the low rating of this book is simply unfair.

a friend recommended this book, citing the inclusion of story-telling via the characters and descriptions of art pieces. though I abandoned it briefly, I, thankfully, made a swift return to finish it off. Irina is Romanian, though she was adopted by American parents and brought up in the dark about her heritage. Irina's identity is something that could be relatable to some (such as myself). when she arrives at college, she breaks free of the boundaries that held her back. as she breaks free, she falls into the arms of Andrei, an unsettling yet charming Romanian man. she quickly gets tangled up in his world as he teaches her about Romanian culture, telling stories. though described as erotic, it was more about Irina's identity. her relationship with Andrei grows dark quickly, and tension builds with each chapter that passes. readers will continuously ask a question; what is Irina's fate? it's a bittersweet one, though much better than her friend Elena's. I'd never read a book like this before, and it satiated a thirst I did not know I had. the incorporation of art and fairytales is something I haven't seen before, but it makes this book so special.

ignore the low stars this book has. In the Red is a wonderful read everyone should consider.

Spoiler

(i do wish Irina ended up with dragos...)