Review: Chasing the Red Queen by Karen Glista

Chippewa legends and vampirical lore make for interesting bedfellows in Chasing the Red Queen, an edgy YA paranormal romance by Karen Glista.

Sixteen-year-old Donja Bellanger is devastated to be leaving behind her childhood home and all those she holds dear to start a new life in another town, thanks to her mother’s marriage to widower, Carson Hampton. Worse yet, she’ll have to share a bedroom with Carson’s privileged daughter, Makayla, during renovations to the old manor into which they just moved.

Surprisingly, the two girls quickly become fast friends, bonding over their tragic loss of a parent, and on Donja’s birthday, Makayla generously treats Donja to a complete makeover before taking her to the swanky nightclub Makayla and her friend usually frequent. It’s there that Donja meets the mesmerizing Torin Mancini, an Iridescent who immediately throws himself between Donja and the very real danger in which she suddenly finds herself…

Glista weaves a fascinating tale in Chasing the Red Queen that melds Native American and vampirical lore, giving the story a unique twist that separates it effectively from other books in a fairly crowded genre. The twin cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan (“The Michigan Soo”) and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario (“The Canadian Soo”) factor largely into the overall setting of the story, and the historical overview provided by the author is done well, giving the novel substance and narrative weight. The mysterious old manor house in which they live provides both intrigue and suspense, nicely ramping up the atmosphere as the story progresses.

The blended Bellanger/Hampton clan are a modern-day take on the Brady Bunch and for the most part, the premise works, especially where it references the touching relationship between Donja’s little brother and her stepfather. The characters of Donja and Makayla, with their relationship solidified by personal loss, manage to stoke every teenagers’ fantasies, thanks to their steamy good looks and privileged lifestyle. There’s a nice balance between dialogue, narrative, action and intrigue throughout, which propels the story along.

With all that the book has going for it, there are certain issues that will give some readers pause. While there is some gore associated with the mounting body count that may make some sensitive readers squeamish, the most disturbing aspect of the book comes from the message it sends to teenagers: that relationships with much older men are okay. Both girls are seventeen at the beginning of the book, while their love interests are significantly older – Torin is a detective and his friend and fellow Iridescent, Gage, works in forensics. Setting aside the fact that both men are immortal and hot, they are nevertheless arguably inappropriate love interests for their teenage counterparts.

However, Glista is truly adept at setting a scene and telling a story. This is an entertaining, page-turning read that on most levels succeeds as a work of urban fantasy. Glista clearly has solid writing chops, and is an interesting author to watch for further titles.