Review by Sera-phim -- Chasing The Red Queen

[Sera-phim]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Chasing The Red Queen" by Karen Glista.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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‘Chasing of the red queen’ is a romantic novel about a 17-year old girl, Donja Bellanger,whose life changes completely after her dad dies and her mom remarries 6 years later.She feels it’s too soon and everyone else has moved on except her.She turns to gothic culture to mask her pain,this is according to her psychologist.Her family moves to a new city after the wedding and she has to leave everything she has known all her life for a fresh start.Will Donja survive this shift given that in Michigan,girls of her origin are being killed mysteriously?

This book should have a better title because the one given doesn’t really reflect in the story as much.The title brings to mind a story about vampires from beginning to end although it’s very captivating.The use of words that aren’t in plain English enables the reader learn other words with the same meaning.The book is very descriptive and enables the reader visualize the scenes just like in a movie.

I would have enjoyed the story more if we had been told about Donja’s life when her father was still in the picture and what happened for him to meet his untimely death.There’s so much emphasis on Donja alone without much on the rest of her family.I would also want to know how Donja’s life in school was and how her schoolmates treated her through her transformation.

I appreciate the fact that the book isn’t totally fiction because it touches on the life of an average teenager anywhere in the world for example when Donja is told she will share a bedroom with her new stepsister Makayla, she gets angry and feels it’s unfair.She doesn’t want to understand that the new house needs some repairs.Most teenagers don’t like to be told what to do and this is reality.The use of italics to indicate a monologue enables the reader understand the story more.The writer’s vivid imagination is a factor to reckon with.This novel can also be a crime-thriller so I rate it 3 out of 4.

“Look!” Her mom said excitedly.”It’s the Mackinac Bridge”.Donja jumped to attention,gripping the front seat while pulling herself forward.Her heart hammered,my God,she had for many years dreamed of visiting Mackinac Island so she could see first hand, the Grand Hotel from Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour.The movie which was her mom’s favorite and hers as well always left her in tears,yet each time her mom had it on,....

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Chasing The Red Queen
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