Red Rising

As a fan of dystopia series generally I am surprised that it took me so long to get round to this, but with the third book in the trilogy due out early next year, I thought I'd finally give it a go. I am very glad I did, and will no doubt be polishing off the second book pretty quickly in anticipation of the concluding instalment. It is true to say that the plot to Red Rising isn't going to win any prizes for originality. The first fifth of the book sets the tone, with the protagonist, Darrow, finding out that his arduous life as a 'Red' mining precious minerals to ensure the survival of the human race is not all it seems. Not by a long shot, actually, as it turns out that the 'Reds' are effectively slaves in a society run by 'Golds', who rule from a position of luxury and power at the expense of all others. Darrow finds himself in a position to infiltrate and challenge the 'Golds', and so the main part of the book charts his progress through a very Hunger Games esq artificial scenario whereby he is one of a group of teenagers that must work out not only how to lead their own group, but how to ultimately conquer and win over the other groups that have been placed in the same environment. If the actual blurb of Red Rising threatens to be lost in what is a very competitive genre, the writing ensures that it has the quality to very much stand out. Simply put, this book is written very well indeed, and is driven by the myriad of flawed characters that Brown manages to make both relevant and distinct. The narrative moves quickly but is engaging, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader hooked. The fact that the 'arena' section involves groups of teenagers rather than just an 'every man for himself situation' results in the plot as a whole having a lot more depth then Hunger Games. It's also significantly more brutal, and whilst it's not quite up to Game of Thrones level in terms of violence, it's certainly a good notch above what you would expect in a YA novel. It's also worth noting that whilst there are sic-fi elements to this, they are very accessible and do not suffer from the over complicated technical language that I find is present in a lot of sci-fi novels. Ultimately as first books in a trilogy go it's difficult to find much better examples in this genre. It really is excellent and I found myself flying through it with little concept of the passage of time, which is always a good sign. Despite having bought numerous books in the Kindle sale whilst I was reading this, I have just bought and moved straight on to the second book in the series. I hope that the trilogy lives up to the standards of this first book, but until I find that out for myself I can only recommend Red Rising as an excellent sci-fi dystopia novel.

Red Rising: “I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war.” So I can safely say that all the praise this book gets is well deserved! I always a little bit nervous when reading works of an author I have not read before, and even more so when said books are so widely loved. Not in the sense id be worried about rating it low, because that doesn’t overly bother me, it is that your expectations are set so high that they can often be the ruin of the book. It works both ways, I have watched films and read books that’s have been slated and loved them because I had such low expectations. Thankfully, those who have praised this book are people who I respect the opinions of and having cracking taste! It usually takes me a good chunk of time to fall into the rhythm of a new authors writing, especially when in first person. I have nothing against first person, it’s just that for some unknown reason it takes me longer to get into the grove of the writing. However, this was not an issue at all with this book, I fell into it almost too easily. I have described writing before using words such as clean, simple and sharp. Though, never have I read writing quite so sharp. Pierce does not over embellish his writing, it is straight and to the point, while not seeming inferior or of a lesser standard. There is a quick feeling to his prose, they are swift and effective. That's not to say there isn't description there most definitely is, it just felt less prevalent. There is something surreal about Pierce's writing. At first I thought it more magical, when Darrow was describing the beauties of nature he sees or cities but I realised it was actually a part of Darrow. It emphasises the point that he believed his world was baron and red and that it would never be more, that he would never be more. It was incredibly immersive and truly brought out Darrow’s character more and more. I found Darrow easy to love, I liked him from the start and that didn’t change. It was very interesting to see the two sides of Darrow, not in a two faced way but we as the reader see a truer version of him whereas the other characters of the book see the image he puts forth. There is a duel at one point, one of the opponents says ‘to yield’ while Darrow shouts ‘to the death’ and it just clicked how differently the rest of the characters see him to how we see him. I was really cleverly done, I don't doubt other books do it to some degree but I really saw it in this. “Yielding,” Pax says impatiently. “To the death,” I correct. Really it doesn’t matter. I’m just screwing with them at this point. All I have to do is give the signal. “To yielding,” Mustang confirms.” I felt like I was able to resonate with some of the initial emotions that Darrow experiences. I live in a tiny town, so when I moved to the city for university it was a big shift in gear. I remember I was walking from my university accommodation once and I saw a tractor rolling through Leeds and I nearly peed I was that excited, it is so strange to go from a place you know near everyone and where everyone but the grumps smile at you to a city of drones. A place where you are the strange one for smiling at the person walking past you! “In Lykos, I would have been jostled by men I’d grown up with, run across girls I’d chased and wrestled with as a child. Here, other Colors slam into me and offer not even a faint apology. This is a city, and I do not like it. I feel alone.” Pierce also gave us so many other great characters, Sevro was brilliant! Some had past dealings that would make you think them oily and sneaky, others you would pity and some you hated. Pierce makes you feel every brutal emotions for these characters and more. “Sevro snorts. “What do you think I’ve been doing this whole time, you silky turd? Wanking off in the bushes?” The descriptions in this book are beautifully done, the forest, the baron slums Darrow lived in, the busy cities full of Colours, are all so vivid and creative. I said earlier that Pierces writing, through the eyes of Darrow, seemed surreal and often magical and it does but Pierce also managed to show us an utterly savage world one win which life is not fair, it is not equal and you do not win. The story gradually gets darker and darker, while still holding tight the dream that this all begun for. “On Mars there is not much gravity. So you have to pull the feet to break the neck. They let the loved ones do it.” This book is so fast paced, and it is utterly relentless. I didn’t feel like there was a single point I could put this book down the wheels of the game just kept on churning! Which is probably why I was up until the butt crack of dawn reading this book. So, if you starter reading this book do so early and make sure you have the day free because you will not want to stop. It is a brilliant start to the series and I cannot wait to read the next book, which is already downloaded on my kindle and ready to be read once I have posted this review! “Alter the paradigm.”

