History Literature / RedQueen

* MakeMeWannaShout: Banshees are Silvers with powerful, deafening screams.

However, it isn't very long into her servitude that Mare finds out Cal isn't only a Silver, but the Prince and heir apparent himself. On top of this, an accident involving a electric shield reveals that she's got an ability of her own: the power to create and manipulate lightening.

* ILoveNuclearPower: Silvers are descendants of humans subjected to extensive nuclear radiation, which manifested as superpowers. Reds are simply people who weren't affected and thus didn't develop such powers, at least until the Silvers' growing threat caused them to naturally evolve powers on their own, giving rise to newbloods.

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Many characters double-cross each other, including those they are allied with. The phrase "anyone can betray anyone" is heavily repeated for a reason. %%flesh out later

* ClingyJealousGirl: Evangeline does whatever she can to keep being one of the princes' betrothed. Semi-justified when it's explained that Evangeline has been prepared since childhood to take the crown. %%flesh out later
* ColdBloodedTorture: The interrogation tactic of choice against the Scarlet Guard. %%flesh out later

* {{Dystopia}}: The main premise is that a group of regular humans are under the rule of an oppressive dictatorship by superhuman beings. %%flesh out later

* IfICantHaveYou: Maven orders Mare's execution when it's clear she won't choose him. %%flesh out later

* MadOracle: Jon shows signs of this along with his powers. %%flesh out later

* NighInvulnerability: Wreckers are newbloods who are basically MadeOfDiamond. %%flesh out later

* PropagandaMachine: How the Silvers keep the Reds in line and how Queen Elara keeps the other Silvers from finding out about Mare's secrets. Also how Maven turns Reds against the Scarlet Guard. %%flesh out later

* SmallRoleBigImpact: Cully, Kilorn's mentor, is only mentioned by Kilorn and Mare, but it's his death that kicks off Mare's search for help, leading her to run into Cal. [[spoiler:Jon knew the impact Kilorn being masterless would have, leading him to kill Cully.]]

* NotSoDifferent: Cameron points out that Mare's methods of recruiting newbloods to the Scarlet Guard's cause may end up repeating the same problems of division based on blood and superpowers, only with newbloods on top.

* DeadGuyJunior: Farley and Shade's daughter, Clara is named after the Farley's late mother. [[Mare and Cal's]] children are named after a relative that they deeply miss.

* CrapsackWorld: If you have the unfortunate luck to be born with red blood, then prepare for [[SarcasmMode an exciting adventure]] of having to live in subpar settlements and scramble for work because if you don't, you'll have to take up conscription and be thrown to violent war zones. Oh, and you can't do anything, because your masters can use superpowers that only they possess. If you happen to be a newblood like Mare, however, you'll probably end up getting shot right away once your masquerade breaks.Are you born with silver blood? Well, your experience isn't going to be much better, either, since court demands that you be proper, or you're going to be excluded by society. Additionaly, bloody infighting, coups, civil wars, and so on and so on, even in the middle of a ''celebration'', will haunt you forever.
* CrazyJealousGuy: Maven becomes increasingly desprate to keep Mare close to him, though his efforts just further push her away. Murdering newbloods and keeping her caged certainly don't help.

%% AlasPoorVillain: King Tiberias is no friend to Reds but you can’t help but feel bad for him a little when he is betrayed and murdered by one of his beloved sons.

%% BackToBackBadasses: Whenever Mare and Cal team up.

%% BelligerentSexualTension: Mare and Kilorn are childhood friends who constantly bickering and roughhousing.

%% DepopulationBomb: The Lakelander War killed at least 500 thousand Silvers and 50 million Reds]], with twice that number of the wounded. Mare can't quite wrap her head around it.

* NighInvulnerability: Wreckers are newbloods who are basically MadeOfDiamonds. %%flesh out later

* PortTown: Harbor Bay, which is located in present-day Boston.%%flesh out later

* MagnetismManipulation: Magnetrons like Evangeline can manipulate metal.

* MauveShirt: Some of the newbloods are definitely this. [[spoiler:Nix, Ketha, and Darmian]] just to name a few; they're introduced and killed within the same book.
* MaybeEverAfter: [[spoiler:''War Storm'' doesn't end with Mare and Cal becoming a couple, as they both realize that they need to recover from the ordeals they've experienced first. Nevertheless, Mare promises that she will go back to Cal once she is ready.]]

* MindRape: One of the ways in which whispers can use their ability. Samson in particular loves to put any subject of his interrogations through the wringer; he doesn't call his himself a butcher for no reason.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After the assassinations of the Parting Ball include small children, Mare has this reaction and begins to second guess her involvement with the Scarlet Guard.

* NighInvulnerability: Wreckers take the stoneskins' SuperToughness into MadeOfDiamond territory.

* OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions: Mare is surprised when she learns that Princess Iris of Lakelands worships gods and is disappointed that there's no shrine in Archeon. %%double check

* PlayingWithFire: Burners can control fire. Silver Burners like Cal and Maven need a spark in order to use their ability, whereas newblood burners can create flames out of thin air.
* PortTown: Harbor Bay, which is located in present-day Boston.
* PowerNullifier: Silvers with the Silence ability can turn-off other people's powers. Cameron goes even further, as she can turn off senses and even bodily functions with her powers. Silent Stone is a stronger version, able to turn off anyone's powers within the vicinity of it.

* RacistGrandma: Even after [[spoiler:Norta]] has been brought down, many Silvers are unable or unwilling to face a reality where they have to stand together with, instead of above, Reds. This hits the nobles hard, with Larentia Viper even disowning both of her children when they state their intentions to support the new status quo. Even twenty years later, there are still Silver nobles who want to restore their former glory by declaring a pretender Nortan kingdom ruled by Mare and Cal's children even as said children openly go against them.

* ReligiousBruiser: Lakelanders are one of the only two countries in the continent who still have a religion, up to and including its feared royal family, the Cygnets.

