Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Red Rising

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Red Rising by Pierce Brown

169 reviews

kathrynleereads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

Red Rising will never cease to amaze me. No matter how many times I read this book, I am always left surprised and in constant awe of Pierce Brown's brilliance. There are not many writers who could fill 400 pages with near-constant strategy and incredible insight into human civilization.

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.

Content Warnings

spatterson7's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

Content Warnings

kirstym25's review against another edition

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adventurous dark fast-paced

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

3.25

Content Warnings

heyitsmehyuppers's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

“I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war.”
That’s the first line of the book. I’ve never been sold so quickly.

Red Rising is the first book in a series consisting of Two Trilogies. And it is off to a great start. This is a soft start to rebellion. Laying the groundwork and dipping the reader’s toes into this new world. But it’s so fast paced and exciting that I am so upset I can’t immediately start the Golden Son.

Darrow is an endearing main character. He has clear goals and is very ambitious. His confidence that not only will he be in the rebellion one day, but that he will lead it astounds me. But I love that about him. Because he is so quick to take responsibility. When he makes a mistake, he feels a deep pang of guilt. When others make mistakes, he feels guilty for causing that mistake.

Sevro stole the show for me though. I am a big softie for characters who are ride-or-die. Fiercely loyal and extremely confidant with the most crass personality. The biggest point in his direction is that there are no instances that I can recall where he is needlessly cruel. To anyone. He says what he says, and he puts in the work.

The main love interest fell a little flat for me though, I’m hoping that she is more developed in Golden Son because for now I don’t have much to say about her.

The banter in this book is witty and fun, but I feel like the writing is its strongest when conveying ego. Everyone has big egos in this book. Even people that shouldn’t. It makes some characters more endearing when they’re boasting (Pax), and others look like enormous tools (Tactus). It’s the main point of contention, most battles and conversations are about who has the most power. Darrow often must change strategies to find the best way to work around his party’s ego. Give too many orders and it comes across as if he believes he’s their king. Don’t give orders and he becomes a doormat. It’s a fine line he has to figure out to navigate, and honestly when he finally hones that skill it’s very compelling.

I have one problem with this book. And it’s a bit of a biggie, enough that it’s a 4-star instead of a 5. I feel that violence against women is used a crutch for Darrow’s progression. He’s married so his wife can die. As hes being carved, a Pink (an entire branch of people who are produced for ‘pleasure’ reasons) girl is the one who takes care of him. Its not enough that Titus is cruel bully to try to overthrow him, he has to rape the women he captures. Tactus, a character I really like when you completely remove this aspect, attempts to rape a slave as a power move against Darrow. It’s a crutch, and not a good one. I understand that the book is trying to convey the gritty savagery of the Gold’s. But violence was getting that across just fine.

I think this would be less of a major issue for me if the violence was equal. While I am sure there are Pink men, never were they mentioned. Except to be used as an insult against another gold: “youre pretty enough to be a pink.” Which unfortunately, without evidence of pink men existing reads like “you’re pretty enough to be a girl.” No men suffered sexual violence, which you could argue was a strength issue. Which leads me to the women all being frail and dainty except Pax’s “Helga.” The only beneficial physical attributes given to women were “fast.” Why are women able to participate in the academy at all if they’re so physically inferior? I can’t even recall an instance where Mustang fought. She won battles, but not within view of the readers. It’s incredibly frustrating because I like this book so much.

I would recommend this book to people who are looking for something harsher than Hunger Games but still lean towards young adult.

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amir_hamza's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

6/10. A decent, just above average and mostly entertaining book that's more futuristic fantasy than sci-fi, at least so far. This definitely isn't YA, with a significant amount of blunt (albeit offscreen, blessedly) sexual violence. The protagonist is also an edgy arrogant guy who's not the most endearing to read about, especially past the first third, and his companions are shallow animations at best. The book also lacks much falling action and ends not even a dozen pages past the climax, and unless there's a cliffhanger, to me, the falling action is very important when it comes making a book satisfying or not. That being said, beyond the very generic intro (to be honest this whole book is very generic) and a jumbly middle, it does pick up in the last third and upto the climax at least, it's pretty fun. I did roll my eyes at (mild spoilers!)

the fridging and damsel in distress in the same book though.

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maddiementions's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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insideunder's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A vivid young adult sci-fi dystopian novel with interesting world building and a main character who absolute goes through it. I like Darrow, especially since he has a character flaw - rage - that I find cathartic and relatable. His anger makes him impulsive and passionate, and gets him in trouble as much as it helps him. The performance of this audiobook elevated the story for me by at least one star. Wasn't sure I'd care for another War School story, but this one managed to have enough new and interesting ideas to keep me on my toes.

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shaletalon's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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3rina's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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boba_nbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Spice Rating: 🫑 / 5 🌶️

My friend's constant badgering me to "Read Red Rising, Hope!!!" (you know who you are 😂) finally paid off, and I'm so glad she never laid off because I loved this book.

In the color-coded society of futuristic Mars, Darrow is a Red--the lowest of the low. The people who work underneath Mars' surface in order to pave the way for future generations to live on the surface. His life is a simple one, but one day he loses everything and everyone he loves. Darrow learns the Reds have been lied to for centuries, and he is one of the few people who can bring them justice. Darrow leaves behind his world and his family in order to help the right this terrible wrong. All of this leads to his complete transformation which could be his downfall.

It's really difficult to write even a short summary of Red Rising without giving away its major plot points, so I'll give some spoilers here:

Learning that the Golds and all the other colors that are "higher" than the Reds have been convincing the Reds that no one is living on the surface is wild. The other colors have been living in opulence on the surface for centuries, yet they still use the Reds like cattle--they're just slaves meant to mine the substance needed to keep their world afloat. I was so fully invested in the resistance and felt Darrow's rage as he learned the truth.

And that only happened in the first half of the book?!

Darrow's full transformation into a Gold was fascinating and terrible. He truly lost who he was trying to infiltrate the enemy from within. The crimes and violence Darrow has to commit from there are truly insane. I can't imagine how difficult it was to remember who he truly was as he became so invested in the games (both literal and figurative) he had to play.

Long story short, I am now going to be the friend constantly badgering you to, "Read Red Rising, PLEASE!!" Pierce Brown has created an intricate world full of political, moral, and ethical dilemmas where Darrow and others have to choose what truly matters most. Red Rising brings a mirror up to our society today and asks us, "Is this really the future we want?"

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