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A review by eefmaoam
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a wild ride and I’m truly shocked by the ending, which is not something a lot of books do to me.
Even though the story started out a bit slower than I expected it to, because of it being a sequel, it really *started going down* after ~20% and just kept accelerating until the final chapter. Even though there’s some time between this story and the first book, the character and story development feels natural and not too quick (which it truly an accomplishment with this fast paced of a plot).
Also, the entire Greaco-Roman mythology analogy starts to pay off, which is pretty exciting for me. I was a bit worried and almost annoyed by it in the first book, but now I see why Brown choose to really develop it in the first place *relieved classists sigh*.
I remember being pretty critical of some fore shadowing that felt more like predictability without pay-off in the first part, that’s completely gone now. Once again mentioning that phenomenal ending: I could see part of it coming (it was clear to me Roque was going roque (joke joke) after the conversation they had after the *big battle*, I could also see the Jackel playing a part in it. But that ending?? That ending????? ), but woah was it clear Brown meant to do some *fore shadowing* this time.
Over all this story felt like a more mature, darker and intenser sequel than I would have expected after reading the first part. While writing this review I’m almost wondering why I don’t rate this as a 5-star read, but that honestly comes down to vibes and thinking the 3th instalment might even be better and truly deserving of 5 starts. It certainly has nothing to do with the quality of this book, because bloodydamn, this is a good book.
On to the next one.
Even though the story started out a bit slower than I expected it to, because of it being a sequel, it really *started going down* after ~20% and just kept accelerating until the final chapter. Even though there’s some time between this story and the first book, the character and story development feels natural and not too quick (which it truly an accomplishment with this fast paced of a plot).
Also, the entire Greaco-Roman mythology analogy starts to pay off, which is pretty exciting for me. I was a bit worried and almost annoyed by it in the first book, but now I see why Brown choose to really develop it in the first place *relieved classists sigh*.
I remember being pretty critical of some fore shadowing that felt more like predictability without pay-off in the first part, that’s completely gone now. Once again mentioning that phenomenal ending: I could see part of it coming (
Over all this story felt like a more mature, darker and intenser sequel than I would have expected after reading the first part. While writing this review I’m almost wondering why I don’t rate this as a 5-star read, but that honestly comes down to vibes and thinking the 3th instalment might even be better and truly deserving of 5 starts. It certainly has nothing to do with the quality of this book, because bloodydamn, this is a good book.
On to the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Slavery, Blood, Toxic friendship, War, and Classism