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.
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 demolishing 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.
As I get ready to dive into War Storm by Victoria Aveyard, I can’t help but feel like this is going to be an epic conclusion to the Red Queen series. From the synopsis, it looks like Maven is still obsessed with getting Mare back, and with his dangerous fixation on her, I can only imagine the lengths he’ll go to. I’m also wondering who will make it out alive. Someone Mare loves might die, and it could be Maven, or it could be one of her friends or family. The stakes are high, and I can already feel the tension building.
Maven’s obsession has been one of the more twisted aspects of this series, and I’m curious to see how it all plays out. There’s that saying that “love conquers all,” and while I’m not sure if Maven’s obsession can truly be called love, in his mind, it might be. He’s proven time and again that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to possess Mare, and in his sick, distorted world, maybe that obsession is his version of love. I’m holding out hope that this book will explore that dynamic more deeply.
I wasn’t entirely satisfied with how the last book felt a bit scattered, but I’m really hoping War Storm pulls everything together for a powerful finish. This is the final book in the series, and I’m ready for a thrilling ride with battles, betrayals, and, hopefully, some redemption. Let’s see how it all ends—join me on this exciting adventure as we find out if love or obsession truly conquers all.
War Storm by Victoria Aveyard was definitely a tough book for me to get through. I’m not saying I didn’t like it, but it was okay. The multiple perspective aspect really threw me off. It reminded me too much of the last book, which I also struggled with because of the same issue. While I understand that the multiple viewpoints gave a broader look at the world Aveyard was trying to build, I still feel like she missed the mark a bit with this approach. There was just too much jumping around between the perspectives, and it left me feeling lost at times. I even had to go back and re-read certain parts just to understand what was happening. For someone like me dealing with dyslexia, even with the audiobook playing in my ear, this book was a challenge to follow.
The plot itself had a lot of potential, and I did enjoy parts of it, but I think it could have been developed more, especially with the twists and betrayals. They didn’t feel as well thought out as I had hoped. I believe that if the book had stuck to one perspective, it would’ve made for a smoother, more engaging read. It would’ve added a bit of mystery to what was happening with the other characters instead of jumping from one viewpoint to the next. I found myself getting lost and having to catch up with the plot, which was frustrating. I thought it was a bit too much, and it took me longer to get through this book than usual.
Normally, I can finish a book in a day or two, but with War Storm, it took me longer, which was disappointing. I’ve also been working more hours lately, so that didn’t help, but the jumping perspectives made the experience less enjoyable for me. That said, the series did end pretty well, and I can appreciate how Aveyard wrapped things up. I haven’t read the .5 installments yet, and I’m hesitant to do so because I often find they’re just excerpts that don’t fit into the main story. However, I might read them anyway to complete the series and give my thoughts for the blog. I’m looking forward to moving on to our next adventure, and I’m excited to see what’s next!
One of the best things about Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen series, including War Storm, is how family-friendly it is. There's nothing too derogatory or overwhelming, which makes it a safe read for a wide audience. There aren't many triggering aspects either, though I’d caution that the theme of enslavement might be difficult for some readers. The Silvers consider themselves superior, while the Reds are the oppressed lower class, often subjected to slavery and harsh conditions. If those themes are sensitive for you, this might not be the right series to dive into.
Spoiler Alert:
Now, let’s get into the details. One thing that really drove me crazy about War Storm was the multiple perspectives. I get that they were part of the bigger picture, but they felt more like distractions than enhancements. I struggled with the constant shifts, which pulled me out of the flow of the story. That said, I could easily follow Evangeline's perspective. She really stood out as one of the strongest characters in this book—her badass attitude was a front for someone who deeply cared about the people she loved, and I admired her for that.
As for Mare, she seriously irked me. One minute she’s whining about Maven and the next, she’s all over Cal. It’s like, can you make up your mind already? Speaking of Cal, I wish he would grow a spine and fight for what he actually wants. He clearly didn’t want to be king, but his father’s influence pushed him in that direction, and in the end, he lost Mare because of it. He was more concerned about the throne than the person he truly loved. And then there’s Farley—I feel for her. She lost the love of her life in book two, and now she has to raise her baby alone while working with the people responsible for his death. I don’t know how she manages it; I’d probably go for revenge before working with them, but she shows some serious restraint.
Iris was another standout character for me. She was such a powerhouse—literally and figuratively. The way she took down both Cal and Maven so quickly was incredible, and she’s definitely not someone to mess with. I’d love to see her go head-to-head with Mare; that’s a showdown I’m hoping we might get to see in one of the .5 books. Overall, the book had its ups and downs, but if you’re planning to read it, my advice is to pay close attention to the chapter titles so you can keep track of whose perspective you’re reading. It’ll make things a bit easier to follow!
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