Review by Liz

Page count:
528

Publisher:
Orion Books

Format:
Trade paperback

ISBN:
9781409151197

In the third instalment to Victoria Aveyard’s bestselling Red Queen series, allegiances are tested on every side. And when the Lightning Girl’s spark is gone, who will light the way for the rebellion?

Following on from Glass Sword, Mare Barrow has been taken prisoner, powerless without her lightning and tormented by her lethal mistakes. She is at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal who is now King. Maven continues weaving his dead mother’s web in an attempt to maintain control over his country – and his prisoner.

Mare is bearing the weight of Silent Stone (a stone that oppresses magical ability), her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organising, training and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal (prince hottie and the rightful heir), the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare’s heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.

When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire – leaving Norta to burn all the way down.

Okay, now that the synopsis is out of the way, can I just say, wow, what a rollercoaster this book was. From feeling sorry for Maven (never thought that would happen) to feeling happy that some characters got their way, to (by the end) being completely heartbroken and crying angry tears.

One thing Victoria Aveyard definitely excels at is making you care about the characters like they’re your own friends. By the end of the novel I was so heartbroken for Mare (I’m not going to spoil it, go and read it), but I had no idea that what happened was going to happen and it left me so sad.

Nevertheless, the writing, as always, was impeccable and the switching storylines kept me enthralled (I’m the kind of person that likes to know what the other characters are doing).

It will be interested to see what happens next, especially after that ending, but I’ll be waiting with bated breath for book four. A whole year away!

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