* LaResistance: The Scarlet Guard, an organization that fights to win fellow Reds freedom from Silver oppression. The Silver Raiders of the Prairies are this as well, even if their goal is a complete 180° from the Scarlet Guard: they want to reinstate the classicist states Montfort replaced. However, they are much less organized than the Scarlet Guard, not to mention operating without a clear set of objectives under a clear leader.
* RevealingInjury: When Mare is injured while fighting for her life in the Bowl of Bones, her red blood reveals to the crowd that she’s not the silver-blooded noble she was pretending to be.
* RippedFromTheHeadlines: It's revealed that the Calamities started with climate change, followed by a refugee crises in the Middle East that eventually spread around the world, igniting conflict and eventually open warfare. %%flesh out later

* ScarsAreForever: Averted with Silvers, since they can get fixed up by a Skin Healer if they're injured. Played straight after Mare escapes at the end of ''Red Queen''. She revels in her new scars and doesn't want them wiped away.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Several Houses pull this after the events of ''King's Cage'', chief among them House Samos.

* SiblingTriangle: Both Maven and Cal develop romantic feelings for Mare. While Mare did develop feelings for both, Maven's betrayal squandered any chance he might have had with her. Though she still has some residual feelings for him, they're for the boy she once knew than who he actually is.

* SuperpowerfulGenetics: Type 1. Silver children inherent their ability through their biological parents. It's more common for them to share abilities with their father, though children having the same powers as their mothers aren't unheard of.

* SuperToughness: Stoneskins can hardened parts or all of their skin into impenetrable stone.

* {{Telepathy}}: Whispers like Queen Elara can read and control minds, as well as communicate telepathically.

* ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself: [[spoiler: With the rest of the Scarlet Guard busy helping the Nortans fend off the Lakelanders and Cal unwilling to take his own brother's life, Mare has to face Maven one by one in the climax of ''War Storm''.]]

* TrilogyCreep: The original plan was for the series to be three books, but Aveyard eventually settled on a tetralogy. Then ''Broken Throne'' was released, turning it into a quadology. While it's billed as a companion book, ''Broken Throne'' builds off of the events of the previous books, including wrapping up some loose ends and explaining some of the events of that occurred after ''War Storm''.

* TheUnfavorite: Mare knows that her parents look down on her thievery even though its proven useful on more than one occasion. Her mother in particular seems to wish that she was as talented and pretty as Gisa or as charming as Shade. Maven is often ignored by his father on account of being the youngest son. It's this shared trait that helps Mare initial dislike of him ease up.

%% UpToEleven: Most Silvers need some sort of assistance in order to use their powers (e.g. burners need a spark) or they have a limitation of some kind (e.g. oblivians have to have physical contact in order to make something explode). Newbloods with similar abilities don't have such constraints.

%% {{Utopia}}: Montfort is probably the only place in North America where there is absolutely no enmity between Reds, Silvers, and newbloods. They vote, work, and rule together. And unlike other countries, their leader, despite being only elected in the position two years ago, is willing to throw everything (up to serving as a FrontlineGeneral) to protect his citizens. Justified, considering that they built the country to replace the petty kingdoms in their wake, which we could assume were of the same kind as as the others; any kind of racism or classicism would betray the foundation.
* VitriolicBestBuds: After her defection, [[spoiler:Evangeline]] and Mare become friends in some fashion.
* TheVoiceless: Sara had her tongue cut out for claiming that Elara made the previous queen commit suicide. While the Queen is still alive, all other skin healers are forbidden from reversing her condition, and Sara can't fix it herself due to her power's limitation.

Mare Barrow is a Red. This simple matter of blood color is what assigns her and millions of others to a life of poverty and hardship under the rule of Silvers. Unlike Reds, Silvers have silver blood, god-like superpowers, and authority over a Red's life. The only thing keeping Mare from subcoming to despair is her family and her close friend, Kilorn. There's also the hope of both of them becoming an apprentice, a Red's ticket into getting out of being drafted into the ongoing war. This small security changes for Kilorn in an instant when his master suddenly dies. In an effort to keep him safe, Mare tries to get Kilorn smuggled out of her hometown. In order to do this, though, she will need money, and Silvers have plenty of it.

In a daring scheme, Mare accompanies her seamstress sister into a Silver city in order to use her own excellent pick-pocketing skills to snag any valuables she can get her hands on. However, her mission is interrupted due to a broadcast from a blonde woman who claims to be apart of the Scarlet Guard, a group of rebellious Reds who are taking steps to overthrow their Silver rulers. The announcement is enough to make every Silver in the surrounding area start attacking any nearby Reds out of paranoia.

Though she manages to flee the city with her life, Mare's time to get the money is slowly running out. She goes to a nearby inn and tries snatching anything valuable she can find from its patrons. In her haste, she gets caught by one of them who identifies himself as Cal. Within minutes, Mare finds herself venting to Cal about her current situation. The next day, Mare finds herself chosen to work as a servant at the royal palace; it seems as though Cal took her words to heart, and pulled a few strings to get her the job.

However, it isn't very long into her servitude that Mare finds out Cal isn't only a Silver, but the Prince and heir apparent himself. On top of that, she finds out by accident that she's got an ability of her own: the power to create and manipulate lightening.

In an effort to cover up the impossibility of a Red possessing any kind of power, the King forces Mare into the role of a lost Silver princess and forces her hand in marriage to his youngest son, Maven. Additionally, her unique situation gives him the opportunity to use her as a mouthpiece for his own propaganda.

Later on, Mare meets up with the blonde woman from the broadcast and agrees to play double agent for the Scarlet Guard. Between pretending to be something she inherently isn't and helping the rebellion, she also has to keep herself from falling for Cal- a well-meaning and kind boy who still wants to keep Reds under Silver rule- or Maven, a shy and helpful boy with dangerous secrets of his own.

And that's just the beginning: a war is brewing between the Reds and Silvers, with Mare at its center.

''Red Queen'' is a [[YoungAdult young adult]] {{dystopian}} {{fantasy}} series written by Victoria Aveyard.

* TrilogyCreep: The original plan was for the series to be three books, but Aveyard eventually settled on a tetralogy. Then ''Broken Throne'' was released, turning it into a quadology. Though billed as a companion book, it does build off of the events of the previous books, including wrapping up some loose ends.

%% WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Luther Carver is introduced as a newblood with the ability to suck the life-force out of any biological being. He's never seen or referenced in any of the following books.
* WhatTheHellHero: Cameron eventually calls out Mare for favoring newbloods and slipping into a familiar mindset as their enemies.

