and control minds.
Maven CaloreSupporting
The younger prince Mare is betrothed to.
Goodreads Choice Award for Best Debut Goodreads Author (2015)
Frequently asked questions
Does Red Queen end on a cliffhanger?
The first book in the series concludes with several major plot threads unresolved, setting up significant developments for the subsequent installments. Readers should expect to continue the story to see how key conflicts and character arcs progress.
Is there a recommended reading order for the Red Queen series?
Red Queen is the first full-length novel in its series, and it is best to read it before moving on to the later books to understand the foundational plot and character introductions. There are also novellas that can be read after the main series or between certain books for additional context.