PERCY JACKSON AND THE SEA OF MONSTERS by Rick Riordan

“You can’t tell by looking at me that my dad is Poseidon, god of the sea. It’s not easy being a half-blood these days. Even a simple game of dodgeball can turn into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants – and that’s just the beginning. Now Camp Half-Blood is under attack and, unless I can get my hands on the Golden Fleece, the whole camp will be invaded by monsters. Big ones…”

What is the book about?

Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon, god of the sea. He is a half-blood living in the mortal world with his mother, causing nothing but trouble. At school he acts like a normal kid when really monsters could come and attack him at any moment. Percy thought everything would be fine; he would finish the seventh grade without any issues and go to camp for the summer, but he couldn’t have been more wrong. Nothing is easy for a half-blood when even a simple game of dodgeball can turn into a fight to the death against some hungry cannibal giants. And now Camp Half-Blood, the one place Percy thought he would be safe, the one place that monsters (usually) cannot enter is under attack, and there is only one way to save it. Percy and his friends must go on another dangerous quest to get the Golden Fleece to save the whole camp before it’s too late or the camp will be invaded by huge, dangerous monsters and there will be no way to keep the half-bloods safe. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Obviously, as soon as I had finished the first book in the Percy Jackson series, I was desperate to start the next book and go on another adventure. The title of the book – Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters – and the blurb were very interesting and made me even more intrigued and wanted to start reading. I was very excited to discover what was happening to Camp Half-Blood and why Percy had to go on another mission. Once I started to read, I became even more anxious and had even more questions. The book started quite quickly, apart from the small explanations about who Percy was and about some of his friends. It annoyed me a little that there was an explanation for how he was a half-blood and everything because I had read the first book so I already knew most of the stuff and it was frustrating to have to re-read it just in case someone had not read the previous book. However, other than that, the book started very well and I already had a tonne of questions from the very first chapter. The book was interesting from the very first chapter and had me interested from the beginning, and it only got better.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I liked a lot of parts in the book but my favourite would probably be when Percy and his friends decide to go on the quest, despite what they were instructed to do. I liked this part because it was the start of an adventure and the beginning of more crazy, life-threatening fights. I liked how, even though they hadn’t even left Camp Half-Blood yet, they already had monsters after them and hundreds of problems to solve. I also liked this part because it showed the characters bravery and selflessness. They had been told to stay at camp and to not leave under any circumstances, but they knew that if they didn’t go on this quest, the camp would die and everyone in it would be attacked by monsters. They never doubted that they had to go because they were sure that there was no other way to save the camp and so they risked their lives for everyone else proving their bravery and selflessness, and their strength to always do the right thing no matter what it means for them.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite character would have to be Annabeth like in the first book, but I also liked Tyson a little bit. Tyson was really sweet and, even though nobody really cared about him, he kept helping everyone he could and saving their lives. He always tried to help though most of the time he made things worse, but he usually managed to turn things around and end up being the hero. I liked Annabeth in this book for pretty much the same reasons as the first book. She was strong and brave and didn’t let the fact that she was a girl stop her from being a hero. She was also extremely smart and was always able to come up with a plan even in the worst situations. Another thing that I liked about Annabeth was that she knew that she was smart, brave and strong and she had the confidence to do great things. Even though it might be seen as a flaw sometimes, she believed that she could make the world better than it is now if she just had the power to do it, and I’m pretty sure that she probably could do that. I think that her confidence and pride really help her when she is in trouble but, even though it is helpful now, one day it will just get her into even more trouble.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, the book was great and I really loved reading it. One thing that I liked about the book was all the unexpected things that happened. I was constantly on the edge of my seat waiting for the next shocking monster to burst out of nowhere and I was very glad that the book did not leave me bored at all because there was always something ready to ruin the calm moment and threaten the characters’ lives. Another thing that I liked was the ending, though it did come as a huge shock and left me anxious to get my hands on the next book. I had definitely not been expecting that to happen and it certainly changes things a lot. I really loved the way it ended, even if it was a cliff-hanger and those do annoy me a lot, because of how it made me extra excited to begin reading about the next adventure, but I do hope that the third book picks up where this one left off, otherwise I will be very disappointed and a bit angry. There isn’t much about the book that I didn’t like but there is one thing that annoyed me – the explanation about things that were already explained in the first book. It really irritates me when authors choose to explain things from the previous books because it takes up a lot of my time, especially since I had the decency to read the books in the correct order instead of just picking them up randomly. Other than that I think the book was pretty much perfect and I cannot wait to start reading the third book. 

