King's Cage (Red Queen)

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Surprisingly I liked Cal better in this book than the last. I totally understand why he did what he did. Once again Mare cough*ass* tries to make him feel bad. Cal is so much more than the author makes him out to be. He reminds ma a bit of Chaol though. What they find in Rocasta is a hospital full of bleeding silvers. The Scarlet Guard has taken Corvium. Two months pass, and Mare continues reading Julian's books. She learns that the Silvers' abilities "came from corruption, from a scourge that killed most." She notices Julian has written a note that says Silvers "were not a god's chosen, but a god's cursed." Mare's sister, Gisa. Gisa has red hair. I'm not a genetics expert so don't take my word as 100% accurate, but if Mare is olive skinned, how does Gisa have red hair if red hair isn't common in olive skinned people or of darker colors? Victoria said something about genetics which, like I said, I'm not a genetics expert (not to mention there isn't a clear description of Mare's parents' skin tones), so I'm not sure how this works.

Meanwhile, Cameron Cole remains with the Scarlet Guard. The Guard has moved to Irabelle, a stronghold near the Lakelander city of Trial. Cameron only wants to save her brother, Morrey Cole, but knows she can't do so without the Guard. The Kingdom of the Rift: Who would a Samos be without a power grab? After their escape, Volo crowns himself King of the Rift, making Evangeline the princess she was born to be. Stop. Just stop torturing my heart. Stop playing with my feelings. I don't know.. it's like Mare and Maven more get along together in term of their inner personality, but just because she think he is evil so she insists every bit in herself to not feel for him. Damn. It would be very interesting to see them as Silver King & Red Queen together. I have a feeling Aveyard probably belongs to that clique of writers that believe because a man wrote it it should be set on fire. She’s constantly bashing actors like Tom Hanks and other male screenwriters. (Don’t get this one: The thing is, she’s a screenwriter as well, someone who wants to work in Hollywood. Did, like, no one tell her that pissing off one of the big-name actors or people she could get a job from was, like, I don’t know – a good way to never eat a hot meal ever again?)

Cages

I don't when know where to begin with this shit of a character. This annoying, whining, self-absorbed pathetic excuse of a character. Kneel or Bleed: Mare sacrifices her own wellbeing and gives herself up to Maven. Chained and paraded around the capitol, Mare is forced to kneel before King Maven Calore.

Princess Iris of the Lakelands: The youngest daughter of King Orrec, Iris is quiet, calculating, and religious, betrothed to Maven to solidify the alliance between Norta and the Lakelands. Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother's web in an attempt to maintain control over his country - and his prisoner, the girl he once loved.Now, one annoying character doesn't spoil the book - unfortunately, this was not the case because Every Character is Mare. Like I said in my pre-post after just finishing- Its not about the teams and its certainly not about who she will ultimately choose…or not choose. I just think there was so much potential for this story and it fell so so flat. Even now, when I am painfully his, he won’t let go. I would prefer death to this cage, to the twisted obsession of a mad boy king.

The Training Montage: After nudging from Kilorn, who has been helping ease tensions between Reds and Newbloods, Mare agrees to start learning how to use her ability. She trains with three Newbloods who have the same ability— Ella, Rafe and Tyton—and learns that it has a name: Electricon. Original Mare: Whiny, self-pitying garbage human. She regularly kills people and only feels "remorse" when convenient for the plot. She literally was made into a princess-to-be but threw it all away cause she had to read a paragraph of propaganda After the Divergence, the still-corrupted King's Cage fell under the control of the Crawling King's zealots, including the undying Champion of the Crawling King, known only as " The Laughing Hand". The followers of the Moonweaver fought the forces of the Crawling King on the very steps of the King's Cage. Upon realizing that the Laughing Hand could never truly be slain, the Moonweaver's celestials martyred themselves to seal away the temple. It was their hope that the King's Cage and the zealots within would remain forgotten, and thus could never be unsealed and unleashed on the world. Maven takes Mare and the rest of his entourage into the Choke where he strikes a deal with the king of the Lakelands. Their two territories have been at war for years, but now they will call a truce as they, together, eradicate the Scarlet Guard. Evangeline is cast aside as Maven accepts an engagement with the Lakeland princess, Iris. They all return to Maven’s castle. Cal is another character I was disappointed in. Which is sad because I liked him in Glass Sword. In King's Cage, Cal was being Emo McBroody and that did not help him with his development. Emo McBroody over here was pining for Mare (why I have no idea?) and was struggling with his allegiance to the Scarlet Guard and the Silvers. Look, Cal, I understand this is a hard time for you, but you are fighting in a war. Get over it. I feel like his character wasn't given justice because he was hardly seen during the first part of the book.

Though this may be simple and small, I have to say it. Victoria is not good with naming people, cities, and countries. There's a map in the book and the name of the cities are not good. Like Victoria just jumbled up some words to make them seem like a fantasy name and went with it. Nevermind that some names are lazy. Premier Dane Davidson of Montfort : Davidson is a Newblood Shield (one with the ability to create protective energy fields) and is an elected official in the Free Republic of Montfort. He is described as appearing fairly average and neutral, and works closely with Mare and the Scarlet Guard to defeat Maven. This "breathless third installment" kept up to it's word. Oh, yes, it certainly left me breathless.

I think it's sad because this act alone really destroys books when you write by someone else's voice and imagination. In class they gave us this quote that I kept thinking about: During the following battle Mare and Cal are reunited but the Mind Whisperer, Samson, forces them to fight each other. Finally, they kill Samson and get away. So, I really loved loved loved what happened the middle of the book until the end! It was amazing.. BUT the beginning was so BORINGGGGGG!! Yess, I said it!! I need the time to sapped up to Feb 7th! I don't think I can wait any longer! The suspense is killing me!!!!! Kilorn is there. At least he didn't have a big role in this book and we didn't see much of him. I still want him to die. He better die in the next book.Mare passes out after her interrogation with Samson but finally wakes to find that Maven has been sitting with her. He seems to have some feelings for her. Mare is grieved for the person that she had thought he was. Maven is going to use her by forcing her to appear at court as a rescued newblood. This is a boy who was crippled from birth by an evil woman so terrible he doesn't know what thoughts are his. I just want him to have a happily ever after. But there is none. This boy is darkness incarnate and I have a feeling he's going to end up doing something noble to save Cal or Mare or his people in the next (final) book (to redeem himself the only way a villain can) and I just can't cope.