Best Teen & Young Adult Law & Crime Fiction eBooks
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price--and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. They are to nab the creator of jurda parem, a highly addictive product that enhances the innate paranormal powers of the Grisha peoples, in the hopes of creating weapons of war that will upset the balance of power and destroy the economies of rival governments. While the unresolved ending may frustrate some teens, the promise of a sequel will give them hope that this unsettling, captivating, magical journey will continue.—Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Bought this book the day it came out, and only this past week have I finally read it....well actually I downloaded the audiobook. The way Kaz interacted with others, and how Inej is able to slip silently into the shadows...how much I wanted to hug Matthias tightly and never let go. As for the audiobook version - the people who voiced Leigh's wonderfully crafted characters really brought them to life. Six of Crows was my first venture into the world of Audiobooks, and I feared that I would miss a lot of the story, not being able to comprehend it fully without seeing the words on the page. The way the people read the characters and the overall production of the audiobook made it so easy to follow along and listen to the book come to life."
"I quickly became submersed in the world that is Six of Crows, living vicariously through Kaz Brekker's crew (NIna, Inej, Mathias,Jesper, and Wylan)."
"As you can read on the cover, the book is about “six dangerous outcasts, and one impossible heist.” Those of you who love stories about gangs of less than upstanding citizens, sting operations, and movies like Ocean’s Eleven, should be pulled in by those words alone. My only complaint about the book is that I raced through it in two days, and then was left dying to get my hands on the next in the series, the equally beautifully clad Crooked Kingdom, due out September 27."
"With a diverse cast and a diverting, fast-paced narrative, this reads like a heist movie set in a fantasy land."
Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. "VOYA", starred review "?cinematic adventure featuring endearing, compelling heroes." "Publisher's Weekly", starred review Marie Lu works as an art director for a Los Angeles video game company - the book is built around the world she created for a popular Facebook game, also called Legend.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In Day's (the male lead) part of the narrative, he comes off as the typical well rounded storybook hero with extraordinary athletic ability that falls in love with the girl way too quickly."
"I'm going to start off with kind words by saying that this was a easy, simple book to read. On that note, I would like to say that although the story line was intriguing-there was a point in the middle of the book where I just COULD NOT put it down-the characters were too perfect, flawless. I mean come on 15-year-olds who have superhuman observation, tracking, hunting and survival skills of assassins is unrealistic. Perhaps, if Day and June had the potential of being the best of the best, but were just as they should be-just teenagers for the moment, learning their craft."
"June Iparis' brother Metias dies, apparently killed by a young criminal named Day. June is a prodigy who scores a perfect 1500 in a trial that all young people have to take in order to be chosen for education and privilege."
"Skimming through my library and ran across this series."
"Cliff hangers are great, leaving mysterious little sub plots is interesting, not giving total explanations can be intriguing but most authors screw it up. Most authors, especially dystopian authors, leave too many little holes and if you step back for a second and look at all of the unknowns, even good books look like Swiss cheese sometimes."
"It was a quick read and didn't require a lot of thought."
Sixteen-year-old Starr lives in two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she was born and raised and her posh high school in the suburbs. This story is important.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review) ). “Though Thomas’s story is heartbreakingly topical, its greatest strength is in its authentic depiction of a teenage girl, her loving family, and her attempts to reconcile what she knows to be true about their lives with the way those lives are depicted—and completely undervalued—by society at large.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) ). “Pair this powerful debut with Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely’s ALL AMERICAN BOYS to start a conversation on racism, police brutality, and the Black Lives Matter movement.” (School Library Journal (starred review) ). “Thomas has penned a powerful, in-your-face novel that will similarly galvanize fans of Kekla Magoon’s How It Went Down and Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely’s All American Boys.” (Horn Book (starred review) ).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I had originally said I was not going to read this book, I didn't know how well I would like it, and I don't tend to get involved with things that can make life at work harder for me. I hated reading it, I cried my eyes out, Thomas did such an amazing job of making a horrible action into beautiful fiction that made you feel like you were right there. This was really refreshing to read because so many books, YA especially make parents out to be monsters that don't care, that aren't there for their kids. I mean it is like a troupe or something for these stories and it isn't actually the norm and gets annoying to read, so this book did an amazing job with the parents and family. All around though this story just floored me, it gave me a perspective I have never considered before, offered insights into a world I am not a part of, and I loved every minute of it."
