Book #33 of 2016 
 "Anyone can betray anyone" is quite a pessimistic message, but it holds true for "The Red Queen." As a reader, I felt betrayed (in a good way!) because I honestly did not expect things to go the way that they did. 
 "The Red Queen" definitely hits on a lot of tropes-- the plucky, law-breaking girl from the lowest caste is thrust into the spotlight after valiantly attempting to save a loved one. Of course, she ends up with multiple love interests (3?!) and has to navigate a complicated political world. 
 But "The Red Queen" gets them all right. The love interests are honestly all believable, and I found myself rooting for them all in various parts. Mare, our protagonist, understands the value of survival, which keeps her actions understandable and reasonable. She doesn't make bold political statements when it would jeopardize her ability to actually make a change (I'm looking at you, America). Everything has logical consequences, and nothing seems forced. Since Mare is the narrator, the reader is easily swept up in the drama, and our limited perspective on what is happening keeps interest high. 
 I started this last night, and I think I'm going to try to find the other today. This is a fun read, but it doesn't make me feel like I just ate an entire bag of candy and called it dinner.