Which book did you like better, the first or the second?

Both books were outstanding and I really liked reading them, but I think that my favourite book in the series so far would have to be Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters. Both the first and the second book in the Percy Jackson series were quite similar. They both had the characters going on a life-threatening quest and risking their lives to save others. They both had monsters and battles in pretty much every chapter in the book, keeping things very interesting. And above all they both had an amazing plot with brilliant characters, but the second book just stood out to me a little more. This is mainly because of the ending which left me completely shocked and waiting (impatiently) for some answers. I love being surprised while reading because of how refreshing it is to have something you didn’t expect to happen to actually happen and I really liked the feeling it gave me and the desperate need to start the next book. One other thing that also made the second book better than the first was that Percy had to put away his differences with certain characters and team up with them to save the day, otherwise he would have never succeeded. He had to let someone else be the hero for once which just made him into even more of a hero and made the book even better because it showed me that even enemies are less important than saving people. Both the first and the second books were really good and I cannot wait to start reading the third!

Would you recommend this book?  

I recommend reading this book, specifically if you enjoy action, adventure and life-threatening quests. I recommend reading this book when you are 10 or older and I also suggest reading the first book before this one, but you probably won’t be too confused if you read this one first because there is some explanation.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

Another unbelievably dangerous quest to save everyone from horrible deaths at the hands of terrifying monsters. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF by Rick Riordan

“Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood. I never asked to be the son of a Greek god. I was just a normal kid, going to school playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. Now I spend my time battling monsters and generally trying to stay alive. This is the one where Zeus, god of the sky, thinks I’ve stolen his lightning bolt – and making Zeus angry is a very bad idea.”

What is the book about?

Percy Jackson never asked to be the son of a Greek god. He always thought he was just a normal kid that happened to cause trouble at every school he went to. He had friends – or a friend – and he had enemies. He went to lessons, had exams, played basketball, and got detention, just like every other average 12-year-old kid. But when he vaporised his maths teacher and everyone from school forgot she even existed, Percy realised that there was something weird going on. He tried to ignore it and carry on living an ordinary life, but in the end he had to accept that he was a half-blood and join the others at a camp made specifically for weird demigod children. He spent most of his time training and preparing to battle monsters he hoped he would never come across, but like always he had to cause trouble. Now Zeus, the god of the sky, thinks Percy has stolen his lightning bolt and he is not happy about that. To stop a war between gods, Percy has to go on a quest to get back the lightning bolt and deliver it back to Zeus, before it’s too late…or the whole world will become home to chaos.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

A little while ago I decided I wanted to read some of the most popular series for teens so that I could see what all the fuss was about and the Percy Jackson series happened to be on the list. A friend of mine had read the books before and she told me that she had enjoyed them so it encouraged me to try them out. I was very excited when the books arrived and I wanted to start reading them as soon as possible. I wasn’t exactly sure what the books were about other than something about Greek gods and probably some adventures so I wasn’t as intrigued to read them as some of the other books I had bought. Once I read the blurb, it certainly worked to get me more interested because I immediately needed to know more and was even more eager to start reading. I had only just finished Broken Throne (from the Red Queen series) and I was rather concerned that I wasn’t exactly out of that world yet, however when I started to read all my worries disappeared. The first few pages weren’t really the most interesting but I still enjoyed reading them however after a while I forgot I was reading and just felt like everything I was reading was really happening. The book might not have attracted me from the beginning but after a while I realised how incredible the book was and finished it in a day. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I think that my favourite character was probably Annabeth Chase because of her strength and her intelligence. Annabeth volunteered to go on a quest that she didn’t really know much about and didn’t know if it would succeed, but she was still brave enough to go with Percy and either come back a hero or meet her end. Another thing that I liked about her was how, on the quest, she showed me that you don’t need to be strong and fast to be a hero (thought those are useful so that you don’t die). She was not just good with a knife and brave enough to face monsters, but she was also extremely smart and always had a plan or an idea to get herself – and her friends – out of a sticky situation. I always thought that you needed to be strong to be able to defeat immortal creature, but Annabeth was able to show that strength is not the only skill that is useful in battle and that sometimes even intelligence and wisdom are better than strength.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book would definitely have to be when they find out the truth because I love finally getting answers to my questions and being able to put together the pieces and get the whole picture. I liked this part of the book because the characters – and I – were able to understand what really happened and who the true culprit was. Then, all the clues and all the information they had finally fit together and it all made so much sense. I also liked this part because; since they now knew what had happened and who the real thief was, Percy could actually deliver the lightning bolt back to Zeus and properly complete his first ever quest. I was very glad to know that he would be successful but I already knew he would be because what kind of story would it be, if, at the end, the hero didn’t succeed and the villain won instead – not a very good one, that’s for sure, and I definitely wouldn’t have enjoyed reading it. I enjoyed every part of the book but this one was for sure my favourite and I really liked reading it.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really enjoyed reading the book and cannot wait to start the next one. One thing that I liked about the book was how even when Percy and his friends thought they were safe and could relax a little; there was always a new monster and a new threat. There wasn’t a single part of the book that I could call boring because there was always something happening, always some action, to make a scene you once thought as calm into another crazy battle. Another thing I liked was how even though the characters were constantly coming across more monsters and problems along the way, they kept going and didn’t let all the life threatening problems make them turn around and give up on their quest. One thing that I thought was a bit strange about the book was the long and informative titles for the chapters. I thought that it was a little weird to have titles that gave more obvious hints about what was going to occur in the chapter, however after a while I realised that they weren’t spoiling anything and instead they were making me as the reader more intrigued by what it could mean and what would happen, which I thought was a very smart idea to keep the reader reading. The ending was also something that I really enjoyed and thought was a little strange because it didn’t necessarily feel like the end and it made it seem like there was more, which is true since there are more books with more adventures. Though the end did leave me desiring more, it didn’t annoy me at all because I knew there were more books to follow. I really liked Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and I cannot wait to start the next amazing adventure.