"In January, uber popular author, John Green, tweeted that The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas would become a classic. I can see this book lasting, not because it’s timeless (hopefully the struggles addressed in THUG will be no more, as Starr prophesied), but because it’s a flashpoint in American history that shouldn’t be forgotten even if it’s rectified. Angie Thomas’ debut is the kind of transformative and accessible novel that can touch a variety of readers and have long-lasting effects. They’re vigorous and honest, Angie Thomas’ words giving them breath, blood, and life. If you’ve read the blurb, then you know the Black Lives Matter movement inspires this novel. Experiencing the effects of that moment from Starr’s perspective is gut wrenching, although, I can foresee some readers feeling numb. Her rage over her friend’s murder is the emotion that steals the show, never leading to traditional acceptance. I mean, with all the hype it’s impossible not to go into this book with some expectation and my greatest fear regarding THUG was that it would piss me off."
"It was illuminating and a powerful read about the very real struggle on the streets today and a call to activism to provide a future filled with opportunities for people of all creeds."
Best Teen & Young Adult Law & Crime Stories
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price--and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. Gr 7 Up—Bardugo has created a wildly imaginative story of six young people who have been commissioned to pull off the greatest heist of all time.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Bought this book the day it came out, and only this past week have I finally read it....well actually I downloaded the audiobook. The way Kaz interacted with others, and how Inej is able to slip silently into the shadows...how much I wanted to hug Matthias tightly and never let go. As for the audiobook version - the people who voiced Leigh's wonderfully crafted characters really brought them to life. Six of Crows was my first venture into the world of Audiobooks, and I feared that I would miss a lot of the story, not being able to comprehend it fully without seeing the words on the page. The way the people read the characters and the overall production of the audiobook made it so easy to follow along and listen to the book come to life."
"I quickly became submersed in the world that is Six of Crows, living vicariously through Kaz Brekker's crew (NIna, Inej, Mathias,Jesper, and Wylan)."
"As you can read on the cover, the book is about “six dangerous outcasts, and one impossible heist.” Those of you who love stories about gangs of less than upstanding citizens, sting operations, and movies like Ocean’s Eleven, should be pulled in by those words alone. My only complaint about the book is that I raced through it in two days, and then was left dying to get my hands on the next in the series, the equally beautifully clad Crooked Kingdom, due out September 27."
"With a diverse cast and a diverting, fast-paced narrative, this reads like a heist movie set in a fantasy land."
Best Teen & Young Adult Hispanic & Latino American Fiction eBooks
The winner of the Pen Center West Award for Fiction for his unforgettable novel Alburquerque , Rudolfo Anaya's rich and compassionate writing about the Mexican American experience has helped cement him as the father of Chicano literature in English. Besides winning the Premio Quinto Sol national Chicano literary award, this novel of a young boy in New Mexico in the 1940s has sold more than 300,000 copies in paperback since its 1973 debut.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The narrative voice is a young boy who experienced both evil and loss, but through the pain, he discovered the great mysteries of life."
"His struggle between the strict religious structure of his mother and her desire for him to become a priest and the magic of the curandera Ultima, a herbal healer, rang true."
"love this book, bought this copy for a friend."
"I personally find myself increasingly interested in the genre and other authors who write it given this read."
"Will he commit to his mother's way of life--living harmoniously with the farm land, or with his father's way of life--living the life of an always moving vaquero? As they read Anaya's novel, readers have to step into the shoes of a young Hispanic boy as they witness every one of Antonio's life and religious uncertainties."
"A coming of age story about a boy growing up in rural New Mexico and the woman who comes to care for him."
"Great product and price."
Best Teen & Young Adult Adventure & Adventurers eBooks
Sofie, a Jewish Dutch girl, struggles to adapt to living in Berkenhout, away from her family and friends. Henk Hauer, head woodman, is in charge of building the underground huts and ensuring the Berkenhout inhabitants stay safe. The characters are well drawn and the historical details convincing, not surprising since the author tells us in a foreword that her mother was Dutch and was in Holland during these troubling times. The Hidden Village, however, while just as true to the horrors of the Holocaust, allows the readers to not just be reminded of what has happened but to also be able to immerse themselves into a world of well written fiction. Storytelling is of a superb quality, and she has the ability to bring vividly to life these very hard and brutal times in a clear fashion, as well as the atmosphere in which the Jews had to live in WWII, and all that in a gripping and heart-breaking way within this wonderful tale. Born in Rijswijk, Holland, to a Dutch mother and English father, the family moved to England when Imogen was very young.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"During World War 11, a group of Jews hid from the Germans by living in underground huts in this village. This group of rescuers gathered food and other necessities for the hundreds of people who eventually lived in this hidden village. Imogen Matthews used archive materials, letters, photos, interviews, and a book called ‘Het Verscholen Dorp’ by A. Visser which was an account of this village. She also used this book as a way of writing down the stories her own mother told of the years spent in Holland during its occupation by the Germans."
