“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
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