Would you recommend this book?  

I really enjoyed reading the book and I definitely recommend it for readers over the age of 10, especially if you enjoy adventure, fantasy or Greek mythology books. I am sure that even if you aren’t a fan of these genres, when you pick up this book you will enjoy it.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An extraordinary and unbelievable quest full of creatures and monsters I never could have imagined.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

BROKEN THRONE – A RED QUEEN COLLECTION – by Victoria Aveyard

“This war is far from over, and my job is far from done. A collection of Red Queen stories and artifacts. An unseated king searches for meaning in a world altered by war. Enemy brothers clash one final time. A doomed queen pens words of hope to her future son. In the chaos of an unknown land trapped between warring nations, survival reigns supreme. And a hero whose spark started a revolution discovers where she belongs in peace. Delve into the dark and dangerous world of Red Queen with this must-have companion, which includes tree brand new short stories, as well as extra scenes, maps, family trees, flags, and much more. This masterful collection offers an entirely new look into the beloved characters of the iconic Red Queen series, where no one is as they appear, and the only certainty is betrayal.”

What is the book about?

A book filled wish magical new glimpses into the world of Red Queen with incredible new characters and marvellous new stories with the loved characters from the series. Learn more about Norta’s history and the Silvers and their complicated family trees. Discover what it was like for Coriane Jacos and was tormented her mind in the moments before her death. Learn about the start of the Scarlet Guard and how they got tangled up with the little lightning girl. Look at maps of the world and discover new information about the other countries. Dive back into Mare’s world and see what choice she makes. And catch a small picture of what the future has in store. A book full of historical information and magical new discoveries around every corner offering a new perspective on the loved characters from the series and how even after the war has been won the only thing you can be certain of is betrayal and the beliefs in your heart.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Of course, the second that I put War Storm back on my shelf I was already prepared to dive back into more adventures with Mare and the other characters from the Red Queen series. Once I had finished the last book of the series, I felt like a piece of me was missing and I knew that the only way to fill it would be to start another book about the magical world that felt like home, even if it was just a collection of short stories. I was not that excited to start reading but I was intrigued to see what I would learn and if there would be any glimpse into Mare and Cal’s future. The blurb did little to convince me that I would enjoy the book, but I did feel reassured that I would at least read some things about Mare and Cal, who I sorely missed. When I finally started to read I was rather disappointed and a little bored. The first few pages weren’t very interesting and I felt as if I was reading a history textbook from school, however I kept reading and once I got past the part at the beginning and into the Calore family tree I started to see how amazing the book really was. The start might have been a bit of a let-down but the further I got and the more I learnt, the more I started to remember why this was my favourite book series.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character would probably have to be either Mare or Evangeline. Evangeline, despite her rude and annoying personality, proved to be a really good person, especially once she officially abdicated her throne. She showed everyone in Norta, and in the other countries, that a Silver with an obsession for power could lead a simple, free life, if only they chose to let go of their power, strength and their views of being the superior race. I loved how she sacrificed everything for the person she loved and that, even though everyone thought it was wrong, she didn’t let anyone change who she was. I also really liked Mare because she never stopped fighting. She gave up so much for the war, so much for the rebellion, but even after all that she kept going until Maven was finally defeated. Although in the book she had fled for some time, staying in a cabin with her family, she knew she had to return and that the war was far from over. The reason why I don’t think I could choose between Mare and Evangeline is because they helped each other become the best version of themselves. They hated each other for most of the series but in Broken Throne I began to see how their rivalry changed into a rather strange friendship and I know that they are never going to stop challenging each other making sure they never let down their guard.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

