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boba_nbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Golden Son is where the Red Rising trilogy really starts to ramp up in the action, friendships, betrayal, and rebellion.
Though Darrow grew up as a Red, he has been able to rise into the world of Golds and even find favor with an esteemed Gold family. Darrow is literally a sheep in wolf's clothing and is constantly watching his back to ensure his secret remains confidential. But Darrow is finding out that even the people he thought he could trust beyond measure might not be who he thought they were. Though he has found love and friendship in the cruel world of the Golds, there is still a long way to go to see Eo's dream be fulfilled. Darrow must sacrifice and discover who he can trust and which cards he should reveal. No matter what, the rebellion must continue.
Though I truly enjoyed Red Rising, Golden Son really took it to the next level for me. The rivalries are more treacherous. The stakes are higher. The betrayals are more perilous. The friendships are stronger. The lover is deeper.
Darrow grows so much more in this novel as he becomes deeply entrenched in the world of the Golds. He's torn between his biological family and the family he's found. He's such a gentle soul who tries to do what is right but ultimately ends up hurting those closest to him in the process.
Readers beware of this ending--it might smash your heart into smithereens.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, and Blood
Minor: Cursing, Rape, Sexual content, and Cannibalism
kaseybereading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, and War
mj_86's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, and Blood
Minor: Sexual content and Cannibalism
hilkerd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Physical abuse, Torture, Vomit, and Medical trauma
a_bow's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Classism
followerofselena's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Gaslighting, and War
linneak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
4ny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
kiwij96's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Falling out of touch with friends, betrayal, plot twists which I didn't see coming but thought worked for the characters. It was all so perfectly chaotic I loved it. That ending was a stroke of genius.
Two gripes:
1. The first 6 chapters could have been a prologue just to catch us up on Darrow's life since book 1 since a couple of years have passed. It also felt a bit clunky at the start.
2. I have literally no idea what any of the things are which confuses me sometimes - like what is a ripWing, or a HC, or an anything?
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Suicide and Pregnancy
haley49's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Rape and Cannibalism