Grishaverse vs Red Queen

Book vs Book

I recently finished reading the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard and couldn’t believe how similar it is to the Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo. I mean, the vibe, the plot, the characters—there were moments I felt like I was reading the same story in two different fonts. So let's break it down and look at the similarities, and eventually answer the final question- which series is better.

Setting:

Both are set in fantasy worlds that feel a little dystopian, a little magical, and very divided. In Grishaverse, the Grisha (magic-wielders) live a better life than the regular otkazat’sya (non-magical) people. In Red Queen, it’s the Silvers with powers who rule over the powerless Reds. Both societies are deeply unfair, with rebellion bubbling just under the surface. In both stories the main character is a teen girl who wasn't supposed to have powers.

Characters:

Let’s just say this—Alina Starkov (Grishaverse) and Mare Barrow (Red Queen) could have been long-lost sisters. Both start off thinking they’re ordinary, then discover they have a rare power no one else has. Both are pulled into royal courts, used as symbols of hope or control, and both get caught in love triangles that become the least of their problems. And surrounding them? Broody princes, fierce female fighters, loyal best friends, and morally grey mentors. It's a full deck. Both of them find out they have powers when faced with a life threatening situation. They both have a really close male friend who likes them (Mal and Kilorn), not to mention a love story with a prince, who turns out to be the villain (The Darkling in Grishaverse and Maven in Red Queen).

Theme:

The main theme in both is power—who has it, who doesn’t, and what people will do to keep or break it. Rebellion plays a massive role, as does the idea that the system is broken and needs to be burned down. There’s also the classic “I didn’t ask to be a hero” thing going on. Both series dig into identity, sacrifice, loyalty, and how hard it is to figure out what’s right when everyone’s lying. The love triangle is a major part of it too, taking a huge chunk of the story. It wouldn't be far fetched to mention that the antagonists share the same mindset- we'll come to that later. It goes without mentioning that both the series revolve around a revolution- the overthrowing of the ones with powers- a classic good always prevails story.

The Love Story:

Okay, both authors definitely leaned heavily into romance. Alina is stuck between the mysterious Darkling and loyal Mal. Mare is torn between intense Maven and steady Cal, maybe even Kilorn. There’s always this forbidden love drama, and a lot of “I have to save the world, but also, do I love him??” energy. Both stories make the romance feel high-stakes, even if the world is falling apart around them. A bit too much, if you ask me.

Powers and Prophecies:

Neither Alina nor Mare is just powerful—they’re unique. Alina is the only Sun Summoner. Mare is the only Red with Silver powers. They’re both seen as game-changers, threats, and tools. The 'royals' are always out to use them. The Darkling wanted to use Alina to expand his powers and Maven wanted Mare to convince her fellow Reds that the Scarlet Guard (Red rebels) were dangerous.

Bonds and Betrayals:

These series are full of betrayals. Friends, lovers, mentors—nobody is safe. In both worlds, people switch sides constantly, and trust is basically nonexistent. No matter how strong the bond is, betrayal always seems to creep in when it hurts the most. The Darkling turned out to be the main villain after expressing his love for Alina, and guess what? So did Maven.

This definitely has a part 2 where we look into some more details- beneath the overall plot and characters- we'll see their mindsets, how they think, and more. Not to mention- we'll answer the final question- which is better?