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kathrynleereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In my opinion, worldbuilding is one of the most crucial elements of a good book/series, and there are no worlds better written than the Society in Red Rising.
The complexities of this world vary from the obvious (the color system), to the minute (the use of bloody instead of gory), and they are shared with the reader in a way that feels completely organic and unforced.
And then there are the characters.
**Spoilers Ahead**
On the one hand, Darrow is the textbook definition of morally grey, but on the other, he couldn't be more different. He has a good heart, but it is because of that good heart that he is able to commit normally heinous acts. Not once did his mind stray from his overall mission (at least not to the point of hindering his mission), even when his goals required that he sacrifice his own morals.
I was never really a fan of Cassius. He expected respect without earning it, even while constantly disrespecting his friends in little ways. He wasn't capable of putting his goals above his personal opinions and vendettas.
Sevro is just his own breed. Utterly perfect in every way. I'll fight anyone who says a bad word about Sevro. He deserves everything good in the world (but probably doesn't want it).
Mustang was the character through whom Brown's brilliance really shown. Her unwavering logic and strategy made her loyal in a way that wasn't blind but was genuine. She always reminds me of Annabeth Chase (another daughter of Minerva/Athena).
Pax au Telemanus.
Such a soft heart in such a hard form.
I will never forgive Pierce Brown for what he allowed to happen to Pax. Never.
If you haven't yet read Red Rising, I suggest you sit down and start right now. It's the kind of book you'll always wished you'd read sooner.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Excrement, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
irb0red's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Slavery, Blood, Murder, and War
Minor: Sexual assault and Torture
victoriia25's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, and War
tiffanne11'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
3.5
My initial thought upon finishing this was "wow I really liked that". The dynamic within the story packs a punch and it will definitely stay with you. However, the school battle was so much of the book that it felt like it dragged on. I don't particularly like reading battles, so for me, it was too much.
The plus side of the amount of time spent on that part of the story is that the reader, like Darrow, can get lost in the game and forget about the word outside. The rest of the story, the set up, the reason we're here, fades into the background. It was masterfully done so that in the moments where Darrow remembers, the reader is also receiving the same shock.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and War
mayhem9683's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexism, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Cannibalism
spatterson7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Physical abuse, Self harm, Excrement, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
gracemegredy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and War
Minor: Rape, Slavery, and Torture
underthemoon_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racism, Slavery, Violence, War, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Medical trauma
Minor: Excrement, Cannibalism, and Dysphoria
melist6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual harassment
tokiberry'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
4.5
⤷ ⭑⭑⭑⭑.𝟱
⟢• ❝ I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war. ❞
I rated this a 4.5 but I’m rounding up my rating to a 5. For some reason, it felt wrong to keep it at a 4. This book is another title I kept seeing on social media and I admit, it was more better than I expected. You’ll love to hate and hate to love characters. This was one crazy rollercoaster of emotions that kept building and building.
THE AUDIOBOOK IS AMAZING. I urge you to listen to it.
I’m not into sci-fi genres, but I can’t help but wonder what comes next after that crazy ending. I’m happy I only got into this now because I am definitely reading the next books in the series.
“You do not follow me because I am the strongest. Pax is. You do not follow me because I am the brightest. Mustang is. You follow me because you do not know where you are going. I do.” •⟢
┆ Bloodydamn.
“Break the chains, my love.”
⋆˙⟡♡
post-read: WHAT THE HECK
pre-read: i couldn't resist
Graphic: Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Alcohol