"This is part of the story of the Holocaust I knew nothing about."
"This historically based, yet fictional account of the atrocities suffered during WWII in Holland is exceptionally riveting."
"I found this very hard to put down, every lunch trying to squeeze in 5 more minutes, or to finish the chapter."
"Very interesting to learn how German citizens suffered while Hitler was trying to conquer the world."
"i thoroughly enjoyed this book."
"It was a good book and kept my interest."
"I really liked the book."
Best Teen & Young Adult Detective Story eBooks
#1 Bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars John Green crafts a brilliantly funny and moving coming-of-age journey about true friendship and true love. Weeks before graduating from their Orlando-area high school, Quentin Jacobsen's childhood best friend, Margo, reappears in his life, specifically at his window, commanding him to take her on an all-night, score-settling spree. Just as suddenly, she disappears again, and the plot's considerable tension derives from Quentin's mission to find out if she's run away or committed suicide. Margo's parents, inured to her extreme behavior, wash their hands, but Quentin thinks she's left him a clue in a highlighted volume of Leaves of Grass. The title, which refers to unbuilt subdivisions and copyright trap towns that appear on maps but don't exist, unintentionally underscores the novel's weakness: both milquetoast Q and self-absorbed Margo are types, not fully dimensional characters. Green's prose is astounding—from hilarious, hyperintellectual trash talk and shtick, to complex philosophizing, to devastating observation and truths.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Paper Towns by John Green tells the story of Quentin, otherwise known as Q. Q and his next door neighbor Margo used to be best friends and, as they’ve grown up and become high school seniors, they have turned into acquaintances."
"I read this book because I seen the trailer for it at the theater, and thought it looked good. My Thoughts : Margo Roth Spiegelman is an enigma, especially for Quentin."
"It had adventure, mystery, a love triangle, a real page turner that you won't be able to put down."
"I am in awe of this book. I am in awe of John Green as a writer who does not insult the intelligence of his young readers."
"I have sent each one of my two travel companions a copy of Paper Town in hopes that it could kindle (no pun intended) something inside of them."
Best Teen & Young Adult Spy Story eBooks
Philip Pullman returns to the parallel world of his groundbreaking novel The Golden Compass to expand on the story of Lyra, "one of fantasy's most indelible characters." Malcolm's parents run an inn called the Trout, on the banks of the river Thames, and all of Oxford passes through its doors. When she asks Malcolm to keep his eyes open, he sees suspicious characters everywhere: the explorer Lord Asriel, clearly on the run; enforcement agents from the Magisterium; a gyptian named Coram with warnings just for Malcolm; and a beautiful woman with an evil monkey for a daemon. "People will love the first volume of Philip Pullman's new trilogy with the same helpless vehemence that stole over them when The Golden Compass came out." It’s been nearly two decades since Pullman wrote The Amber Spyglass , so it was both thrilling and terrifying ( please be amazing, please be amazing… ) when I first cracked open The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage and began to read. Neither prequel nor sequel to His Dark Materials trilogy—Pullman calls this an “equel” and La Belle Sauvage is the first volume of a companion trio that can stand on its own. There are some familiar faces—most notably an infant Lyra Belacqua and her daemon Pantalaimon--and a particularly delightful new one: a boy named Malcolm whose kind heart, curious mind, and unerring sense of good, are the reason baby Lyra makes it to the safety of Jordan College. As in his earlier books, Pullman explores themes of religious and political freedom, the nature of good and evil, science and philosophy. The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage is a glorious adventure that delivers heart-in-your-throat moments and much to think about as we wait (not so patiently) to see what will happen next… --Seira Wilson "Reading this novel is like standing in a room in which suddenly all of the windows have blown open at once." The story becomes darker, deeper and even more engrossing when a cataclysmic flood overtakes Southern England. "— Bustle " The Book of Dust passes by in one tumultuous wave of literature, that leaves you queasy, but wanting the next volume as quickly as