%% WillTheyOrWontThey: Holy crap, Cal and Mare. All over the place in both ''Red Queen'' and ''Glass Sword'', then [[spoiler: TheyDo during the second half of ''King's Cage'', only for the end of the book to [[ShipSinking torpedo that]] with the reinstatement of Cal's engagement to Evangeline. It takes the first half of ''War Storm'' and a lot of prodding from Evangeline to get them back together, with some back and forth during the second half, then the book ends only on the promise of them reuniting...eventually]].
%% WomanScorned: [[spoiler: Evangeline, when Maven ends their engagement to marry Princess Iris of the Lakelanders.]]

Mare Barrow is a Red. This simple matter of blood color is what assigns her and thousands of others to a life of poverty and hardship under the rule of Silvers. Unlike Reds, Silvers have silver blood, god-like superpowers, and control over a Red's life. The only thing keeping Mare going is her family, her close friend, Kilorn, and the thought of each of them becoming an apprentice: a Red's ticket into getting out of being drafted into the ongoing war. This small security changes for Kilorn in an instant when his master suddenly dies. In an effort to keep him safe, Mare tries to get Kilorn smuggled out of her hometown. In order to do this, though, she will need money. And Silvers have plenty of it.

In a daring scheme, Mare accompanies her seamstress sister into a Silver city in order to use her own excellent pick-pocketing skills to snag any valuables she can get her hands on. However, her mission is interrupted due to a broadcast from a blonde woman. She claims to be apart of the Scarlet Guard, a group of rebellious Reds who are taking steps to overthrow their Silver rulers. The announcement is enough to make every Silver in the surrounding area start attacking any nearby Reds out of paranoia.

Though she manages to flee the city with her life, Mare's time to get the money is slowly running out. Mare goes to a nearby inn and tries snatching anything valuable she can find from its patrons. In her haste, she gets caught by one of them who only identifies himself as Cal. Within minutes, Mare finds herself venting to Cal about her current situation. The next day, Mare finds herself chosen to work as a servant at the royal palace; it seems as though Cal took her words to heart, and pulled a few strings to get her a job.

However, it isn't very long into her servitude that Mare finds out Cal isn't only a Silver, but the Prince and heir apparent himself. On top of that, she finds out by accident that she's got an ability of her own.

Later on, Mare meets up with the blonde woman from the broadcast and agrees to play double agent for the Scarlet Guard. Between pretending to be something she inherently isn't and helping the rebellion, she also has to keep herself from falling for Cal, a well-meaning and kind boy who still wants to keep Reds under Silver rule, or Maven, a shy and helpful boy with dangerous secrets of his own.

''Red Queen'' is a [[YoungAdult YA]] {{dystopian}} {{fantasy}} series written by Victoria Aveyard.

It consists of:

** ''Bright Shadow'' (2018): An additional scene from a new perspective that was included at the end of the Collector's Edition.[[labelnote:*]]Note that "new perspective" does not mean "new character".[[/labelnote]]

In 2020, Victoria Aveyard and Soman Chainani (''Literature/TheSchoolForGoodAndEvil'') teamed up to create a two part graphic novel called ''Red School''. The comic takes place after the events of the first novel of each series and is non-canon to both.

A live-action adaptation of the series has been gestating for quite a while. In 2021, a series is [[https://tvline.com/2021/05/25/red-queen-peacock-adaptation-elizabeth-banks-beth-schwartz/ currently being developed]] for Creator/{{Peacock}}, with Aveyard and Beth Schwartz (''Series/{{Arrow}}'') co-writing the pilot and the former serving as showrunner. Creator/ElizabethBanks will direct and executive produce, in addition to starring as a supporting character.

Mare Barrow is a Red. This simple matter of blood color is what assigns her and thousands of others to a life of poverty and hardship under the rule of Silvers. Unlike Reds, Silvers have silver blood, god-like superpowers, and control over a Red's life. The only thing keeping Mare going is her family, her close friend, Kilorn, and the thought of each of them becoming an apprentice: a Red's ticket into getting out of being drafted into the ongoing war. This small security changes for Kilorn in an instant when his master suddenly dies. In an effort to keep him safe, Mare tries to get Kilorn smuggled out of her hometown. In order to do this, though, she needs money. And Silvers have plenty of it.

In a daring scheme, Mare accompanies her seamstress sister into a Silver city in order to use her own excellent pick-pocketing skills to snag any valuable thing she can find. Her mission is interrupted abruptly due to a broadcast from a blonde woman. She claims to be part of the Scarlet Guard, a rebellious group of Reds who are taking steps to overthrow their Silver rulers. The announcement is enough to make every Silver in the surrounding area start attacking any nearby Reds out of paranoia.

Though she manages to flee the city with her life, her time to get the money is slowly running out. Mare goes to a nearby inn and tries snatching anything valuable she can find from its patrons. In her haste, she gets caught by one of them who only identifies himself as Cal. Within moments, Mare finds herself venting to Cal about her current situation. The next day, Mare finds herself chosen to work as a servant at the royal palace; it seems as though Cal took her words to heart, and pulled a few strings to get her a job.

However, it isn't very long into her servitude that Mare finds out Cal is not only a Silver, but the Prince and heir apparent himself. On top of that, she's working on the same day as Queenstrial, a traditional competition among daughters of the various High Houses to see who will be wed to the current heir. During the last trial, Mare ends up falling into an electrical shield that covers the arena and miraculously survives.

To the shock and confusion of not just the Silver royals but herself as well, Mare is a Red with a superpower of her own. In an effort to cover up this impossibility, the King forces Mare into the role of a lost Silver princess, a mouthpiece for his own propaganda, and forces her hand in marriage to his other son, Maven. Later on, Mare meets up with the blonde woman from the broadcast and agrees to play double agent for the Scarlet Guard. Between pretending to be something she inherently isn't and helping the rebellion, she also has to keep herself from falling for Cal- a well-meaning and kind boy who still wants to keep Reds under Silver rule- or Maven- a shy and helpful boy with dangerous secrets of his own.

And that's just the beginning: a war is brewing between the Reds and Silvers, with Mare caught right in the middle.

** ''Bright Shadow'' (2018): An additional scene from a new perspective[[labelnote:*]]Note that "new perspective" does not mean "new character".[[/labelnote]]that was included at the end of the Collector's Edition.

