The #1 New York Times bestselling Red Queen series comes to a stunning conclusion in War Storm.VICTORY COMES AT A PRICE.Mare Barrow learned this all too well when Cal’s betrayal nearly destroyed her. Now determined to protect her heart—and secure freedom for Reds and newbloods like her—Mare resolves to overthrow the kingdom of Norta once and for all . . . starting with the crown on Maven’s head.… all . . . starting with the crown on Maven’s head.
But no battle is won alone, and before the Reds may rise as one, Mare must side with the boy who broke her heart in order to defeat the boy who almost broke her. Cal’s powerful Silver allies, alongside Mare and the Scarlet Guard, prove a formidable force. But Maven is driven by an obsession so deep, he will stop at nothing to have Mare as his own again, even if it means demolish everything—and everyone—in his path.
War is coming, and all Mare has fought for hangs in the balance. Will victory be enough to topple the Silver kingdoms? Or will the little lightning girl be forever silenced?
In the epic conclusion to Victoria Aveyard’s stunning series, Mare must embrace her fate and summon all her power . . . for all will be tested, but not all will survive.
Plus don’t miss Realm Breaker! Irresistibly action-packed and full of lethal surprises, this stunning fantasy series from Victoria Aveyard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Red Queen series, begins where hope is lost and asks: When the heroes have fallen, who will take up the sword?
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This review DOES contain SPOILERS.
SERIES REVIEW (Books 1 through 4.)
I have read books one through three of this series twice now, and I am still just as much on the fence now as I was the first time that I read them. I did enjoy them more the second time around, but I truly think that it is only because I knew what to expect. When this series first came out I tried to stay away from all of the hype. Difficult, I know, when you are a part of the YA book community. Most people either loved it or hated it, but I felt myself smack in the middle, both loving parts of it and hating the other parts. I can honestly say that I have never been so emotionally frustrated by a book series because of this. Part of me wants to love it wholeheartedly, but other parts just can’t. I am hopelessly, ridiculously thwarted from either loving or hating this book series.
The one thing that is lacking in most Young Adult books is the presence of family, but not in this series. While I thought that the main character’s family could have been more involved in the story, I was still happy that they were there throughout the series.
I truly loved the premise of the story. I know that there are many books that have similar premises, but I adored it nonetheless. I loved the subtle dystopian aspect of the story.
The relationships of the characters were well written for the most part. I loved the friction and snappy dialogue between Mare and Evangeline. I loved the friendships that Mare forged along the way. Friendship is sometimes overlooked in Young Adult books and they sometimes only focus on romance, but this series surprised me there.
I loved the character growth of several of the characters. Their internal struggles and how they dealt with them as the story progressed. At the same time, I also felt that there were some characters that could have been more developed.
The plot was well done and the world well developed. There is a lot of political intrigue in these books. It makes me think of a line from the book that comes up many times, “Anyone can betray anyone.” I am always a sucker for a “rich vs poor” trope, and this one was very believable.
One of the things that really brings the series down a notch for me is the romance. It was very bland. It certainly didn’t leave me breathless or on the edge of my seat. While I became invested in the characters while reading, the story just feels incomplete because of the undeveloped romance. And it makes me angry because there was so much potential to have a romance that burns or even for some quite convincing and warranted love triangles.
Another thing that bothered me more than a little was that I didn’t feel connected to the main characters at all. It is hard for me to love a story if I can’t feel what the main character feels. I was disconnected from both Mare and Cal throughout the books. I knew their intentions (mostly) but I did not feel them. Both characters were very one dimensional. They lacked depth. And Mare specifically lacked likability. I don’t even know how many times I wanted to smack her upside her head. She was very self-centered throughout much of the story. Most of all she just felt like words on a page, not someone that I was living through the story with. The disconnect with Mare is one of my most hated things about this series.
I did not care much for the ending of the series. Not one bit. It was vague, but not in a good way. I read the last words and thought, “Oh, okay. That’s the end then.” I didn’t cry or express any sort of emotion whatsoever. And to me, that really speaks volumes.
There were several things that I would have loved to see in this series. I would have loved to see Maven recovered from his mother’s torture and influence. Though I thought that Maven was one of the best characters in the story, I thought that his development could have been much deeper. He was a good character, but he could have been great. I would have liked to see things from Cal’s point of view. I wanted to know what he was feeling and how he was dealing with all the traumas that he experienced in the story. We see things from Mare’s eyes, and it really leaves things lacking. I think that it why I didn’t feel much connection to Cal’s character. Most of all I think that I just wanted Mare to be different. Or at least written in a way that made me feel something for her. I wanted to so many times, but it just didn’t happen.