possible. La Belle Sauvage reveals the incredible ways in which 'ordinary' children can react whenplaced in extraordinary circumstances: with kindness, bravery and cunning. ". — Vox "This tense, adventure-packed book will satisfy and delight Pullman's fans and leave them eager to see what's yet to come" — Publishers Weekly , starred review. " Magisterial storytelling will sweep readers along; the cast is as vividly drawn as ever; and big themes running beneath the surface invite profound responses and reflection." "Pullman demonstrates that his talent for world building hasn’t diminished, nor has his ability to draw young characters—here, Malcolm, who is layered enough to carry an adventure through multiple dimensions."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Book of Dust, Phillip Pullman's "equal" (both before and after His Dark Materials) is a delight--a wonderfully welcome return to the familiar but strangely different parallel world of Lyra Bellacqua, Lord Asriel and the chilling Mrs Coulter. They're little angels compared to the positively terrifying Sisters of Obedience who are running what is essentially a child abuse and slavery racket. In addition to Organized Evil (religion), there is just plain wickedness, personified in the wonderfully smarmy and grotesque character of Gerard Bonneville complete with a leg-gnawing hyena daemon. Malcolm reminds one of the adage "still waters run deep" and like Lyra and Will Parry he is young enough to be naive but a bit reckless in his bravery; not classically educated but instinctively intelligent, and always curious. He and his daemon Asta (who hasn't settled into a single form yet) create a character whose depth and humanity is surprising in one so young but entirely believable. He and his motley crew--the scholar Hannah Relf, Gyptian Coram von Texel and Alice the kitchen maid are a formidable force for Good. There are no gay angels falling in love or Serafina Pekkalas bashing about on a "broom" of pine branches, no Subtle Knives, peculiar Texans or talking polar bears with a drinking problem dressed in armor."
"As in the previous trilogy, His Dark Materials, Malcolm, like everybody in this imagined world, has his own daemon, an opposite sex animal familiar tied to him both geographically (if the familiar moves away from her master, the master must follow) and psychically. He knew that would be a silly thing to say, so he held his tongue, but that was his impression all the same: it was unexpected that something so small should be so perfectly formed. Asta pretended to snap at a small insect and thrust it down the baby daemon’s gaping mouth, which satisfied him, making Malcolm laugh harder, and then the baby laughed so hard she got the hiccups, and every time she hicked, the daemon jumped. “ 'There, there,' said Sister Fenella, and bent to pick her up; but as she lifted the baby, Lyra’s little face crumpled into an expression of grief and terror, and she reached round for her daemon, nearly twisting herself out of the nun’s arms. Astra was ahead of her: she took the little chick in her mouth and flew to place him on the baby’s chest, at which point he turned into a miniature tiger cub and hissed and bared his teeth at everyone. All the baby’s dismay vanished at once, and she lay in Sister Fenella’s arms, looking around with a lordly complacency. La Belle Sauvage (the name of Malcolm’s most treasured possession, a canoe) inhabits the same world of magic-physics as the preceding trilogy –sub-atomic dust leaking in through cracks of the world, scientists’ exploitation of the uncertainty principle, a weird but believable instrument that lies half way between astrology and physics and is called the alethiometer, which measures truth but uncertainly. Like those books, La Belle Sauvage offers small (turns of phrase, particular descriptions of places or people) and large (scary, powerful bad guys, and good guys with interesting characters and pasts; a large-scale, almost cosmic fight for noble goals) pleasures."
"Being new to Philip Pullman's style, it took me a minute to engage in this book."
"While I don't know if it gave me that same "Wow" factor as when I read "The Golden Compass" for the first time, "The Book of Dust" is a really excellent read, and great return to Lyra's Oxford."
"I'm not normally a fan of fantasy fiction, with a handful of exceptions (Game of Thrones)."
"We now look at two people who did the most to ensure that Lyra would have the chance to achieve her full potential."
"This is the prequel to His Dark Materials, and give the background story."
"Its good, the story Pullman spins grabs you but even more, makes you think about the cosmic world we live in."