* RomanticRain: Mare and Cal are caught in a sudden thunderstorm while jogging. They don't really mind it and head to a secluded area off-road. Mare approaches Cal to share his warmth and [[GRatedSex she thoroughly enjoys it]].%%stopped here
* RuinsOfTheModernAge: Nearcey contains relics of abandoned buildings from the past age, because the Nortan government claims that the place is still infused with radiation and thus unsafe for new settlers. Or so they claim, as the Reds have been inhabiting the place for a while. According to WordOfGod, the buildings are part of what used to be called New York City (Nearcey itself is an evolved form of NYC).
* ScarsAreForever: Averted with Silvers, since they can get fixed up by a Skin Healer if they are injured. [[spoiler: Played straight after Mare escapes at the end of ''Red Queen''. She revels in her new scars and doesn't want them wiped away.]]
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: [[spoiler: Several Houses pull this, chief among them House Samos.]]
* SelfDuplication: Cloners can make copies of themselves.
* ShellShockedVeteran: Mare’s father is a war veteran. [[spoiler: They briefly bond over how killing changes you.]]

* ShoutOut: Julian's research notes in ''Broken Throne''contain shoutouts to ''Magazine/NationalGeographic'', ''Time'' and ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' (or, in his words, a "crime-fighting, angst-ridden bat person").
* SiblingTriangle: Both Maven and Cal develop romantic feelings for Mare.

* SuperSpeed: Swifts are the fastest of the Silvers.

* SuperToughness: Stoneskins have almost impenetrable skin.
* SwitchingPOV: Starting with ''King's Cage'', other character's get chapters from their point of view.
* TagLine: Each of the main books have a tag line; "Power is a dangerous game" (''Red Queen''), "Kneel or bleed" (''Glass Sword''), "All will burn" (''King's Cage''), and "Rise with the dawn" (''War Storm'').
* TakeThat: Julian's research notes in ''Broken Throne'' contain one to climate change deniers, of all people. The Earth was ruined by climate change, which was followed by a massive refugee crises, political chaos, and eventually nuclear war. The notes make a point to state that ''some'' individuals of our world denied that the environment was changing for the worse even as it was happening in front of their collective noses, something that spooks Julian.
* {{Telepathy}}: Whispers like Queen Elara can read and control minds. They can also communicate telepathically. Most notably, there are no Newbloods with this ability, and the Lakelander equivalent were killed off long before the books began.
* TeleportersAndTransporters: Arezzo, [[spoiler: Shade, and Clara, Diana and Shade's daughter]].
* TheTheocracy: Ciron is ruled by a secular monarch and the Sun's Voice, the country's religious leader. The monarch must be crowned by the Voice, creating many succession crises throughout generations (mirroring the UsefulNotes/HolyRomanEmpire and its relationship with UsefulNotes/ThePope).

* TitleDrop: There's at least one in eac of the main books.
** Several characters quip about the far-fetched notion of Mare becoming a Red Queen.
** In ''Glass Sword'', Mare refers to herself as a "sword made of glass".
* TrilogyCreep: The original plan was for the series to be three books, but Aveyard eventually settled on a tetralogy, plus two short story collections.
* UncannyValley: InUniverse, Lady Blonos, a blood healer who uses her ability to remove signs of her age.
* TheUnfavorite:
** Mare sees herself as this; she's not as talented as Gisa or as charming as Shade, and she knows her mother looks down on her theivery even though its proven useful on more than one occasion.
** Maven views himself as this because he is the youngest son of King Tiberias VI, and therefore not as important.
* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: [[spoiler: Kilorn, for Mare.]]
* UpToEleven: Most Silvers need some sort of assistance in order to use their powers (e.g. burners need a spark) or they have a limition of some kind (e.g. oblivians have to have physical contact in order to make something explode). Newbloods with similar abilities don't have such constraints.
* UrbanWarfare: [[spoiler: The Silver attack on Naercy.]]
* {{Utopia}}: Montfort is probably the only place in North America where there is absolutely no enmity between Reds, Silvers, and Ardents. They vote, work, and rule together. And unlike other countries, their leader, despite being only elected in the position two years ago, is willing to throw everything (up to serving as a FrontlineGeneral) to protect his citizens. Justified, considering that they built the country to replace the petty kingdoms in their wake, which we could assume were of the same kind as as the others; any kind of racism or classicism would betray the foundation.
* VitriolicBestBuds: [[spoiler:Evangeline becomes this to Mare by ''War Storm''.]]
* TheVoiceless: Sara Skonos. [[spoiler: Queen Elara had her tongue cut out for claiming that Elara made the previous queen, Corianne, commit suicide. After Elara dies, her condition is reversed by a fellow Skin Healer.]]
* WasItAllALie: Considering that backstabbing is placed firmly in the hearts of all Nortans, it seems, the uses of this are multitudes. There are [[spoiler: Cal]] to [[spoiler: Mare]], [[spoiler: Mare]] to [[spoiler: Maven]], [[spoiler: Lucas]] to [[spoiler: Mare]], and possibly more.
* WeatherManipulation: Storms can control the weather to an extent.
* WeCanRuleTogether:
** [[spoiler: Maven tries one last time to get Mare to join him before her execution at the Bowl of Bones.]]
** A non-villianous exampele: [[spoiler:Cal offers this to Mare. She refuses, seeing it as a betrayal of everything she and the Scarlet Guard has been fighting for. While hurt, Cal understands.]]

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Luther Carver is introduced as a newblood with the ability to suck the life-force out of any biological being. He's never seen or referenced in any of the following books.
* WhatTheHellHero: Cameron calls out Mare for favoring newbloods and acting no better than her Silver enemies.
* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: The later half of ''Broken Throne'' can be seen as this. [[spoiler:At least twenty years after the fall of Norta, Farley is now the General of the Scarlet Guard, Kilorn is the Premier of Montfort, while Cameron and Julian are both representatives in the Nortan States. Mare and Cal are married with two children and still working with the Scarlet Guard; they are instrumental during the War of Red Thunder, which destroys the Lakelands and Piedmont and ushers new democratic and less-dystopian states in their place, following Norta's footsteps.]]
* WillTheyOrWontThey: Holy crap, Cal and Mare. All over the place in both ''Red Queen'' and ''Glass Sword'', then [[spoiler: TheyDo during the second half of ''King's Cage'', only for the end of the book to [[ShipSinking torpedo that]] with the reinstatement of Cal's engagement to Evangeline. It takes the first half of ''War Storm'' and a lot of prodding from Evangeline to get them back together, with some back and forth during the second half, then the book ends only on the promise of them reuniting...eventually]].
* WomanScorned: [[spoiler: Evangeline, when Maven ends their engagement to marry Princess Iris of the Lakelanders.]]
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness:
** [[spoiler: Maven sentences quite a few Silvers to Corros Prison during ''Glass Sword''.]]
** [[spoiler: During ''King's Cage'', Maven gradually starts dismissing older members of his court who supported his father and might possibly support his brother.]]

