Mare, a girl with red blood, is a thief waiting to get conscripted into the army when she turns eighteen, per the mandate. In this dystopian society, people had silver blood, meaning they had powers, or they had red blood, meaning they did not. When Mare learns that her friend, Kilorn, lost his job, meaning he must get conscripted, she does anything she can to save him from that fate. After meeting a stranger in a bar who turns out to be the crown prince, Cal, Mare gets a job at the castle which saves her from getting conscripted. However, when she gets electrocuted and survives, Mare learns that she also can control lightning. Mare is hidden in plain sight as a Silver princess engaged to the second prince, Maven. After learning of her brother’s death, Mare and Maven decide to go against their country and work with the Scarlet Guard to free the Reds from the control of the Silvers. She and Maven continue to work with the Scarlet Guard. On the day of the last plan, Mare tries to convince Cal, the first prince who fell in love with her, to join their side. However, it does not work. As her plan is falling away, Maven betrays her and kills his father and exiles his brother to become King. Betrayed, both Mare and Cal join the Scarlet Guard to bring down Maven.
I found this book to be very interesting and shocking. I also liked the message of the hierarchy and a new revolution. It was written very well and the dystopian was described and explained well too. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to those who like fantasy, dystopian novels.
I think this book is an enjoyable read and consider it a part of a good series. I give it a 4 out of 5.