Naomi's Reading Palace: War Storm by Victoria Aveyard ~ Review & Teaser (@VictoriaAveyard, @harperteen)

Well, I finally made it! I picked up the final book to see how the journey ended. So much happened and it was action packed right up to the final chapters! I hope that we can come back to this world again one day!

Title: War Storm

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Series: Red Queen #4

Genre: YA Fantasy

Published: May 15th 2018

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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?

In the epic conclusion to Victoria Aveyard’s stunning series, Mare must embrace her fate and summon all her power… for all will be tested, but not all will survive.

I took my time getting into the final book in the Red Queen series, because I really didn't want the story to end, and lets face it... it was a big book! Once again it was quite the adventure, with everyone facing so many hard times and tough hurdles to try and find peace and balance throughout all the lands.

Mare struggled with her feelings for Cal, and the distance between them allowed her to focus on the end game. I could see that the Red Dawn had a plan, and I was eager to see it all unravel. Cal was adjusting to the hand he was dealt, and tried to make it as easy as he could for all involved. He stepped up when he was required and made decisions that were beneficial to all parties involved.

It was interesting to see some alliances grow, where others crumbled under pressure. I was surprised by a few twists and getting extra perspectives really allowed me to see what was going on through each country.

By the time I finished the book, I felt a little relieved. All important threads were tied up and I was satisfied as to the direction everything was heading. I would've liked more of an epilogue with Mare, because I wanted to feel that happiness in her once again. But overall, I enjoyed the ride, fell for all the characters and hope that one day we can revisit this world!

This is a bit of a long tease, but it was hard to chop down. It was a big moment for these two in the middle of hard times.

Neither of us moves.
“I can’t,” I bite out, looking anywhere but his face.
He responds quickly, with force. “Neither can I.”
“But I also can’t—”
Stay away. Keep doing this. Denying ourselves in the face of always-looming death. Tiberias hisses out a breath.
“Neither can I.”
When we take the step forward together, from opposite directions, both of us laugh. It almost breaks the spell. But we keep walking, equal in motion and intention. Slow and methodic, measuring. He watches me, I watch him, as the space closes between us. I touch him first, put- ting my palm flat over his thudding heart. He inhales slowly, his chest rising beneath my fingers. A warm hand slips around my back, splaying wide over the base of my spine. I know he can feel my old scars through my shirt, the knobbled skin familiar to us both. I answer by curling my other hand at the nape of his neck, gently digging my nails into the lock of black hair.
“This doesn’t change anything,” I say against his collarbone, a firm line against my cheek.
I feel his answer in my rib cage. “No.”
“We aren’t making different decisions.”
His arms tighten around me. “No.”
“So what is this, Cal?”
The name has an effect on us both. He shivers, and I move closer, flattening against him. It feels like giving in, for both of us, though we have nothing left to surrender.
“We’re choosing not to choose.”
“That doesn't sound real.”
“Maybe it isn’t.”
But he’s wrong. I can’t think of anything more real than the feel of him. The heat, the smell, the taste. It’s the only real thing in my world.
“This is the last time,” I whisper before I cover his mouth with mine.
Over the next few hours, I say that so many times I lose count.

Paperback Pages 369-70

Victoria Aveyard is an author and screenwriter, born and raised in a small town in Western Massachusetts. Both her parents are public school teachers, as well as avid film, television, and literature fans. Victoria grew up on a steady diet The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and LOST. She pursued a degree in Writing for Film & Television at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. After graduating college in 2012, Victoria moved home from Los Angeles and began writing the manuscript that would become Red Queen.

She has since published three #1 New York Times bestselling and USA Today bestselling books, two New York Times bestselling novellas, and continues pursuing her writing career while living full-time in Los Angeles, California.

The Red Queen series is currently being translated into 37 languages and counting.