* CrapsaccharineWorld: Mare expects Montfort to be this at first, believing that there is no way a race who holds a greater power than another is willing to share power for the sake of peace, meaning that there must be an imperfection in their society somehow. But she is incorrect; unless you count the Silver raiders who attack the capital every so often, Montfort really is a utopia. %%stopped here

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After the assassinations of the Parting Ball include small children, Mare has this reaction and begins to second guess her involvement with the Scarlet Guard. %%stopped here
* NighInvulnerability: Wreckers, who take the Stoneskins' SuperToughness into MadeOfDiamond territory.
* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: Wanting to save Mare from conscription, Cal pulls some strings to get her a job at the royal palace. [[spoiler: This leads to Mare becoming close with his brother Maven and betraying Cal, resulting in the murder of his father and the loss of his succession.]]

* OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions: Mare is surprised when she learns that Princess Iris of Lakelands worships gods and is disappointed that there's no shrine in Archeon. Apparently, all Nortans, including the rural commoners, are atheists.
* TheOutsideWorld: Throughout the series, Mare goes from a village girl living in an small oppressed village of a kingdom, to visiting: a summer retreat for the royalty, the capital, and the rest of her country, before finding out that [[spoiler: there's a ''republic'' out there where Reds and Silvers live side by side and where newbloods like her are granted protection.]]
* PlayingWithFire: Burners can control fire. Silver Burners like Cal and Maven need to a spark in order to use their ability, whereas newblood burners can create flames out of thin air.
* PortTown: [[MeaningfulName Harbor Bay]]. It's located in present-day Boston.
* PowerNullifier:
** Silvers with the Silence ability can turn-off other people's powers. [[spoiler: Cameron goes even further, as she can turn off senses and even bodily functions with her variant.]]
** Silent Stone is a stronger version, able to turn off anyone's powers within the vicinity of it.
* {{Prequel}}: The events of ''Queen Song'' and ''Steel Scars'' take place before the beginning of ''Red Queen''.
* PropagandaMachine: How the Silvers keep the Reds in line and how Queen Elara keeps the other Silvers from finding out about Mare's secrets. [[spoiler: Also how Maven turns Reds against the Scarlet Guard.]]
* RacistGrandma: [[spoiler:Even after Norta has been brought down, many Silvers are unable or unwilling to face a reality where they have to stand together with, instead of above, Reds. This hits the nobles hard, with Larentia Viper even [[IHaveNoSon disowning both of her children]] when they state their intentions to support the new status quo. Even twenty years later, there are still Silver nobles who want to restore their former glory by declaring a pretender Nortan kingdom ruled by Mare and Cal's children ''even as the children openly go against them''. TruthInTelevision, racism is something that is very hard to root out, especially if you're accustomed to it.]]
* RagsToRoyalty: In the span of a day, Mare goes from a Red servant to a Silver princess-to-be.

* TheRepublic: Montfort. It is the only country in North America that elects its leader, with elections occurring every three years. [[spoiler: By the end of ''War Storm'', Norta is about to become a republic as well.]]
* LaResistance:
** The Scarlet Guard, an organization that fights to win fellow Reds freedom from Silver oppression.
** The Silver Raiders of the Prairies are this as well, even if their goal is a complete 180° from the Scarlet Guard: they want to reinstate the classicist states Montfort replaced. However, they are much less organized than the Scarlet Guard, not to mention operating without a clear set of objectives under a clear leader.
* RevealingInjury: [[spoiler: When Mare is injured while fighting for her life in the Bowl of Bones, her red blood reveals to the crowd that she’s not the silver-blooded noble she was pretending to be.]]
* RippedFromTheHeadlines: It's revealed that the Calamities started with climate change, followed by refugee crises in the Middle East that eventually spread around the world, igniting conflict and eventually open warfare.
* RomanticRain: [[spoiler: Mare and Cal are caught in a sudden thunderstorm while jogging. They don't really mind it and head to a secluded area off-road. Mare approaches Cal to share his warmth (he can become a living fireplace; long story) and [[GRatedSex she thoroughly enjoys it]].]]

* MadOracle: Jon shows signs of this along with his powers. %%stopped here

* MakingASplash: Nymphs can control water, but cannot generate it themselves.
* TheManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler: Queen Elara]] orchestrates events behind the scenes in order to [[spoiler: place her son Maven on the throne.]]
** Both Anabel Lerolan and Julian Jacos intend to be this for Cal.

* MaybeEverAfter: [[spoiler:''War Storm'' doesn't end with Mare and Cal becoming a couple once again, as they both realize that they need to recover from the ordeals they've experienced the previous year. Nevertheless, Mare promises that she will go back to Cal once she is ready.]]

* MindRape: One of the ways in which whispers can use their ability. [[spoiler: Samson in particular loves to put any subject of his interigations through the wringer; he doesn't call his himself a butcher for no reason.]]
* MinimalisticCoverArt: The Collector's Editions for the first two books have simplistic covers for both the book jacket and the acutal binding.
* TheMole: [[spoiler: Maven]] infiltrated the Scarlet Guard in order to steal intelligence for the Silvers and sabotage the revolution.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler: After the assassinations of the Parting Ball include small children, Mare has this reaction and begins to second guess her involvement with the Scarlet Guard.]]

* IfICantHaveYou: Maven orders Mare's execution when it's clear she won't choose him. %%stopped here
* ILoveNuclearPower: ''Broken Throne'' confirms the theory that [[spoiler:the Silvers are descendants of humans subjected to extensive nuclear radiation, which manifests as their superpowers. Reds are simply people who aren't affected and thus don't develop such powers, at least until the Silvers' growing threat caused them to naturally evolve powers on their own, creating the Newbloods/Ardents.]]
* ImmediateSequel: The first four books in the series are directly connected to each other, with the last pages of the previous one leading to the first pages of the next. However, the bulk of each story is usually told within the span of several months.
* ImpoverishedPatrician: By 296 NE, House Jacos' sole right to reside in Archeon was because they were one of the High Houses of Norta. Otherwise, they were as poor- or even poorer- than the common Silvers in the city, their wealth having been squandered through generations of decadent luxury. Their members had also dwindled to just four: Coriane, her brother Julian, their father Harrus, and their elderly cousin, Jessamine. Within a span of five years, Harrus died from excessive drinking, Jessamine died of old age, and Coriane died from insanity, leaving Julian as the last member of his family.
* {{Interquel}}: The events of ''World Behind'' happen during ''King's Cage''.
* {{Invisibility}}: Shadows can bend light in order to become invisible.

