A review by annad318
Red Rising by Pierce Brown

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I've spent the last few months reading books by women with female protagonists, so I feel like I had to recalibrate my brain to give this book a fair review. Overall, a promising story with interesting characters. 

WRITING STYLE

• I found the book's writing style to be simple and straightforward. Unlike most fantasy and science fiction books that use complex sentence structures and detailed descriptions, the author adopts a matter-of-fact tone. The author conveys the main character's thoughts, feelings, and sensory perceptions without much embellishment. Although this approach may seem basic at times, I found it more accessible and comprehensible to read.

CHARACTERS AND PLOT

• Darrow's story is as intricate as those of popular figures, such as Rick Grimes and Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Much like Rick Grimes, he is an exceptional leader who evolves and matures over time. And, similar to Uhtred, he strives to find a balance between his personal sense of justice and the expectations of those around him (Ares, The Society, friends, etc.) I found Darrow's journey at the Institute to be quite enjoyable, and by the end of the book, I felt that he resembled Uhtred in many ways.

• This book was a real gem! The author struck a perfect balance between world-building and politics to keep me hooked from start to finish. I was invested in the stories of all the well-developed characters, including Cassius, Sevro, Fitchner, Roque, and Pax. The plot was full of surprises and twists that had me on the edge of my seat, even during the slower parts. 

In short, if you're a fan of The Last Kingdom (TV) series, you might enjoy this book. Looking forward to what these freaks get up to next.