Title: Golden Son

Author: Pierce Brown

Series? Yes. 2 of 3.

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I waited 3 days after the conclusion of Golden Son to write this review, because for a whole day, the only thing I was capable of emoting was HOW DARE YOU, PIERCE BROWN, YOU CRAZY GENIUS?

Ahem.  You know how second books are always the unwanted middle child no one loves in trilogies?  Not Golden Son. Not never. This is the perfect sequel to Red Rising in every way, excelling where Red Rising was good – and all those reservations I had about Red Rising? Bloodydamn gone, my goodman!

1.  More Stakes and Schemes

“For seven hundred years, my people have been enslaved without voice, without hope. Now I am their sword. And I do not forgive. I do not forget. So let him lead me onto his shuttle. Let him think he owns me. Let him welcome me into his house, so I might burn it down.”

Much of the last book took place at the Institute, where Darrow was simultaneously fighting for his life and proving his worth to the Golds. He was driven by his own rage and desire for revenge. Now, the fight is no longer for himself, he understands that he represents all of the Reds still unwittingly enslaved underground.  He slowly assumes a role a leader, and learns to make difficult choices that would bring about justice rather than vengeance.  This was no easy journey, but it’s one that was incredibly satisfying to watch unfold.

Darrow’s also in an extremely dangerous position: caught in between a blood feud between two of the most influential families on Mars.  Not to mention the Sovereign of the entire Solar System has an agenda against him. Gone are the war waged between students — this is real shit hitting the fan!  Space battles, Iron Rain, assassination plots, and schemes being thwarted at every turn.  Golden Son is unceasingly engaging, tense, keeping me on my toes the entire time.

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Title:  Red Rising

Author: Pierce Brown

Series:  Yes, 1 of 3

Ratings:  My heart says 5! My brain says 3!

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The review format is going to be a bit different for this post.  I’m experimenting on what to do when I feel so conflicted about a book.

I read Red Rising by Pierce Brown earlier on in the week and it’s pretty much consumed my brain.  As we speak, I still have 50% of Golden Son left to devour, but I am a tiny bit hesitant to finish it off, as it’s a cruel 5 months wait until Morning Sun comes out!

Anyway, I can’t give a rating for this book, my heart says ALL OF THE STARS but my brain says 3.  I am aware there are some issues with the series, issues that makes my book-loyalty divided when I think of them, I’ll include my thoughts on those at the bottom of the post. But first I just want to tell you 5 reasons why you need to read it ASAP!

1.  Strong Worldbuilding

“Men are not created equal; we all know this. There are averages. There are outliers. There are the ugly. There are the beautiful. This would not be if we were all equal. A Red can no more command a starship than a Green can serve as a doctor!”

We have a mix of scifi and dystopia here:  Space, a government that spans the solar system, castes.  Yes, I know, caste system isn’t a novel idea – people at the top will always try to make deify themselves. The one in Red Rising at least makes sense: it works seamlessly in the Gold’s favour.  One of the key to a great leadership is to delegate all of the shitty tasks and to make your underlings believe they are working towards a better world:  their toils are all for Society, for mankind.  Whether it’s the Blues who are genetically modified to control spaceships, to the Pinks who are specifically designed to grant sexual pleasure: everyone believes that their purpose is to serve: a cog in the wheel.  It’s the perfect lie, the slaves do not realise they are enslaved, and the foundation of this lie is built on the unwitting sacrifice of the Reds.  The Reds, a caste of miners who still believes after almost a millenia that they are the pioneers: the first ones on Mars.  They have faith that by doing dangerous work, they’re paving the way for a new generation – little do they know that they have no future.

Continue reading “Book Review: Red Rising” →