* KneelBeforeZod: [[spoiler: Before he is about to execute her, Maven forces Mare to kneel before him so he could humiliate her just as she did to his mother. She does.]]
* LoveInterestTraitor: [[spoiler: Maven, who is manipulating Mare’s feelings to further his own goals.]]
* LowerDeckEpisode: The ''World Behind'' novella focuses on a new set of characters in an incidental part of the series' universe. Events from the main plot are occasionally referenced, but the events of the novella are sepreate from the main storyline.
* MadOracle: [[spoiler: Jon (who can see a lot further than Eyes) shows signs of this along with his powers.]]

* FantasticRacism: The Silvers are prejudiced against the Reds based on the color of their blood. %%stopped here
** ''King's Cage'' implies [[spoiler: the Reds were originally prejudiced against the first Silvers who came to this world via mutation and fanatically staged WitchHunt to eradicate them.]]
** The Republic of Montfort claims that its Red and Silver population live side by side, but Mare notes that the Premier does not employ Silvers as part of his army. [[spoiler: This turns out to be a RedHerring, however; Montfort's Silvers are accepted in their society just fine. In fact, Davidson's husband is a Silver. They may be prejudiced, but it's directed against the Silvers outside the country, and it's more patronizing than anything.]]
* FantasyPantheon: The Lakelanders worship a set of gods that have been long since forgotten by other people, including the Nortans. They're implied to be the same one that the writings exploring the Silvers and Newbloods mention.
* FateWorseThanDeath: Two Arvens captured by House Samos [[spoiler: are quite literally bled dry so that their blood can be used to make Silent Stone, only to be healed and bled dry again, over and over.]]

* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler: The first clue about Mare’s electric ability is dropped during the Feast of First Friday, where she has a physical reaction to the electricity turning on in the arena.]] Several more hints pop up until TheReveal at Queenstrial.

* GiveMeLibertyOrGiveMeDeath: Many members of the Scarlet Guard are more than willing to die for their cause. [[spoiler: And many of them do, most notably Walsh and Nanny who do so by their own hand.]]
* GladiatorGames: Every month on the Feats of First Friday, Red citizens are forced to watch Silver warriors fight in exhibition matches. This is meant to remind Reds how powerless they are.
* GoalOrientedEvolution: It is hypothesized that this is the reason why newbloods started to appear; in order for Reds to continue living with superpowered beings, they began to develop powers of their own in order to be able to stand toe-to-toe with Silvers.
* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: Queen Elara is the most ruthless of the royal family of Norta. [[spoiler: After Elara's demise, Anabel Lerolan and Larentia Viper step up and show off how ruthless they can be as well.]]
* GoodIsNotNice:
** Mare is more than willing to sacrifice lives and manipulate others if it means accomplishing her goals.
** The Scarlet Guard as well. They're good, but that doesn't mean that they'll play nice, especially against the screwed up race that is the Silvers. Bombings, ransoms, and hostages are orders of the day.

* GreatOffscreenWar:
** The Calamities, which started 2000 years ago, was the destruction of the old world order. [[spoiler:It corresponds with 2022 AD.]]
** The Lakelander War in 200 NE, which started the entire conflict between Norta and the Lakelands.
** The War of the Red Thunder, [[spoiler:a total uprising of the Reds in the Lakelands and Piedmont that happens twenty years after the fall of Norta. Both states fall apart and are replaced by the democratic Union of the Lakes and the Piedmont Federation, respectively.]]

* HarmfulToMinors: [[spoiler: Towards the end of the book, the age of the draft is lowered to 15.]]
* HavingABlast: Oblivions can explode just about anything they touch. [[spoiler: Bombers don't even have to touch.]]
* HealingFactor: Blood Healers are able to heal themselves.
* HealingHands: Skin Healers can heal other people. However, they are unable to heal themselves.
* HeroicSacrifice:
** [[spoiler: Shade jumps in front of Mare to shield her from Ptolemus' sharp metal. He dies instantly.]]
** Then [[spoiler: Mare offers to surrender herself to Maven in exchange for Cal, Kilorn, her brothers, and others' safety.]]
* HufflepuffHouse: Prairie and Tiraxes among the countries now ruling North America. As of ''King's Cage'', they have zero impact on the politics of the continent, ironic since their domains are rather massive (much larger than Norta according to the world map). In ''Queen Song'', Coriane recalls one of Julian's hobbies as exploring the wilderness of Prairie, suggesting that it may have laxer laws compared to other kingdoms, then it receives several mentions in ''War Storm'' as a haven for Silver raiders. Tiraxes is mentioned once in passing, but never elaborated upon in the main series. It's only in ''Broken Throne'' that we finally learn what they are.
* {{Humanshifting}}: [[spoiler: Skin Changers.]]
* AnIcePerson: Shivers have the power to freeze.
* IfICantHaveYou: [[spoiler: Maven orders Mare’s execution when it’s clear she won’t choose him.]]

* EngagementChallenge: The Queenstrial is the method of choice to choose a future queen in Norta, which involves the eligible noble daughters competing to best show off their superhuman abilities. %%stopped here

** Evangeline and Ptolemus Samos are ruthless and cunning whenever they use their powers. They also unequivocally support and love each other. [[spoiler: The evil part gets dropped after they join the rebillion.]]

** Zigzagged with [[spoiler: Queen Elara and Prince Maven. They are shown to have a deep bond as mother and son, but later on it becomes questionable just how much of this was willing on Maven's part.]]

* FakeAristocrat: While living among Silvers, Mare is forced to pretend to be the long-lost daughter of a deceased nobleman and war hero.
* FakingTheDead: [[spoiler: Shade was doing this.]]
* FantasticRacism: The Silvers are prejudiced against the Reds based on the color of their blood.

