Book Series · 5 Books

Red Queen Books

Victoria Aveyard's young-adult fantasy follows Mare Barrow, a poor Red-blooded girl whose impossible power pulls her into the ruling Silver elite, a rebellion, and a widening war.

Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated August 11, 2026

Reading order

How to Read the Red Queen Books

Read the four numbered novels in order: Red Queen, Glass Sword, King's Cage, and War Storm. They tell one continuous story and should not be rearranged.

Cruel Crown collects two prequel novellas and can be read after Red Queen; Broken Throne collects later stories and works best after War Storm. Neither companion is a fifth novel.

Sources: Victoria Aveyard's official Red Queen series, Official Cruel Crown page.

For parents

What Parents Should Know

This is a darker YA fantasy with executions, torture, captivity, political oppression, war, betrayals, serious injuries, and important character deaths. Violence and grief grow more intense as the rebellion expands.

Romance, jealousy, coercive relationships, and emotional manipulation are also central. The series is better suited to teens ready for sustained violence and morally complicated choices than to younger readers attracted mainly by the magical premise.

Where to start

Where Should My Teen Start?

The first novel is the intended entry point; the prequel collection adds context after the world is familiar.

New to the series

Start with Red Queen and continue through War Storm before reading Broken Throne.

Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

Sale price

$1899

Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 13–18 · 2015

Red Queen

By Victoria Aveyard

A common girl with hidden powers must navigate a deadly royal intrigue where betrayal is the only certainty.

388 pages· 111,688 words· Est. 10.5 hour read

$19.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In a world divided by blood, Mare Barrow, a Red, discovers a hidden power that thrusts her into the Silver elite's dangerous world. Forced to pose as a lost Silver princess, Mare must navigate treacherous court politics while secretly aiding a Red rebellion. As she balances her new identity and her heart's desires, one misstep could mean her death. Can Mare survive the deadly game of power and betrayal, or will her secret be her undoing? The stakes are high, and the only certainty is that trust is a luxury she cannot afford.

In reading order

Chapter Book · Ages 13–+ · 2016

Secrets and rebellion ignite as a queen's diary and a captain's mission collide in a kingdom on the brink.

Optional companion stories

Red Queen Novellas and Collections

2 books · Published 2016–2019

Cruel Crown adds two prequel novellas; Broken Throne adds stories best saved until after the four novels. Neither changes the main series count.

Series

Sale price

$1599

Cruel Crown

Chapter Book · Ages 13–+ · 2016

Secrets and rebellion ignite as a queen's diary and a captain's mission collide in a kingdom on the brink.

Sale price

$1899

Broken Throne

Chapter Book · Ages 13–+ · 2019

Explore new tales and secrets in the world of Red Queen.

Good to know

Common Questions

How many books are in the Red Queen series?

There are 5 books in the Red Queen series. It began with Red Queen in 2015, and the newest book, War Storm, was published in 2018.

What order should you read the Red Queen books in?

Start with Red Queen and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #5.

What ages are the Red Queen books best for?

The series is best for ages 13–18, based on the age ranges of the individual books.

The people

The Creative Behind the Books

The people who bring Red Queen to life.

Victoria Aveyard

Author

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Red Queen Books

How to Read the Red Queen Books

What Parents Should Know