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!

Red Rising é uma obra impactante que explora profundamente temas como opressão de classes, hierarquia social e desenvolvimento pessoal. A trama acompanha Darrow, um Vermelho cuja visão de mundo é desmantelada ao descobrir verdades ocultas sobre a sociedade em que vive. Motivado por essas revelações, ele inicia uma jornada de ascensão e rebelião contra a estrutura vigente. A construção de mundo é imersiva e detalhada, povoada por personagens complexos que evocam reações genuínas, variando da empatia à aversão. A narrativa possui um ritmo consistente e a escrita em primeira pessoa cria uma conexão real, permitindo que o leitor experimente as emoções e dilemas de Darrow de forma intensa. Vale ressaltar que este é apenas o primeiro volume de uma saga, servindo como uma porta de entrada explosiva para este universo. Leitura altamente recomendada.

A visceral, high-octane introduction to a dystopian universe that feels both hauntingly familiar and grandly operatic. Set on a terraformed Mars, the story follows Darrow, a Red laborer mining helium-3 for a future he believes he is building. The narrative begins with a crushing revelation: the surface has been habitable for centuries, and Darrow’s people are enslaved to support the decadent Gold caste. This betrayal sparks a revenge-driven mission as Darrow undergoes a grueling transformation to infiltrate the Golds and dismantle their Society from within. The novel’s strength lies in its relentless pacing and brutal world-building. Once Darrow enters the Institute—a proving ground where young Golds wage war to earn their status—the story shifts from a "chosen one" trope into a savage study of leadership and survival. Brown doesn't shy away from the horrific costs of war; the stakes feel lethal, and Darrow’s internal conflict is palpable. He must adopt the cold, calculating traits of his oppressors to defeat them, risking his own humanity for the sake of justice. While drawing inspiration from The Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies, it distinguishes itself through a rich Roman-inspired aesthetic and philosophical weight. The supporting cast is equally compelling, featuring the enigmatic Mustang and the volatile Sevro—the kind of loyalist who proves you haven't lived until you get yourself a friend that will hide in a dead horse for you. These allies challenge Darrow to look beyond vengeance toward a new social order. 🍵Final Verdict A gripping exploration of power, sacrifice, and the morality of revolution. Red Rising is a rare debut that manages to be both a page-turning epic and a thoughtful commentary on class struggle. It sets a formidable foundation for the series, leaving readers eager to see if a man born in darkness can truly bring the dawn.

Bloodydamn Perfect!