* CrapsaccharineWorld: Mare expects Montfort to be this at first, believing that there is no way a race who holds a greater power than another is willing to share power for the sake of peace, meaning that there must be an imperfection in their society somehow. [[spoiler: But she is incorrect; unless you count the Silver raiders who attack the capital every so often, Montfort really is an utopia.]] %%stopped here
* CrapsackWorld:
** If you have the unfortunate luck to be born with red blood, then prepare for [[SarcasmMode an exciting adventure]] of having to live in subpar settlements and scramble for work because if you don't, you'll have to take up conscription and be thrown to violent war zones. Oh, and you can't do anything, because your masters can use superpowers that only they possess. If you happen to be a newblood like Mare, however, you'll probably end up getting shot right away once your masquerade breaks.
** Are you born with silver blood? Well, your experience isn't going to be much better, either, since court demands that you be proper, or you're going to be excluded by society. Additionaly, bloody infighting, coups, civil wars, and so on and so on, even in the middle of a ''celebration'', will haunt you forever.
* CrazyJealousGuy: [[spoiler: Maven towards Mare.]]
* DanceOfRomance: Between Cal and Mare, when he offers to teach her how to dance before the Parting Ball.
* DawnOfAnEra: [[spoiler:The fall of Norta is this. Although only the second time a kingdom bows to the people's demands, it's the first time it happened to a great power and therefore sends shocks throughout the continent. Reds and Ardents are openly rebelling against their Silver rulers in the Lakelands and Piedmont even without the agitation of the Scarlet Guard, a prelude to the War of the Red Thunder two decades later that also brings them down and ushers democratic and equal countries in their wake. Even Tiraxes, Prairie, and Ciron, who are not destroyed, can't impede the growing social revolution around them and are riding the winds of change, giving civil rights to their Red and Ardent population.]]
* DeadGuyJunior:
** Farley and Shade's daughter, Clara is named after the former's deceased mother. Before the sex is known, Farley tells Mare that if the child is male, she will name it after [[spoiler:Shade]].
** The epilogue of ''Broken Throne'' reveals that [[spoiler:Mare and Cal have two children carrying the names of their dead loved ones. The first is a son named Shade, and the second a daughter named Coriane.]]
* DefectingForLove:
** Mare tries to convince Cal to join the Scarlet Guard’s cause by using his love for her as motivation. [[spoiler: It doesn't work.]]
** [[spoiler: Cal tries to convince Mare to leave the Scarlet Guard and become his queen at the end of ''King's Cage''. Also doesn't work.]]
** Played straight with Evangeline in ''War Storm''. [[spoiler:She leaves a war-scarred Norta, hand-in-hand with Elane, Ptolemus, and Wren, but mostly with Elane, to Montfort, where they can live however they want.]]
* DefectorFromDecadence: Montfort is a nation built from a group of these; fed-up Reds and Ardents and dissatisfied Silvers banded together to topple the various Silver-ruled kingdoms that presided over the Rocky Mountains and the West Coast to create a place where everyone, regardless of their blood color, is given equal rights to live and rule.
* DepopulationBomb: The Lakelander War killed at least [[AMillionIsAStatistic 500 thousand Silvers and 50 million Reds]], with twice that number of the wounded. [[FlatWhat Mare can't quite wrap her head around it]].
* DepowerZone: Anything made out of Silent Stone becomes this. Maven creates a throne of Silent Stone to keep whispers and other powers from touching him whenever he sits on it. [[spoiler: Mare and Maven's last fight ends up taking place in a room completely made of it.]]
* DistantFinale: ''Broken Throne'' is framed from the perspective of a historian who lives [[spoiler:more than 20 years after the fall of Norta]].
* DivideAndConquer: A favorite pastime of the military, with Evangeline counting that it's a cornerstone of Nortan policy towards the Reds. Specifically, they paint the Scarlet Guards as a bomb-throwing anarchist who doesn't care about their fellow Reds and wants to execute Newbloods, when truth says otherwise. Meanwhile, [[spoiler: Premier Davidson has secretly planned with the Scarlet Guard to topple the Silvers using the same way, as revealed in ''King's Cage''.]]
* DividedStatesOfAmerica: North America has been divided between kingdoms, republics, and principalities. The map provided in the third book divides it as follows:
** Norta rules the Northeastern United States, including the cities of Harbor Bay (Boston), Rocasta (Rochester), Delphie (Philadelphia), Pitarus (Pittsburgh), Albanus (Albany), Haven (New Haven), and Siracas (Syracuse), as well as islands including Tuck (Nantucket), and the Nearcey ruins (NYC). [[spoiler: The area of the Rift, which includes Pitarus, splits off from Norta at the end of ''King's Cage'', as House Samos forms the Kingdom of the Rift.]]
** Lakelands rules Ontario, Quebec, and the eastern half of the Midwest, with the Great River (Mississippi River) acting as its western border. Cities include Detraon (Detroit), Trial (Montreal), Ronto (Toronto), Adela (Ottawa), and Terra (Terre Haute).
** Piedmont rules a part of the Southern US, with the Great River again acting as its western border. It includes Monument (Richmond), Rallis (Charlotte), Citadel (Charleston), Savannus (Savannah), Tallasin (Tallahassee), and the Floridian Islands (Florida).
** Prairie holds the Prairies ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin duh]]) of US and Canada, including Horizon (Omaha), Mizoura (Kansas City), and Damon (Des Moines)
** Tiraxes rules over the Southern US west of the Mississippi, including Cuatracastela (Dallas), Taurine (Austin), and Lasmaderas (Houston).
** The Disputed Lands/Freelands cover all along the stretch of the Great and Ohius (Ohio) Rivers, including the cities of Geminas (Minneapolis-St. Paul), Sanctum (St. Louis), and Memphia (Memphis).
** Montfort rules the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest, including Ascendant (Denver), Vale (Colorado Springs), Paradise Valley (Yellowstone), Crownwater (Salt Lake City), Bronco (Boise), Cascade (Seattle), the Painted Gates (Albuquerque), and Grand Guardian (Grand Canyon).
** Ciron rules California, Nevada, and some parts of Oregon, including the Grand Desert (Great Basin Desert), Amancut (Medford), and Solest (a coastal city across the Cascade Range from Amancut). California' Central Valley has been completely flooded, creating a gulf called the Lagamara, a peninsula from what used to be the Pacific Coast Ranges, and an island from the remnant of the Santa Monica Mountains.
* {{Dystopia}}: The main premise is that a group of regular humans are under the rule of an oppressive dictatorship by superhuman beings.
* EarnYourHappyEnding:
** [[spoiler:Mare eventually marries Cal and has two children with him. Even after twenty years, the two are still working as a BattleCouple, contributing to a significant victory in a war that transforms the continent politically and socially.]]
** [[spoiler:Evangeline is finally able to love and be with Elane without reproach.]]

