Honest Book Review of War Storm by Victoria Aveyard
Check out the epic conclusion to Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series, War Storm. Book four brings together all your favorite characters for the finale of the whole series. Read down below for all the ups and downs as well as recommendations to read after you’ve finished the entire series.
If you need a reminder of what happened in the last book, King’s Cage, you can check out my review and summary first.
Here’s a short synopsis of the book:
“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 demolish 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?”
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Full Book Review Without Spoilers
As the highly anticipated final installment in a very popular series, I’ve seen a lot of people focus on the negative aspects of the book or point of perceived flaws. Having read this book and the whole series after the hype died down (I know I’m late to the game), I think those negative reviews had a lot to do with the extremely high expectations while waiting for the fourth book. I thought this book and the series as a whole was definitely worth the read.
Don’t be intimidated by the length of this book because the pace of the writing and the action scenes makes it a faster read than you’d think. As the final book, there’s a lot to cover, and Aveyard doesn’t rush through to get you the answers. There’s also a lot of different characters to address throughout this book.
Throughout the book, there’s still a lot of intricate world building as well as action scenes that pulls you even deeper into the Red Queen world. There’s even some new characters that make the story even more interesting. This book is an enjoyable story in itself, but also a gratifying ending to a great series.
My biggest complaint about the book was that I did want more answers at the very end. While a lot of questions are answered, there’s a few that Aveyard leaves open for your interpretation. While I still thinking that it was an overall good ending, I’m not a fan of when the author leaves the storylines open.
Characters
Again, we get to hear from multiple different points of view which I think not only helps the story progress but also makes you more invested in all sides of the conflict. Some of the ‘bad guys’ you almost want to root for a little bit. There’s so many different, well-written characters in this book that there’s someone you’ll like.
I really enjoyed Mare’s character development in this book compared to the previous two books. By the end of the book, she really comes into the meaning and magnitude of her abilities and what that means in the grand scheme of her life. And if Cal is your favorite character, he also has a satisfying arc in this book.
Plot
The plot of this book is still fast paced to keep you interested, but it doesn’t feel rushed. As the last book in the series, there’s lots of answers that need to be answered, and the plot does that in a very engaging way.
Writing
The writing style of this book is still very similar to the previous three books. So if you’ve been liking the series so far, you’ll enough the writing in this one, too. Aveyard has a way of writing characters with their imperfections that really makes it more believable.
Full Book Review With Spoilers
You’ve been warned that from here on out there will be spoilers.
Buckle up for the last book in the Red Queen series that takes you through some serious action scenes, character development, and world building. This is a thick book that did get a little wordy at times, but I think it was mostly warranted for how much happens in the whole series. We finally get to see the answer to how Mare overthrows the Silver Blood nobility, and her revenge on Maven even though it was a little bittersweet.
While the ending for the series as a whole was good, the final battle felt somewhat anticlimactic. I expected more between the various characters and much more of a fight. The whole book was leading up to this, so I thought the final battle deserved more to it especially Maven and Mare’s fight scene.
A positive aspect for me was the different perspectives throughout the book. Hearing from Maven’s perspective really made you feel sorry enough for him that you could never hate him after all he does. I didn’t particularly enjoy Iris as a character, but her persecutive did further the plot and added to the political intrigue of the war.
Pros of the Book
One of the best things for me is how almost all the characters got a satisfying ending but in different ways. That may sound cliche, but, after four whole books, you just want to see the good guys win and the bad guys get their punishment. And it was more of a realistic ending than other fantasy books.
Another pro of this book is that the ending was not as straightforward as you might have thought. The book is so thick because a lot happens to get to the end of the book. There isn’t just one giant battle to figure everything out, but a lot of political things happening first.
Cons of the Book
The biggest con for me about this book is that I wanted more of the loose ends to be addressed like what happened Evangeline Samos and her brother or even more Cal and Mare. Some people like the open ended aspect of being able to imagine their endings however you want, but I want it written in the book. I also want to hear the account of Mare and Cal finally figuring it out with each other.
Conclusion
Overall, I was satisfied with the ending of the series even if the final battle did real a little anticlimactic. The characters really made this book worth it, and I was fully invested by the end. I think if you’re a fan of fantasy, this book and the whole series is worth the read.
You can find the book here.
I have a full summary of the book here if you need a refresher on any of the main points.
Rating- 4 out of 5 stars
Maybe because I was so invested at this point, but this ending had me thinking about the book and the characters for awhile after finishing. I did want more of ‘happily ever after’ for Mare and Cal, but the ending did satisfy me for most everything else. I think because I liked how the characters were written and felt connected that I really enjoyed the series as a whole.
Here’s how I rate all my books: My Rating System
Who Would Enjoy Reading?
If you’re a fan of the YA fantasy about a young heroine battling against an unjust society, this would be right up your ally. It’s got all the traditional aspects like special abilities, corrupted nobility, and a female main character bent of saving the world for those oppressed because of something they can’t control.
What to Read After War Storm
If you loved the Red Queen books, here’s my recommendations of what to read next. Now that you’re through the whole series, check out a couple other great fantasy series with the similar aspects to Red Queen.
Broken Throne by Victoria Aveyard
This book is not technically in the Red Queen series because it’s not a novel but a series of short stories. This book does answer some of the loose ends left at the end of the series. Check it out here.
Powerless by Lauren Roberts
This is a newer fantasy series about a society split by special abilities, and a FMC fitting against the nobility. It’s got a lot of the same positive similarities as the Red Queen series. You can find it here.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
If you’re looking for another series with the same vibes as Red Queen, but a little more adultish and more fantasy, try this one. This book has another strong human FMC set in a world where humans are looked down on by elves. You can get the book here.
