Red as Royal Blood

I went into Red as Royal Blood by Elizabeth Hart expecting a fun, slightly dramatic royal story, and what unfolded was a twisty, tension-filled ride where literally no one feels safe—and honestly, I loved that.
Ruby is such an easy character to root for right away. She starts as a maid, someone who exists on the edges of this glittering, dangerous court, and then suddenly she’s thrust into the center of it as the unexpected heir to the throne. And instead of it feeling like a dreamy “rags to riches” moment, it’s immediately clear this is more like rags to target. The king is dead, the circumstances are suspicious, and now Ruby is surrounded by people who all have something to gain from her downfall.
What really pulled me in was the mystery. This isn’t just a backdrop—it’s the driving force of the story. I loved trying to piece together who could be trusted (answer: basically no one), and every new reveal made me second-guess my theories. It gave me that addictive “just one more chapter” feeling because I needed to know what was actually going on.
And then there are the princes. Yes… plural. Each one brings a different energy, and I liked how the story plays with your expectations of them. There’s tension, suspicion, a little bit of intrigue—nothing overwhelmingly romantic, but enough to make the dynamics interesting and keep you guessing about who’s genuinely on Ruby’s side.
That said, I did feel the pacing dip a bit in the middle. There were moments where the story slowed down, and I found myself wishing for a little more emotional depth—especially from Ruby, considering everything she’s thrown into. I wanted to feel her fear and determination just a bit more strongly in those quieter scenes.
But overall? I was hooked. The mix of court politics, murder mystery, and that constant undercurrent of danger made it such a fun read. It’s the kind of book where the setting feels lush and glamorous on the surface, but underneath it’s all secrets and survival—and that contrast really worked for me.
Final Thoughts
This is one of those stories that feels perfect for when you want something dramatic, fast-paced, and just a little bit dangerous. It’s not flawless, but it’s definitely memorable—and I’d absolutely pick up a sequel to spend more time in this world.
Red As Royal Blood is a book about a glittering, suspicious court, a reluctant queen, and a mystery that keeps you guessing.

RED AS ROYAL BLOOD is an overall fun historical mystery/suspense read. Ruby is a maid in the palace. She has grown up there, not knowing who her parents were and only having a ruby necklace from her birth to her name. When the king dies and names her heir instead of his four living children, she is thrust into the spotlight. After she finds a note from him saying that if he has died that it was murder and telling her she needs to find out who or she'd be next, Ruby is thrust into a strange scavenger hunt and search for clues.

What I loved: Ruby is a compelling character who has come from nothing but cares deeply for the people around her. While she knows some of the mannerisms of royalty, she has a lot to learn about their intrigue and games. As she navigates all this, she also must be wary of who might want to get rid of her- and it could be anyone.

Themes around trust, friendship, family, and survival are found in the book. Ultimately, the mystery is satisfying with a slow build-up of clues and information.

What left me wanting more: The book felt very slow in places, and while characters were intended to be interesting and enigmatic, they often felt flat and unidimensional. While it was overall interesting, this slowed down the reading and made it a bit tough to keep going, particularly around the middle.

Final verdict: RED AS ROYAL BLOOD is an overall intriguing historical mystery/suspense that is aptly described as INHERITANCE GAMES meets royalty.