2/12/25 - Finished Red Rising, started Golden Son (Book 2)

 Happy Wednesday, feasyheads!

I finished Red Rising today, just in time before the book was due.

If anyone wants to read it, here's a brief summary of the story: Darrow, a low-ranking Red miner, infiltrates the elite Golds to try to cause revolution. He is accepted into the Institute, where he must face off fellow students and have his House come out victorious. 

I felt that Red Rising strongly resembles The Hunger Games, because as previously stated, there are teenagers alone in the wild, establishing factions and brutally fighting each other. But it also resembled Red Queen, in that the Reds are the lowest and the ones above them are much more powerful. In addition, the elites have serious politics, determined by family and its status. 

The Wally rating is: 9 out of 10! There was minimal romance but the memory of Darrow's dead wife, Eo, fuels him in his ultimate mission. Pierce Brown created a whole world for his story, with many new phrases the reader must learn. There are a lot of Greek and Roman based names for the characters, which is interesting. 

Darrow is a skilled, rash, and dexterous boy and does his best to lead his house to victory and unite its warring tribes against House Pluto and the Jackal. I really like his character.

The story is a lot more graphic than, say, The Hunger Games and gets a rating of 15+ on common sense media, which I suggest you keep in mind if planning to read the book and series.

I've started to read the second book of the series, Golden Son. I won't say too much in fear of spoiling it, but from what I can tell, Darrow is trying to navigate the web of politics and dodge his enemies (believe me, there is no shortage of them) all the while attempting to get to a position of power to help the Sons of Ares, the rebel group he's working for.

That's all for today. Happy reading!

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night/3:00 AM,

Uncle Wally