* EnemyMine: By the end of the book, just about the only thing that Mare and Cal have in common is [[spoiler: their desire for revenge against Maven]]. They eventually grow out of this.
* EngagementChallenge: The Queenstrial is the method of choice to choose a future queen in Norta, which involves the eligible noble daughters competing to best show off their superhuman abilities.

* ClingyJealousGirl: Evangeline does whatever she can to keep being one of the princes' betrothed. Semi-justified when it's explained that Evangeline has been prepared since childhood to take the crown. %% stopped here
* ColdBloodedTorture: The interrogation tactic of choice against the Scarlet Guard.
* CombatClairvoyance: The Eye ability allows the user to see into the immediate future.
* {{Conscription}}: In Norta, any Red who does not have an apprenticeship must join the army at the age of eighteen. [[spoiler: Because of the attack of the Hall of the Sun, [[FromBadToWorse it gets downgraded to fifteen]]. Maven eventually scraps the new rule as of ''King's Cage''.]]
* CrapsaccharineWorld: Mare ''expects'' Montfort to be this at first, believing that there is no way a race who holds a greater power than another is willing to share power for the sake of peace, meaning that there must be an imperfection in their society somehow. [[spoiler: But she is incorrect; unless you count the Silver raiders who attack the capital every so often, Montfort really is an utopia.]]

* AffectionateNickname: Many characters often refer to their relatives with a loving nickname.
** Gisa is sometimes called "Gee".
** Cal sometimes calls Maven "Mavey" and Anabel "Nanabel".
** The Samos siblings sometimes refer to each other as "Eve" (Evangeline) and "Tolly" (Ptolemus).

* AfterTheEnd: The series takes place at least 2,000 years after nuclear war ravaged the world, and some areas are still uninhabitable due to leftover radiation. Norta itself is located in the Northeastern part of the United States.

* AlliterativeName: Multiple characters have first and last names that start with the same letter: Sara Skonos, Julian Jacos, Bree Barrow, etc.
* AlternateCalendar: The New Era calendar began after Norta's unification by Tiberias Calore I. Other polities have their own calendars.

* AnyoneCanDie: Due to the nature of the Red vs Silver war, several named and pivotal characters end up getting killed before the end of the series.
* ArcWords: There are several phrases that are repeated, both throughout the series and within each indiviual book. In general, there's "Rise, red as the dawn", the Scarlet Guard's creed, then there's "Anyone can betray anyone.", "Who has the advantage?", "Red and Silver, and stronger than both.", "I'm a man of my word.", and so forth.
* ArrangedMarriage: While Reds and common Silvers can marry whomsoever they wish (so long as they have the same type of blood), parents within the Silver elite usually arrange marriages for their children. Evangeline was already planned to be Cal's queen, even before the Queenstrial. Once Mare's role as a lost Silver princess is established, she becomes Maven's fiance.

* BarrierWarrior: Newblood Dane Davidson possesses the ability to project force-fields. He often uses it for defense, but on occasion he can use it to fight against his oppoinents.
* TheBeastmaster: The Animos ability allows its users to control and communicate with animals.

* BigBrotherIsWatching: Elara has set up a pletheroa of cameras to watch both citizens and nobles alike. Practically every room within Whitefire palace has a camera installed somewhere.

* BittersweetEnding: The first four books of the series end bittersweet, each for different reasons. ''Red Queen'' ends with Mare and Cal barely escaping Maven with the thought that they are now hotly-pursued fugitives and the fact that Maven has betrayed many people to achieve a wrong end. However, the whole world is now aware that Reds can now have superpowers as well, sparking hope for the Scarlet Guard's cause. Not only that, but Shade, Mare's presumed dead brother, is actually alive and has been helping the Scarlet Guard along with Farley.
* BlackAndGrayMorality: While the Scarlet Guard commits acts of terrorism and murder, they're far easier to root for since their enemy actively engages in subjecting an entire group of people to poverty and war.

* BlueAndOrangeMorality: Everyone outside of Montfort sees its citizens as this. The Silvers in particular are completely befuddled by the fact that the Silvers of Montfort willingly and happily restrain their power to become equals to Reds, even ''serving'' under one of them.
* BodyToJewel: The blood of Arvens is mixed with concrete to produce Silent Stone. During Mare's imprisonment, she's forced to wear large wristlets that have rounded spheres of Silent Stone embeded in them. This keeps her unable to use her power at all times.
* CallARabbitASmeerp: Cars are "transports", submarines are "mersives", etc. Averted with boats, which are just called boats.
* CataclysmBackstory: Over 2,000 years before the beginning of the story, a series of cataclysmic disastors nearly wiped out humanity. Climate change and nuclear war either submerged much of the land or made it inhabitable.
* TheChessmaster: Due to his ability of super extended foresight, Jon gives just enough information to Farley and Mare to help their cause. He prefers to stay on the sidelines, and only moves or offers help in order to further events along. [[spoiler: While he doesn't outright say so, Jon does heavily imply that Cully's death was because of him. Because Cully died, Kilorn no longer had a job and he would have been sent to become a soldier if Mare hadn't eventually made a deal with Cal. It wouldn't be inaccurate to say that Jon had a role in the fall of Norta.]]
* ChickMagnet: Cal is the object of affection for just about every noble daughter in the country.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Many characters double-cross others, including those they are allied with. The phrase "anyone can betray anyone" is heavily repeated for a reason. %%flesh out later
* CliffHanger: ''King's Cage'' ends with [[spoiler: Mare having been taken prisoner by Maven, then forced to kneel before him before her execution, uncertain whether she can escape and worrying about her friends' fates]].
* ClingyJealousGirl: Evangeline does whatever she has to keep being Cal's- and later, Maven's- betrothed. Semi-justified when it's explained that Evangeline has been prepared since childhood to take the crown. %% stopped here