Best Teen & Young Adult Sci-Fi Mystery eBooks
Fans of Divergent, Hunger Games and the Maze Runner will crave this world of dark secrets, intrigue and thirst for a better tomorrow. Winner of the best indie book of 2016 at ReadFreely and a chart topping Young Adult Dystopian book on Amazon with over 5 MILLION pagereads . When secrets about her own past unfold, she begins to doubt the ideals she was raised to hold dear. and in others because its terrifyingly amazing at how the system used to govern in the book is so perfect and yet completely flawed. A system where intellect rules and is used to make the world a safer healthier place. (and yes i put as many exclamation points as deserved) ~Fran's Book Love Blog. "Penner's world building is spectacular!" "If you guys love technology, adventure, romance and mystery then this is the book for you!!! Jenetta Penner developed a love of sci-fi at an early age and decided on a whim to read 40 young adult books in the same genre.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Avlyn is of the age where decisions have to be made--career, mate, move out of parent's apartment into your own--big issues. While this is a dystopian society where intellect is the highest good,the plot could make you uncomfortable with our own meritocracy, conflict between emotion and rationality, and what each of us will do to be socially accepted & "fit in"."
"It is a good book and well worth the read, if this is genre you enjoy or your teaching political science classes."
"I'll admit it, I'm a 32-year-old mom who indulges in YA books. "Configured" is a unique world with engrossing characters and a wonderful story that has me ready for more!"
"I cannot wait to read the next book in the trilogy.... although I may have to hold off until the 3rd book is ready too -- this way I can just keep on reading."
"The plot is very dense and could have been explained in greater detail (more pages), but the reader is drawn into an fascinating world."
"The characters were enjoyable, character growth developed throughout the story, interactions and dialogue were realistic and easy to relate to."
"I enjoyed the VR , the sims, the tech, and the whole system in the story."
"Will definitely be reading book 2."
Best Teen & Young Adult Romantic Mystery eBooks
Gliding over the treacherous Green in a shaky aircraft that she has no idea how to land, Violet Bates is still in shock. She has barely time to catch her breath before she is sucked into a perilous journey at breakneck speed - to uncover secrets guarded for centuries and find the only two people that matter. "Wonderful story line, it keeps you on your toes with exciting twists and turns through the entire book." "The Gender Secret is an exhilarating, heart stopping, mind blowing and jaw dropping read from the beginning to the end." "An absolutely stunning follow up to a heart pounding, innovative novel from my favorite author!!" The characters continue to grow, the story line exploded with intrigue, and it all left me hungry for more !" "I love Ms. Forrest's writing style and how she seems to capture the character's emotions so beautifully!"
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I enjoyed book 2, but I did figure out some things a head of time."
"This book has ypu on your toes from start to finish."
"this story would make such a great series of movies."
"Viggo and Violet return in a new adventure that puts both of their lives on the line."
"I was skeptical at first but once I started reading I was sucked right in and finished both books in 3 days."
"Not having to set up the main characters allowed this novel to get straight into the action and it never once slowed down."
"The only bad thing about her books is they pull me in so hard that I'm left waiting for the next one to come out!lol."
"Bella keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat the whole book."
Best Teen & Young Adult Fantasy & Supernatural Mystery eBooks
Red Queen , by #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard, is a sweeping tale of power, intrigue, and betrayal, perfect for fans of George R.R. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard—a growing Red rebellion—even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. Mare's resigned herself to the fact that she'll always serve the Silver, a genetically gifted group of people with supernatural abilities. A chance encounter with the prince causes Mare to suddenly find herself at the royal palace as a servant, where she discovers in front of everyone that she also has a unique gift. The king and queen quickly cover up Mare's anomaly by presenting her to the rest of the Silvers as a long-lost princess and betroth her to their second-born son. There's a bit of teen romance, but luckily the characters are self-aware enough to realize its frivolity among the story's more important plot points. A solid debut from Aveyard and a welcome addition to the plethora of speculative teen lit.—Kimberly Castle-Alberts, Hudson Library & Historical Society, OH "A sizzling, imaginative thriller, where romance and revolution collide, where power and justice duel. " [Aveyard] sets her audience up for a gaspworthy twist that reconfigures nearly every character's role and leaves Mare with no one to trust but herself... Readers will be intrigued by a world that reflects today's troubling issues concerning ethnic inequality, unfair distribution of wealth, pollution, warfare, political corruption, and the frightening power of the media."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Mare and her family and friends despise Silvers, who treat Reds like dirt and have Reds fight an unending war with a neighboring country for them. Things That Frustrated Me: The heroine: my biggest frustration with this book was the lack of character development in Mare. The romance: There were (count 'em) THREE love interests for Mare in this book. The tropes: The problem with obvious writing is that if you have a story hat relies on a lot of tropes (poor girl who's special and different; prince who is not thrilled about being prince and just wants to be normal, world that is separated into classes that needs to be overthrown), you can guess what's going to happen, and your mind tends to wander. It's frustrating because I couldn't help but notice and compare this book to a ton of other YA books (I thought of The Selection, Divergent, Hunger Games, even Harry Potter while I was reading), and the book never went beyond or did anything better or different with those tropes. I enjoyed getting into this world through Mare's eyes - as a Red, she really doesn't know much about it, and it's both interesting to see it develop and to see her thoughts on it in her unique position. I felt like I knew more about them than I did about Mare by the end of the book. Brimming with action and classic speculative fiction tropes, this is a good book for younger teens new to fantasy or looking for a book with magic to devour like popcorn."
