For generations, the world has been divided into red and silver blooded -- the red-blooded are commoners and the silver-blooded have inexplicable powers. With those powers, the silvers have placed themselves at the top of Norta's society.
Mare Barrow is a seventeen-year-old red who is trapped in the Silts, and it doesn't appear anything is going to change. The Stilts are the poorest of the poor and Mare is fortunate to find a job at the Silver Palace to help support her family after her older brothers are drafted into the long-waging war. In the course of her duties, Mare discovers she as an unexpected talent.
When the silvers discover Mare's ability to control electricity they decide to pass off her ability as the discovery of a long-lost bloodline and missing princess. Mare is elevated and begins training her gift with the other teens while taking history and etiquette classes to keep up the illusion.
The royal family keeps Mare close as they watch and try to figure out how a red could have powers like any other silver. The girl goes along with their deception, her cooperation ensured by the royal family's talents and threats. Mare's family is kept from the truth, but does reap some benefit: two of her three brothers are returned from the war effort, while the ruling family perpetuates the lie of her position.
Norta faces war with the Marshlands and continues to draft young reds into the army. Less publicly the silvers are challenged by a rebel group called the Scarlet Guard. As the truth of their world becomes more clear to Mare the Scarlet Guard approaches her. The teen takes the opportunity to expand her background knowledge and possibly to create a plan for her future.
The two princes, Cal and Maven, vie for the new princess's attention: Maven is, for political reasons, engaged to Mare while his older brother Cal is genuinely intrigued by the young woman despite his family's plans. The queen uses her mind-reading and -control to manipulate the court as she creates the life she wants for herself and her sons. Cal's uncle Julian acts as one of Mare's tutors and reveals to her that she is not the first red to exhibit powers.
When the ambitious and antagonistic silver court turns topsy-turvy Mare faces the silver's prison and a battle royale where her newfound powers will do nothing to save her.
What started as a fairytale for Mare Barrow turns into a battle for her life and for her country. Her romance with the young man - not her fiance causes tension as Mare tries to sort out the men in her life and her future. Readers who enjoyed The Hunger Games will find similarities in Red Queen, which is written for a similar, young adult audience.
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