Seeing as the book is a collection of short stories, instead of picking a favourite part, I decided to pick a favourite story. This proved to be rather difficult since I really loved 2 of the stories and I just cannot choose between them. The first was Queen Song, the story about Cal’s mother Coriane Jacos. I was very interested in learning more about her and the moments that ked up to her death. She married Tiberias VI at a young age and the stress of being the one to marry the crown prince was too much for her to handle. She felt a constant threat from all the other girls who never got a chance to show their worth in the Queenstrial. It was very sad to learn about how she was tormented in her dreams and how all that lead to 3 miscarriages before she finally had Cal. I loved this story because, even though it was extremely sad, Cal didn’t mention much of his mother throughout the series and had left me with many questions that I was desperate to answer. I am still rather curious about the doomed queen but I loved learning about her and seeing how much of her Cal has inside of him, even if he can’t really see it. The other story that I really loved was Fire Light, a story about Cal and Mare a few months after the end of War Storm. I really enjoyed reading this one because the ending of the last book had left me with a need to know more. I wanted desperately for a happy ending for Cal and Mare because after everything they went through they deserved to be happy together. The story didn’t give me exactly what I wanted but I got to see them together and how they were ready to be together after the time they spent apart waiting until they were ready. I think that the only reason this story is competing with Queen Song is because it is a continuation of the series that I have grown to love and I did not want it to end but in the end all good stories have to come to a close.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall the book was absolutely perfect filled with many different stories and much needed information and there is nothing I would change. One thing that I enjoyed about the book was all the information about the past kings and queens of Norta. I loved learning about who had previously ruled and about the Calore family tree, no matter how complicated it was. Another thing I enjoyed about the historical artifacts in the book was all the information about the other countries on the map. I knew a lot about Norta and some about Montfort and the Lakelands but it was interesting to see how all the countries differed and how there were so many different ways to rule, even in a fictional world. The 2 short stories about the past were also something that I really liked. I enjoyed learning about Cal’s mother a character that, even though she was dead before the start of Red Queen, was mentioned constantly by Cal, but mainly his uncle Julian, brother to the dead queen. Learning more about the Scarlet Guard was also something that I enjoyed thoroughly especially as I got to see how Farley and Shade met and how their story twisted into Mare’s. I was glad to learn a bit more about how the rebels started and what happened to make Farley such an important part of the rebellion. The best thing about Broken Throne was the much needed stories about Mare, Cal and Evangeline. I was glad to hear from them all and see how they felt leading their new lives. Although I had only just finished War Storm I still really missed them and I was very happy to be able to see that they were finally all leading free and happy lives without the weight of a crown hanging in the balance. Even though there is nothing in Broken Throne that I want to change, there are a few thing I really wished I had been able to read about, for example Julian and Sara’s wedding, Mare and Cal’s wedding (if they ever got married) and some things about Mare and Cal’s children (to be honest I just wish the books had never ended). This book was just perfect and I am so sad to see that I will never read more about Mare, Cal, or any of the characters that made up such an incredible book series. I now know without a doubt in my mind that this is my favourite book series and that I will never forget this magical story that I wish had never ended.

Would you recommend this book?  

I 100% recommend this book for anyone who has read the Red Queen series and is in need of answers or just more time with the amazing characters. If you have not read them yet, I definitely think that you should, particularly if you are 13 or older and enjoy action, adventure and romance.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A beautiful Red Queen collection that offers more intriguing information about Mare, Cal and Evangeline, and other beloved characters, as well as new people with just as interesting stories to tell.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

WAR STORM by Victoria Aveyard

“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. 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?”

