Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard: A Predictable Yet Enjoyable YA Fantasy

I recently finished Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and rated it 3 stars on both Goodreads and StoryGraph. To be clear, 3 stars doesn’t mean I didn’t like the book. But compared to other fantasy books I’ve read, this one felt more solidly young adult, with a level of predictability that made it less exciting for me.

The story follows Mare Barrow, a lowly "Red" in a world divided by blood color: Reds, like Mare, are ordinary people, while "Silvers" are the elite, gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare’s life takes a sharp turn when she discovers she possesses a power of her own—a power that should be impossible for someone with red blood.

This setup reminded me a lot of The Hunger Games, with its downtrodden protagonist rising against a corrupt system. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d seen many of these plot points before. There’s a rebellion, a love triangle (or maybe even a love square?), and a young girl realizing her role in something much bigger than herself. The political intrigue and action sequences are engaging, but nothing that felt groundbreaking or fresh.

For example, when Mare declares, "Anyone can betray anyone," it’s a strong line, but the theme of betrayal is something I’ve encountered in other dystopian and fantasy novels, making it less impactful here.

That said, I still read it pretty quickly (in just 4 days), so Aveyard clearly knows how to keep the pace moving. Mare’s voice is compelling, and I did want to know how she’d navigate the increasingly dangerous world she finds herself in. The tension between Reds and Silvers and the mystery of Mare’s powers kept me hooked, even though I often guessed where the story was going.

I’m about to start Glass Sword, the sequel, so we’ll see how the series evolves from here. Red Queen may not have blown me away, but it’s still an enjoyable read, especially if you're in the mood for a classic YA fantasy with familiar tropes and a fast-paced plot.