Rating: 2.7 Usually what separates a revolution from a terrorist group is that they actually help people.
The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers. To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change. Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control. But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?
ARC Copy Review
“Mare Barrow”
The building of this world is actually very good. The world of Silvers, the elites, the family structures and the individual powers of each of the younger generation of nobles makes sense. Everything about it makes and works like an actual living, breathing world, and that is very hard to accomplish. Aveyard is a good writer, her prose is good, her world building, imagery and descriptions are good. She’s got some solid talent.
However...
The main character isn’t a character. Devoid of personality except for bitterness and anger, she’s merely a conduit, a spyglass into this plot. Not that a main character cannot be a bitter and angry character and still maintain personality. Not to be cliche and revert back to the paragon of the revolutionary-dystopia genre, Katniss is very angry, and very bitter but she does have a personality of her own. She has likes and dislikes, she forms relationships in a unique about believable way. Mare Barrow (high on the list of ridiculous YA names) has a character but as soon as she’s introduced into the Silver’s world ‘Mare’ takes a back seat to simply relaying the plots and sometimes having an emotion that drives the plot along.