What is the book about?

Mare thought that the worst was over when she rescued from Maven and his prison of Silent Stone, but she couldn’t have been more wrong. Now, Mare is not just heartbroken from the younger Calore brother but also from Cal, the one person she thought would understand her and always be there for her. But his betrayal didn’t come as much of a shock, deep in her heart Mare knew that Cal would never truly go against the crown, or his father, and that Norta would fall to another king once Maven was gone. Together, the Calore brothers have nearly destroyed Mare, but she is determined to protect her heart and end the war once and for all. But the Reds cannot rise alone and Mare must fight side by side with the boy she still loves, to destroy the boy she once loved. Silvers and Reds united prove to be a strong force driven by their cause, but Maven is driven by an obsession that runs deeper than anything else and he will stop and nothing to get Mare back. The end is coming, but will Mare be able to kill the boy she once loved? All that Mare has fought for, everything that she has given up has been leading to this one moment. Will victory be enough to bring equality for the Reds? Or will the little lightning girl be finally defeated by the darkness in her and all around her?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

There was no doubt in my mind that I had to read War Storm and I also knew that I would absolutely adore it. After the shocking cliff-hanger at the end of King’s Cage, I was desperate to get some answers, and finally get the happy ending that I had been waiting for from the second that Mare fell into that arena at Queenstrial. I had been following Mare through the whole rebellion and I was so excited that it would finally end. Once I read the blurb, I knew that this was the end, and either the little lightning girl would finally succeed or all her hard world and all she gave up for the cause would be for nothing. From the very start of the book, I already knew it would be amazing. I loved how quick the three previous books had started and I was certainly not disappointed. The second I started reading I was pulled back into Norta and the world divided by the colour of your blood. Every word made me feel close to Mare and all the other characters in the book and, even though there was no one else around, I didn’t feel at all alone. Every chapter was better than the last, leading up to the final battle that would end the war that started with one simple Red girl from the Stilts. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book waiting for the battle to lost or won.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was, strangely, Evangeline because of how she changed. In the first and second book I hadn’t really liked her much because of how she treated Mare and acted exactly like any other Silver – as if she was superior. However, getting to hear her point of view in both King’s Cage and War Storm really made me understand that she was not like everyone else. I really sympathised with her and how she was never free, never in control of her own life. She thought that there was no escape and that she belonged to her father and always would, but seeing how Mare and the other Reds rebelled against the Silvers, against their leaders, their controllers, made her realise that she didn’t have to follow any rules; she could be free if she was only brave enough to try. I loved how Evangeline gave up everything she had, all her power and strength and the crown that she had been training for her whole life, for love. She was braver than Mare and Cal, who didn’t have the strength to give everything up for each other when they had the chance. She realised than no amount of power would make her as happy as spending the rest of her life with the one person that makes her feel alive and free. Evangeline risked her life for her love and for her own freedom and realised that it is never too late to change, and to choose a different path. She not just helped herself realise that, but also others. Evangeline was a very strange character for most of the series, but in the end she was an inspiration for everyone.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part is definitely difficult to pick, especially since there were so many good and bad parts of the book. If I have to choose then I think that the best part in the book would have to be when the characters realise that it is never too late to change. This part allows a lot of the characters to realise that they have to let others control them and that they can be free to speak their own mind and live their own lives. This part also showed me that even though Silvers seem to have better lives that the poor Reds that are treated like servants, the Reds are luckier because they have families that love them and they have more freedom than any Silver lord or lady. This part was a great inspiration showing me that anyone can be free as long as they try and they fight for what they believe. There was also another part that I liked when Mare and Cal gave in to their feeling and, even if it was just for one night, they showed each other that even though their love was forbidden, it was still there. During this night, although they both knew that nothing had changed, they finally felt safe and like anything could happen, and I really liked how they both showed each other that their love was true even if it wouldn’t lead anywhere. I also really liked this other part when Evangeline is watching Mare and her family laugh and have fun and she realises that, even though she was always taught to think Reds where less than her, they probably were happier than her. She thinks this: "They are Red. They are lesser. And they are happy. How can it be?" I interpreted this a lot quicker than most of the other meaningful quotes in the book because of my English teacher's constant repetition about poor people being happier than rich people when we were analysing A Christmas Carol in class. This quote helped me realise that Evangeline still had the chance to change because she saw that even people who have nothing can be happier than those who have everything because they are constantly looking for more money or power. All three of these parts showed me that anyone can change and that love is better than money, power and strength and I am glad that the characters also saw this.

