Red Rising

"Red Rising" is an electrifying journey into a future society where class divisions are stark and rebellion is the only path to justice. Pierce Brown crafts a masterful narrative that hooks readers from the very first page and refuses to let go until the final, heart-pounding conclusion. From the outset, Brown introduces us to Darrow, a member of the lowest caste in a color-coded society that mirrors the hierarchy of ancient Rome. His world is one of backbreaking labor and brutal oppression, where the ruling Golds maintain their power through fear and manipulation. But when tragedy strikes and Darrow discovers the true extent of the Golds' cruelty, he embarks on a quest for vengeance that will reshape the fate of the entire solar system. What sets "Red Rising" apart is its richly developed world-building. Brown paints a vivid picture of a future society where technology and mythology intertwine, where towering cities scrape the skies and sprawling mines stretch deep into the earth. Each color-coded caste is meticulously crafted, with its own customs, traditions, and societal norms, creating a vibrant tapestry that is as immersive as it is compelling. But it's not just the world itself that captivates; it's the characters who inhabit it. Darrow is a protagonist for the ages, a complex and deeply flawed hero whose journey from oppressed miner to revolutionary leader is nothing short of epic. Along the way, he encounters a cast of equally memorable characters, from the fierce and loyal Mustang to the enigmatic and deadly Sevro. Each character is fully realized, with their own motivations, desires, and inner demons, adding depth and dimension to an already richly layered narrative. And then there's the action. "Red Rising" is a non-stop thrill ride from start to finish, with pulse-pounding battles, daring escapes, and breathtaking feats of bravery that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Brown's prose crackles with energy and intensity, drawing readers into the heart of the action and never letting up until the final page is turned. But beneath the pulse-pounding excitement lies a deeper message about power, privilege, and the nature of freedom. "Red Rising" is a story about the fight for equality and justice, about the lengths we will go to for the ones we love, and about the sacrifices we must make to create a better world. It's a story that is as timely as it is timeless, resonating with readers long after the final chapter has ended. In conclusion, "Red Rising" is a tour de force of science fiction storytelling. With its richly imagined world, unforgettable characters, and heart-stopping action, it's a book that deserves every bit of its five-star rating. Pierce Brown has crafted a modern masterpiece that will stand the test of time, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Favorite series, hands down. Pierce Brown did a phenomenal job in writing compelling characters, engaging plot lines, unexpected twists, all with a solid premise. Admittedly, the first 100 pages or so were a bit of a slog but every author deserves some grace for soft starts. But as soon as the carving happened I was sucked in, bought the rest of the series that night, and finished it as fast as possible. This book is a bit violent for those who are squeamish, and involves older teenagers hurting each other in more intense ways than the hunger games, but it also explores far more emotional depth than most YA dystopian books do, and I would not consider the rest of the series YA. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys adventure, Sci-fi, fantasy, twisting plots, and riding on the edge of your seat!

