Picture a small-town dreamer who spun a tale of rebellion and superpowers into a global sensation—meet Victoria Aveyard! Born in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, this American author skyrocketed to fame with her debut novel, Red Queen, a young adult fantasy that blends X-Men flair with Game of Thrones intrigue. With a knack for cinematic storytelling and a passion for butt-kicking heroines, Aveyard has carved a vibrant niche in fantasy literature.
The Making of Victoria Aveyard
Growing up in East Longmeadow, Victoria was steeped in stories, thanks to her parents—public school teachers with a love for film and literature. From Star Wars to Harry Potter, her childhood was a montage of epic tales. At 18, she traded Massachusetts for California, enrolling in the University of Southern California’s screenwriting program. Graduating in 2012 with a BFA, she faced student loan debt and a tough Hollywood job market, sparking the idea for Red Queen. A pitch meeting at Benderspink ignited her shift from screenplays to novels, setting her on a path to literary stardom.
Victoria Aveyard’s Unforgettable Stories
Aveyard’s Red Queen series is her crown jewel, a four-book saga starting with Red Queen (2015), followed by Glass Sword (2016), King’s Cage (2017), and War Storm (2018). Set in a world divided by blood—red for commoners, silver for superpowered elites—the series follows Mare Barrow, a Red with lightning-wielding powers, as she navigates betrayal and revolution. Aveyard’s style is cinematic, with vivid scenes and morally gray characters that echo her screenwriting roots. Her 2021 Realm Breaker trilogy kicks off with a high-fantasy quest, showcasing her love for ensemble casts and epic stakes. She’s also penned novellas like Cruel Crown and a Red Queen short story collection, Broken Throne. Currently, she’s drafting an adult fantasy, Tempest, set for 2026.
Aveyard’s stories thrive on twisting tropes—like the fairy-tale princess dream turned nightmare—and blending genres. She pitches Red Queen as “Game of Thrones meets X-Men meets Hunger Games,” a formula that hooks readers with its fast-paced action and diverse, flawed characters. Her work resonates for its relatable themes: identity, power, and resistance, all wrapped in a thrilling, visual package.
Why Victoria Aveyard Matters
Victoria Aveyard has redefined young adult fantasy by infusing it with cinematic energy and complex heroines. Red Queen’s success, hitting #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list, filled a void left by Hunger Games and Harry Potter, captivating a global audience. Her books, translated into over 40 languages, inspire readers to embrace their inner strength and question power structures. Universal Pictures optioned Red Queen for a film, and Aveyard’s screenwriting work, like the Sony spec script Eternal, bridges books and Hollywood, making her a dual-threat storyteller.
- Born: July 27, 1990, East Longmeadow, Massachusetts
- Key Works: Red Queen, Realm Breaker, Eternal (screenplay)
- Awards: Goodreads Choice Awards Best Debut Author (2015)
- Fun Fact: Her dog, Indy, has her own Instagram!
Ready to dive into a world of rebellion and magic? Snag Red Queen and get lost in Victoria Aveyard’s electrifying fantasy!