What was your overall impression of the book?

There are no words to describe how much I enjoyed War Storm and, overall, I think that the book was perfect. One of the best things about the book was the amount of different perspectives there were. Usually when a book has as 3 or more points of view I tend to dislike the book because it gets annoying to have to follow so many different paths. However, with War Storm, I actually really liked hearing from so many people especially finally having Cal’s and Maven’s views. It gave the book a very unique quality and made me sympathise with characters that I had hated throughout the first few books. The only thing that I disliked about the perspectives was that there was one character that I couldn't care less about and who I found really annoying. Whenever it got to that person's chapters I was just waiting for it to move on and go back to the characters I actually cared about, but fortunately it was only one character and there were so many characters that I actually cared about that it didn't really ruin the book. Another thing that I really enjoyed about the book was how so many characters changed. So many characters that I hadn’t really liked or never thought they could be good people really surprised me and made me see that anyone can change. I loved how so many of them chose to follow their dreams and stop letting people control their lives, particularly Evangeline who changed so much near the end of the book. I loved the character development because it gave me hope that the war would end and there would finally be peace for everyone. There is only one thing in the entire book that annoyed me and I do not even think that it should be changed. Cal and Mare’s severed relationship really got on my nerves and I hated that they were both too stubborn to give in to the pain of their heartbreak. I spent pretty much the whole of the book screaming at them to get back together because I knew that they loved each other and that they were perfect for each other. I was so angry about it that I just wanted to slap some sense into the both of them, but I think that it wouldn’t have been such a good story if not for the changes in their relationship so even though I wish they had been together I don’t think that the book should have been different. Another thing in the book that I neither like nor dislike is the ending of the book. The ending was not exactly what I was expecting or what I wish had happened, but I don’t exactly want it to be different. I think that the way that War Storm ended was a really beautiful but I wish that I had gotten more information about the future and Mare’s life after the war. I really wanted to learn more but that is to be expected since it was such a wonderful series. I think the problem with the ending is that I really wish there wasn’t one and that I could carry on living through Mare’s life with her. I really loved the book and I’m really going to miss the characters that have become as close as family. 

Which is your favourite book in the Red Queen series? (1, 2, 3, or 4)

I really loved all the books in the Red Queen series and I think that they all had something that made the book unique. Red Queen, Glass Sword, King’s Cage and War Storm were all perfect books and without them Mare’s story would not be complete. If I had to choose a favourite book in the series, I think that it would have to be between the first and the third book. I chose Red Queen because it was the start of Mare’s story and it was when she started to see that one person, one Red, could help change the world. The events in Red Queen helped Mare see that she wasn’t a weak girl who could be controlled, she had a mind of her own and she was strong enough to make a difference. Even though Mare was constantly surrounded by Silver enemies and one wrong move could lead to her death, she used her position to help others and try to make the world better for everyone. King’s Cage was also an extraordinary book because of how Mare’s character developed. In Red Queen Mare thought that she was unstoppable and that she was strong enough to make a difference, and then in Glass Sword she started to believe that she was stronger and better than everyone else. She was extremely confident and that made her a bit arrogant and started to change the sweet personality she had in the first book. Then in King’s Cage, she realised that she was not undefeatable and she started to become the girl that would stop at nothing to help others. King’s Cage also had perspectives from different people and started to bring in different views. I really enjoyed hearing from others because most of the time I just got to see through Mare’s eyes. However, the ending of King's Cage wasn't the best and it puts me off saying that it is my favourite book, so if I had to pick between Red Queen and King's Cage it would definitely be Red Queen. The whole Red Queen series was incredible and I think that I can finally say that I have a favourite book series of all time. It has everything a good series needs: action, betrayal, death, plot twists, romance, sassy characters and good-looking boys, if you are looking for a series to read this is one you are sure to enjoy.

Would you recommend this book?  

I absolutely recommend this book for readers who enjoy action, thrillers, romance and if you have read Divergent or The Hunger Games and enjoyed them then I am sure you will like this one too. I suggest reading the series in order starting with Red Queen and I 100% recommend this series specifically for readers 13 or older. I am not just simply recommending you read the Red Queen series, I am saying that you must because it is absolutely my favourite series and if you don't try it out you will missing out on the best series of all time.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A perfect and extraordinary end to a remarkable series full of twists, lies and betrayals, and a little pinch of magic.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego