You know that feeling when you finish a book, sit back, and just wish you could re-read it for the first time again? That was me after finishing Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado…and then again after Black Wolf. Honestly, I’ve been mentally living in this series for the past few days since finishing them, and even recommended my mum purchase them for my Grandad’s birthday in a couple of weeks.
Why These Books Hooked Me
First up, Red Queen introduces us to Antonia Scott – a character so sharp and complex that she practically leaps of the page. She’s brilliant, mysterious and battling her own demons. The way Gómez-Jurado weaves her story together with Jon Gutiérrez, a police officer with a heart of gold (and plenty of baggage), is just chef’s kiss. Their dynamic is on of those perfect contracts – sharp and witty meets deep emotional layers.
Then Black Wolf comes along and turns the tension up even more. The stakes are higher, the twists are wilder, and Antonia’s mind-blowing brilliance continues to shine. I was genuinely torn between racing through the pages and forcing myself to slow down just to savour it. In the end I read them both in three days so I’ll leave you to judge which choice I made.
What Really Stuck With Me
- The Pacing: These books are fast. Like, “I’ll just read one more chapter…oh no, its 2AM” fast. The short chapters and constant cliffhangers make it almost impossible to put down.
- The Characters: Antonia’s mind is endlessly fascinating – she’s both a genius and deeply human, which makes her incredibly relatable. And Jon? He’s such a lovable mess that you can’t help but root for him. Their friendship (if you can call it that) adds this warm, personal touch that balances out the intense crime plots.
- The Twists: I pride myself on plotting twists early, but Gómez-Jurado had me gasping out loud. The kept having to flip back through pages thinking, “How did I miss that?!”.
Looking Ahead…
I’m honestly counting down the days until the third book releases in March 2025. I need to know what happens next, because trust me when I say the cliffhanger had me in bits.
I’ve thought about watching the Amazon Prime adaptation of Red Queen to fill the hole left by this series. I’ve resisted so far though because we all know the show / film never lives up to the book.
Would I Recommend It?
If you love fast-paced thrillers with clever plots and unforgettable characters, Red Queen and Black Wolf are absolute must-reads. Perfect for fans of smart crime fiction that keeps you hooked until the very last page.
Have you read either of these yet? What did you think?
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