I suppose that this review wouldn’t really help anyone interested in reading this series. I am quite in the middle of the spectrum when it comes to my feelings on it. But really, I am not in the middle at all and that is what is frustrating. One part of me in on the low spectrum and the other is on the high spectrum which just leaves me somewhere in the middle. -sigh- If I could impose anything on anyone that may be reading this it would be that I definitely think this series is worth reading. For bad or for worse.
The whole series was absolutely wonderful! It was excellently written and editorialized. It was a great length. *Spoiler alert* I really wish it had more of a cut and dried happy ending but I do like the fact the author was more realistic in that not everything ends happily.
Such a great ending to an amazing series!!!
I just finished reading this and have no idea how I feel lol. I think I envisioned the series ending a certain way and it didn’t…so I’m completely thrown off. I felt the ending was also too open-ended for my tastes. I won’t go into more details because spoilers but yeah. It almost feels like we need a novella to tie everything up. I prefer clean cut endings. I don’t like it when they end and I have to imagine different scenarios…..It’s just not my cup of tea. I’ve heard we are getting some novellas set in this world so I hope the author gives me a true wrap up to one of my all time favorite series.
One of the things I enjoyed most in this book was the longing between two characters. Actually, there was quite a bit of longing between several characters BUT I’m specifically referring to a certain couple. ((Don’t you just love it when you are trying to write up a review and keep it spoiler free? lol!!)) The moments between this specific couple were just the best. I craved more and more from these two throughout the entire book.
I truly loved how the Scarlet Guard kept fighting for what was right. It wasn’t easy and it went against everything that everyone knew up until that point. But still, they kept pushing and fighting for justice. I admired their perseverance.
The characters throughout this series are such memorable ones. I can’t help but picture where they are now and how their lives have changed. That’s another reason I’m hoping for more post War Storm novellas. Tell me all my faves are living their best lives ever!!
Overall, this book was a mammoth. I think it could’ve been shorter realistically. I also didn’t care for the pacing in the first half. I needed more push to the plot, more drive to get me invested in this finale. The second half was very dramatic/action packed as expected. However, I wish it would’ve slowed down just a bit to let the moments we’ve been building up to for several books last longer. I’m a huge fan of this series and still highly recommend it to everyone. It will always hold a special place in my heart. I cannot wait to read what this author comes up with next.
Uhhhhh…. this was the big conclusion?
I am honestly unsatisfied with the book. This series started off SO AMAZING.
I loved the romance and fantasy… and then it just turned into war schemes and politics.
Nations forming alliances and then later betraying them for a better deal. Repeat.
I didn’t enjoy the different point of views and the story just dragged on way too much.
Blah.
War Storm by Victoria Aveyard is the forth and final book in the Red Queen Series. I really enjoyed the multiple points of view she gave through out the book. You were really able to get in the heads of Mare, Evangeline, Iris, Cal, and Maven. I am only giving the book four stars due to the ending it was given. It is the final book but was left open for more. I do see that she is releasing additional novellas in May 2019 under the title Broken Throne. I am really hoping they will help wrap up the series better.
This 4th book and final in the Red Queen series is the perfect way to end a phenomenal series. The heroin in this series Mare Barrow is absolutely fascinating! She is strong, smart, and realistic and tragic….the characters all find themselves in a final battle for power,freedom, and equality. I found myself excited to finish the series but also sad that it was finally finished…I have recommended these books to many of my friends and family…it was awesome to have my daughter borrow my copy to enjoy for herself.
HATED HATED HATED the ending! It did not make any sense as far as the plot and previous character reactions and interactions are concerned. Felt like I wasted my time reading this series.
I’d say it is a bit tragic, everyone expected survives but no happily – ever – after for two main characters. But overall good book recommend it to ages 14+.
It’s an amazing book! STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.
Thank heaven I finally finished this! It only took me like three weeks! (I usually finish a book of this length in 5-7 days.)
I wish I could say the ending satisfied me after 660 pages of “how’s it gonna end?” but sadly, I have so many questions. Especially after such a long book, I would have expected a way better epilogue!
As with the previous two books, this book could have been shortened by 200 pages and we still would have gotten the same story. It was way too wordy. Too much internal dialogue.
I really adore the first book. It’s on my list of favorites. I wish I could put the entire series on that list, but I can’t. If the last three books had of been shortened and compressed into two 400-450 page books instead, I think the entire series could have been on my favorite list. The whole series was just too damn long.
It still gets three stars because the scenes when things were actually happening (meaning the story was moving along), all the battle scenes, when the characters were actually making progress and getting things done, I ate it up! I wish the internal “woe is me” dialogue from each character was cut in half so I could have just gotten to the story part.
