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czai

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czai is Currently Reading

czai is currently reading

The Ship of Death

by Kyle Winkler (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: review-copy, currently-reading

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Sep 21, 2026 07:09AM

czai is currently reading

Red Queen (Red Queen, #1)

by Victoria Aveyard (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: iown, fantasy, young-adult, magic, dystopia, romance, review, currently-reading, reread

Reading for the 2nd time

read in November 2015

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czai said: " this review is also posted at: the Blacksheep Project.

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I've done my very best to remove all the hype from my mind. I've done my very best to remove its similarities from Red Rising. I've done my very, very best to look at the good things on this n this review is also posted at: the Blacksheep Project.

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I've done my very best to remove all the hype from my mind. I've done my very best to remove its similarities from Red Rising. I've done my very, very best to look at the good things on this novel since some readers have claimed it to be great.

Red Queen has that formulaic dystopian setting where lower class people are openly oppressed. Where the government is handled by people with power and they have their own internal conflicts. Politics being played around by those with power. Family hierarchy is present. The powers were quite generic. Elemental. I mean I don't find it really interesting or fascinating or anything else although I have to admit that the idea about blood color caught my attention.

I like dystopian novels because of all the political warfare - the thirst for power and how everyone fights for it mixed with an elaborate rebellion going on. Red Queen had all that but not executed in a way that really engaged me. I find the family and ability system quite interesting (heavily reminded me of Red Rising though particularly on the family alliances).

Mare Barrow is a strong and determined heroine. I think she's well established but I did not really like her. I think that she looks so low on her friend, Kilorn. I think that she tries to shoulder everything. I think that she's too trusting although she tries not to. Actually, I think everyone in the novel is too trusting (even the rebellion group, Scarlet Guard. Seriously the way they accept new members is just too convenient. ugh).

Let's talk about the three men in Mare's life: Kilorn, Cal, and Maven. I think that Kilorn is such an inconsistent or maybe convenient character. At first he was such a wimpy character and Mare is treating him as one then next thing I know he's joining the rebellion. Just what is up with that?

Cal and Maven's relationship were gradually established as Mare lives with them. I like both Cal and Maven. I like Cal's loyalty to his father, to his blood, and to his position. I think that he's worthy for the throne. Maven, on the other hand, is a well established character. While I've somehow seen through the things he's doing, I still liked his character.

Red Queen is pack with twists. I expected and completely predicted some of them generally because I've come across too many reviews hinting of twists (so yeah, I read too much when that happens). Here's the thing about it: if you really look through everything, you'll see through what will happen; if you look back at Red Queen following through a general formula (and maybe comparing it to similar books), you'll see through what will happen; and obviously if you look through the next pages and chapters, you'll know what will happen. What I'm generally saying is that it's easy to see through Red Queen. There are interesting twists but they're predictable.

OVERALL, Red Queen is a nice dystopian fantasy read. I enjoyed it and would love to read what happens next. It's got an interesting world, a well established heroine, and a good amount of twists (but really, don't expect so much since they're predictable). While I did not completely like some of the elements of the novel, I still recommend Red Queen for those who enjoy dystopian fantasy novels. I think readers who enjoy book series with characters that have powers (or unusual abilities) will like this series.

What I Like: (1) the world, the powers/abilities,, the separation based on blood, (2) the politics, the thirst for power - not very strong but still good, (3) the inclusion of Mare's family (it's not everyday you'll read a YA dystopian series that involves the MC's family so much), (4) the climax, a bit expected but really interesting presentation, (5) Cal and Maven (maybe just some of the few characters I actually liked in this novel)
What I Didn’t Like: (1) I keep on comparing it to other novels, (2) Mare isn't a very engaging heroine - I didn't care about her even for a bit, (3) the twist is predictable, (4) the Scarlet Guard is annoyingly too trusting ...more "

progress:

(page 50 of 388)
— Sep 16, 2026 09:20AM

Jan 05, 2017 11:31PM · see review

czai is currently reading

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot, #4)

by Agatha Christie

bookshelves: currently-reading, kindle-unlimited

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(page 71 of 256)
— Aug 01, 2026 12:42PM

Jul 23, 2026 06:12AM

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czai’s Quotes

“Remember, Maya: the things we respond to at twenty are not necessarily the same things we will respond to at forty and vice versa. This is true in books and also in life.”
― Gabrielle Zevin, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

304 likes

“Always do what you're afraid to do.
...
I will prove myself strong when they think I am sick.
I will prove myself brave when they think I am weak.”
― E. Lockhart, We Were Liars

tags: afraid, brave, e-lockhart, liars, motto, mottos, prove, sick, strong, we-were-liars, weak, will

446 likes

“The measure of a man is what he does when he has power.”
― Pierce Brown, Red Rising

711 likes

“We are not quite novels.
We are not quite short stories.
In the end, we are collected works.”
― Gabrielle Zevin, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

336 likes

“You do not follow me because I am the strongest. Pax is. You do not follow me because I am the brightest. Mustang is. You follow me because you do not know where you are going. I do.”
― Pierce Brown, Red Rising

tags: darrow, helldiver, leader, pierce-brown, red-rising, war

1149 likes

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