Finally! A YA dystopian novel worth the trouble! I have read so many awful YA dystopian novels in the past few years that I was starting to get convinced there would never be another good one. And Pierce Brown has just proved me wrong! Let me count the ways this book was awesome. 1) World-building Where 99% of all YA dystopian stories fail, Pierce Brown succeeded. The world-building in Red Rising is incredible. Well thought out. In depth. Rich. There's a caste system that actually makes sense and isn't ill-defined, that actually affects in innumerable ways the lives of those who live in it. There's an entire set of linguistic differences that Brown consistently uses throughout the book -- it gives the novel a flare that even the average Adult sci-fi novel lacks. A sense of "cultural authenticity," if you will. There's advanced technology that is well integrated with the plot and the world. There's a setting with an awesome backstory -- Mars -- and that is described in a way that periodically reminds you of what is so that it never fades into a generic Earth-like setting. Brown nailed the world-building of this book. It's on a level so high that 90% of the YA I have read in the last 5 years can't even touch it. Can't even come close. The sheer amount of thought (and thoughtfulness) that went into designing the world of this book just blows me away. 2) Characters Here we go! At last! A large, diverse caste of characters with a range of personalities, who are all fully fleshed out even when they have little screen time. My dream has come true! Let me start with Darrow -- I have lamented the generic nature of YA protagonists for years. I'm so tired of seeing the same people with the same personalities and the same general life experiences in the same situations trying to achieve the same exact goals. Darrow is, in many ways, the exact opposite of the typical YA protagonist. And not just because he's male. His personality is fantastic -- it perfect matches his culture and his personal life experiences. You can see the causes and effects that have shaped Darrow over the years, and you can see him change in the face of new experiences while still remaining the same character at his core. Now, the rest of the cast -- Just...great. There were so many GREAT characters in this book. And despite there being so many, none of the recurring secondary characters blended together. There all managed to remain distinct individuals who were clearly identifiable throughout the book. And with a cast so large and a book so long -- man, that is difficult. Bravo, Pierce Brown! 3) The Content Another one of my issues with the average YA is how little impact most of the events have on the characters and how what is supposed to be violence in a desolate world falls flat because the true nature of it all is rarely described in the kind of detail it needs to be. Brown avoids that issue in spades. There is grim-dark, brutal violence in this book. Kids being slaughtered by the handful. Rape and assault. All-out warfare -- framed with cold and downright cruel battle tactics in order to win. I have never read another YA book that throws such realistic hyper-violence in your face. Brown doesn't skirt around anything. Not language. Not violence. Not sex or mentions of sex. This is the true depiction of how horrifying it would actually be to have teenagers murdering each other. On the flip side, everything runs with this undercurrent of moral questioning -- right or wrong, bad or good -- and the answer is never given. Because there isn't one. Justice is left to the interpretation of the individual -- and injustice is suffered and perceived by the characters differently throughout the novel. All round, this book is just...excellent in its depiction of a dystopian society and the real brutality that such a regime would force upon its people. However, all that being said, there were a few downsides to this book... 1) Plot I think Pierce Brown's grand ideas got away from him a bit in the execution of the story. Not to say it was bad. It wasn't. It was a very well-written book and excellent on many fronts. However, the book was, for my taste, too long, and I thought it could have shed some content in several places without losing anything important. There are lulls in the action that are too drawn-out, and Brown could have tightened those sections more quickly lead into the next major event. In other words, the plot could have used a little careful editing, and the book could have shaved off quite a few pages. Other than that, though, the plot was excellent as well. Compelling throughout. Always gave me a reason to keep reading, even in the parts that lulled a bit. There was a never a point where I didn't want to know what happened next, and that, right there, is a huge success for any author. 2) Writing Style I think my biggest issue with the book was the writing style. Though I loved the terminology Brown created for the book, I just...didn't quite like the way the book was written. There was something in the way Brown phrased things, the way he structured his sentences and paragraphs, the way he wove introspective moments into the text that just...read as "tedious" to me and often heavy-handed. As I read further into the book, it bothered me less, but it was always there hovering in the background. I just don't like his writing style. Which is a huge pity -- because it certainly is a great book. At the end of the day, though, I always cringed a bit when thinking of the style this book was written in. So, overall, Pierce Brown has created an excellent YA dystopian tale that stands out above the rest and has A LOT of potential for its sequels. A great read!

It took me a minute to get into this, but then I really loved it. It was definitely a violent book, but I feel the violence made sense with the plot. After I adjusted I really enjoyed the writing style and I loved the characters. The story itself was interesting and I was genuinely engaged when reading it. I think this was a great book and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

somehow sit through the begining , i am saying this because of few others i know felt like that , but i liked it from start to finish. forever changed me..

Blog: irenadams.com Caution, mild spoilers ahead. "Funny thing, watching gods realize they’ve been mortal all along." I was going to leave for a trip for 3 weeks and couldn’t bring physical copies of the books with me. At least not as many as I would want to. So, for the first time in years I bought kindle versions of a few books. I decided to clean my want-to-read and owned-to-read shelves and this is one that’s been on one of those lists for a long time. I don’t think the synopsis really convinced me and I wasn’t sure the book would be worth buying. I regret that I formed an opinion before giving it a real chance. I think I might want to have it on a shelf of my bookcase so I can re-read it or just flip through the pages to savor the good passages. This is one of those books that really surprised me. There was action, a bad-ass character, suspense… Everything you want in a good novel that takes you in its grip and doesn’t let go before you flip the last page. The future that this book is painting is simple but evil. It has been compared to The Hunger Games, and I thought the same by the middle of the book but P. Brown created something new. It may be another dystopian future, another example of our flaws and habits, but it is also an example of what we might become if a handful few can grab the seats of power and impose their will, hiding the rest of us in the dark for the next centuries. If I only knew that there would be Greek and Roman mythology involved I would have picked the book sooner. P. Brown used the names of the gods and their characteristics and attributes to show the different battling houses of the Golds, but at the same time mentioning the differences between Greek and Roman mythology. The main character is not perfect, but deep and easy to connect to. He might be above average in his skills or strength, but then again, it was all built for him. And throughout the pages P. Brown shows us the change in the protagonist, his doubts, his fears, but also his never ending will to push forward.We get to presence his evolution and the adjustment to his new role in the society. The story is gripping and full of twists. Even though some of the turns of the events are easy to foresee, the story is ever changing. The fluid relationship between the characters and the protagonist is sometimes surprising like with Tactus, Servo and Pax, other times not so much as with Mustang. But the author is not afraid to kill one or several of the characters you liked or started to like, leaving you on the edge of the seat to see what will happen next. It was a good ride and I hope you will take it too.

Red Rising is een spannend, goed geschreven verhaal wat lijkt op The Hunger Games, maar dan volwassener. Een aanrader voor iedereen!

Uma das maiores surpresas positivas que tive esse ano. Sem dúvidas é uma das melhores leituras de ficção que tive o prazer de ler ultimamente. Pernagens carismáticos e bons diálogos sobre que questões que envolvem as relações em sociedade. Não vejo a hora de seguir com a série!

Bloodydamn Perfect!