I really hope she writes another novella telling us what the heck happens with Mare, Cal, Kilorn, Cameron, all the Barrow’s, Farley, etc… as well as what happens with the countries. Will Norta become a democratic nation like Monfort? Will the Lakelands strike again and destroy Norta? And what about Piedmont? Is Cal going to become a president or politician in Norta since he’s removed the possibility of being king? What’s Mare going to do in Monfort? Or is she going to go be with Cal in Norta? Or is Cal going to move to Monfort? THERE’S JUST SO MANY QUESTIONS!
Unsatisfying endings suck. Give us something more Ms. Aveyard.
I read this entire series, loving the idea of a red-blood girl falling into an arena where only silver-blooded nobles could expect to fight and win. And I kept reading, looking forward to seeing what ending the author would conjure from this marvelous series.
And while I would rate the series overall as Good, I can’t rate it excellent, and can only rate this book as Okay, given how disappointed I am with the ending!
As a fellow author, I can’t think of anything worse than leaving my readers with a vague ending that doesn’t leave me:
a) over the moon
b) confused, maybe sad, but understanding why it had to be so
c) staring at my book in shock at the finale while reaslising the end was, of course, inevitable.
Sadly, this book didn’t deliver on any of these things. It just sort of…trailed off.
I like this whole series especially the strong female characters. Lots of battles and bloody scenes. The special powers of the Silvers and the Newbloods are great. mind that.
I love the lightning in the diamond glass crown on the cover.
Everything that I felt should have happened and needed to happen came through in this speculative fiction/ urban fantasy/ future fantasy book. Though I would still like to know how some blood becomes silver, even though I realize that’s just the “mirror” held up to society. This book, the whole series really, is a fantasy version of what happens when one group oppresses another group because they think they’re better for whatever reason, and then the oppressed rise up and prove that equality is always more desirable than oppression.
And along the way, the reader gets to decide if they feel bad for Maven or not. Especially when he thinks about killing the oppressed, creating a war, mostly so they don’t focus on outnumbering the oppressors, a form of manipulation.
I didn’t care for the different point of views of every chapter in book 3 (King’s Cage), but it became even more important in this book. Mare just can’t be everywhere at once, after all! And the inside of Evangeline’s head was far better than I expected.
There’s a hidden staircase revealed by tugging a book on a bookcase. #GeekingOut
I’m happy to say that the book ends with hope. I don’t know if I’d call it a “happily-ever-after” or not, but certainly hope. There’s a scene at the end with Bison, talking about destroying and rebuilding, that I really love and that filled me with hope.
Some of my favorite lines:
“So we can tell our children we did not stand by and watch as children just like them were murdered or condemned.”
With the current movement in America to Keep Families Together, a line like that could not possibly have hit harder. Great writing.
“You know, maybe this rebellion would be further along if they didn’t rely on teenagers so much.”
Ha ha ha, poking fun at all the YA fiction, including this, that has a teenager changing the world. Too funny!
“I can’t do anything my body is screaming at me to do. … Get through it.”
It’s an anthem for the disabled, chronically ill, and for those who struggle with health or mental issues.
“Are you so threatened by the people you spit on that you can’t allow them simple freedom?”
I’m tempted to get that Farley quote tattooed on my arm.
“Because they’d rather bleed themselves than be equal to any blood that isn’t the right color.”
Replace the word blood with the word skin and you have the world I know, with too much hate and a need for equality.
I’ve finally read the whole series. Hopefully there isn’t more to come. This last book is drawn out and moves slow. There is plenty of action though.
Spoiler:
Mate kills Maven. Cal tells her to go kill him, so she does. Cal then has “anger and resentment in his eyes”. That makes no sense. Also, Mare told Cal at one point to chose between her and the crown and at the end he chosen her, but they don’t end up together. I don’t really get that. Oh well, I’m glad I’m done.
I enjoyed the conclusion to this series. Lots of action and twists, and I really enjoyed the multiple POVs especially Maven’s. The conclusion was pretty realistic, the book is far from cliche. Likeable characters, the author even had me rooting for Evangeline! An excellent YA series, lots of fantasy and action
I am a huge fan of this series and give the whole set 5 stars! However, I’d like to have had that “Oh, yes!” moment at the end and felt that was a bit lacking. But hopping that the ending the fans are hoping for will be given to us in the upcoming novellas 5 stars regardless!
The whole series is great
I have been with this series since the beginning and the final book was not a let down. It was well written and well thought out. It had tons of action, but had romance as well. It was filled with the division and self doubt of the others and was a good ending to a great series.
Satisfying finale to an exciting series. I really enjoyed this whole series!