Red Queen - Book Rant

Red Queen (Red Queen #1)
by Victoria Aveyard

What is it about:
This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart...

What did I think of it:
*ranty review with spoilers for love interests*

I really liked the world building and the developing story line about the Reds vs. the Silvers. There are also some really interesting and intriguing characters.

However: I did not like Mare.

Mare is a whiny little girl, complaining that her parents love her sister more, because her sister has a job, and all Mare can do is steal. Message to Mare: "You can do more, but I don't think you're actually willing to try! You're too busy feeling sorry for yourself, and with managing the lives of your friends instead of you own."

And then there are the love interests!

We have boy nobody, who has been pining over Mare his whole life, but who Mare sees as her personal project, managing his life so she won't have to think too much about fixing her own misery. He's growing a backbone and might be salvageable in future books. Let's hope he runs miles away from Mare when he comes to his senses.

Then there's whiner boy: he and Mare are actually a perfect match, he's also feeling sorry for himself, because his brother is important and he himself is too whiny to actually make something out of himself.

And there's the smart, considerate one, who sadly enough isn't smart enough to see Mare for what she is. Let's hope he'll get even smarter and runs off together with boy nobody, so Mare and whiner boy can whine happily ever after.

So yes: all the personal drama really annoyed me! That I finished the book had largely to do with the setting, the side characters and the overall story. And I also kept hoping Mare would redeem herself.

I'm not sure if I will read the next book in this series. I expect more whining and love square drama, but I'm also curious how the class struggle will play out. I might eventually pick it up when it's on sale somewhere.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice YA Fantasy read.