"This book was suspenseful, action packed, had some flirtation, deceit & was a very good book."
"The Red Queen grabs the reader and pulls them into a world separated into factions, the Silvers and the Reds."
"I liked the twist on evolution and the class struggle between the Reds and the Silvers, differences compounded by different colors of blood (literally) and the presence, or lack, of supernatural powers."
"I do realize that part of the issue I have with the book is that I was expecting something different in the storyline, and I didn't like the outcome at all. I liked her flaws in the beginning of the story, and I loved the characters that surrounded her, and the premise. Instead of growing as a person, she goes backwards and then spends the last of the book feeling sorry for herself and what's been done to her, and merely touches on the pain she's inflicted on others."
"But the writing is not particularly artistic, and the emotional portraits of the characters are flat and immature."
Best Teen & Young Adult Thrillers & Suspense
Red Queen , by #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard, is a sweeping tale of power, intrigue, and betrayal, perfect for fans of George R.R. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard—a growing Red rebellion—even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. Mare's resigned herself to the fact that she'll always serve the Silver, a genetically gifted group of people with supernatural abilities. A chance encounter with the prince causes Mare to suddenly find herself at the royal palace as a servant, where she discovers in front of everyone that she also has a unique gift. The king and queen quickly cover up Mare's anomaly by presenting her to the rest of the Silvers as a long-lost princess and betroth her to their second-born son. There's a bit of teen romance, but luckily the characters are self-aware enough to realize its frivolity among the story's more important plot points. A solid debut from Aveyard and a welcome addition to the plethora of speculative teen lit.—Kimberly Castle-Alberts, Hudson Library & Historical Society, OH "A sizzling, imaginative thriller, where romance and revolution collide, where power and justice duel. " [Aveyard] sets her audience up for a gaspworthy twist that reconfigures nearly every character's role and leaves Mare with no one to trust but herself... Readers will be intrigued by a world that reflects today's troubling issues concerning ethnic inequality, unfair distribution of wealth, pollution, warfare, political corruption, and the frightening power of the media."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Mare and her family and friends despise Silvers, who treat Reds like dirt and have Reds fight an unending war with a neighboring country for them. Things That Frustrated Me: The heroine: my biggest frustration with this book was the lack of character development in Mare. The romance: There were (count 'em) THREE love interests for Mare in this book. The tropes: The problem with obvious writing is that if you have a story hat relies on a lot of tropes (poor girl who's special and different; prince who is not thrilled about being prince and just wants to be normal, world that is separated into classes that needs to be overthrown), you can guess what's going to happen, and your mind tends to wander. It's frustrating because I couldn't help but notice and compare this book to a ton of other YA books (I thought of The Selection, Divergent, Hunger Games, even Harry Potter while I was reading), and the book never went beyond or did anything better or different with those tropes. I enjoyed getting into this world through Mare's eyes - as a Red, she really doesn't know much about it, and it's both interesting to see it develop and to see her thoughts on it in her unique position. I felt like I knew more about them than I did about Mare by the end of the book. Brimming with action and classic speculative fiction tropes, this is a good book for younger teens new to fantasy or looking for a book with magic to devour like popcorn."
"I didn’t read what it was about at all, I just bought the kindle edition because I’ve heard of it and it was on sale."
"The Red Queen grabs the reader and pulls them into a world separated into factions, the Silvers and the Reds."
"I liked the twist on evolution and the class struggle between the Reds and the Silvers, differences compounded by different colors of blood (literally) and the presence, or lack, of supernatural powers."
"I do realize that part of the issue I have with the book is that I was expecting something different in the storyline, and I didn't like the outcome at all. I liked her flaws in the beginning of the story, and I loved the characters that surrounded her, and the premise. Instead of growing as a person, she goes backwards and then spends the last of the book feeling sorry for herself and what's been done to her, and merely touches on the pain she's inflicted on others."
"But the writing is not particularly artistic, and the emotional portraits of the characters are flat and immature."