About This Book
Reach for this book when your teen is navigating complex social hierarchies or feeling the weight of systemic unfairness. It is an ideal choice for readers who are ready to move beyond simple hero stories and explore the gray areas of loyalty, betrayal, and power. The story follows Mare Barrow, a girl from an impoverished class who discovers she possesses the same god-like abilities as the ruling elite. Forced to live among her enemies, she must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice for the cause of justice. While the setting is a fantasy world, the emotional core deals with the high stakes of trust and the discovery of one's own voice in a world that wants to silence it. It is a fast paced, intense read for ages 13 and up, offering a sophisticated look at how power can corrupt even those with good intentions. Parents will find it a great starting point for discussing social class, the ethics of revolution, and the reality that people are rarely just one thing.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
DISTRESS: The book contains scenes of public executions and visceral arena combat. There is a specific scene where a character is forced to use their power to kill a loved one against their will, which is emotionally taxing. The climax involves a deep psychological betrayal by a close friend/love interest that may be upsetting for readers sensitive to relational trauma. CONVERSATION: Be prepared to discuss the morality of the Scarlet Guard's tactics. They use bombings and targeted assassinations to achieve their goals, which provides a concrete opportunity to discuss the difference between resistance and terrorism, and whether the ends justify the means in a revolution.
Ideal Reader
A middle or high schooler who enjoys X-Men or The Hunger Games and is looking for a story where the lines between 'good guys' and 'bad guys' are blurred.
Parent Prep
Parents should be aware that while it is a fantasy, the descriptions of the 'Queen's Trial' and the final battle are quite graphic in terms of elemental violence. Review the final three chapters for the major twist. The moment Mare realizes she has been manipulated by someone she loved and trusted, leading to the death of many of her allies.
Age Experience
Younger teens will focus on the 'superhero' aspect of the powers and the romance. Older teens will pick up on the political allegories and the commentary on class warfare and propaganda.
What Makes It Special
It successfully blends the 'chosen one' fantasy trope with a gritty, dystopian political thriller, refusing to give the reader a clean or happy ending.
Read plot summary
Mare Barrow is a seventeen year old Red living in a world where blood color dictates everything. Silvers have superpowers and rule; Reds are the working class sent to die in a century long war. When Mare accidentally reveals she has electrical powers despite her red blood, the Silver King forces her to pose as a long lost Silver princess betrothed to his second son, Maven. Mare becomes a double agent for the Scarlet Guard, a Red resistance group, while caught in a love triangle between two princes. The story culminates in a massive betrayal that shifts the entire political landscape.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The Silver elite believe their powers give them the right to rule. How does Mare's discovery of her own powers challenge the idea that 'might makes right'?
2
Julian tells Mare, 'Anyone can betray anyone.' How does this advice shape her actions, and does it come true by the end of the book?
3
Compare the leadership styles of Prince Cal and Prince Maven. Which one do you think would actually be a better ruler for both Reds and Silvers?
4
The Silvers use Mare to maintain their public image. In what ways do we see 'propaganda' being used in the book to control what people think?
5
At the beginning of the book, Mare is a thief to help her family. Do you think her actions are justified by her circumstances?
