Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
Del Rey (New York, 2015). 1st edition, 4th printing. 464 pages. $25.00.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Science Fiction. Thriller. HTML:NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER � Red Rising hit the ground running and wasted no time becoming a sensation. Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR, BUZZFEED, AND BOOKLIST � �Gripping . . . On virtually every level, this is a sequel that hates sequels�a perfect fit for a hero who already defies the tropes. [Grade:] A��Entertainment Weekly As a Red, Darrow grew up working the mines deep beneath the surface of Mars, enduring backbreaking labor while dreaming of the better future he was building for his descendants. But the Society he faithfully served was built on lies. Darrow�s kind have been betrayed and denied by their elitist masters, the Golds�and their only path to liberation is revolution. And so Darrow sacrifices himself in the name of the greater good for which Eo, his true love and inspiration, laid down her own life. He becomes a Gold, infiltrating their privileged realm so that he can destroy it from within. A lamb among wolves in a cruel world, Darrow finds friendship, respect, and even love�but also the wrath of powerful rivals. To wage and win the war that will change humankind�s destiny, Darrow must confront the treachery arrayed against him, overcome his all-too-human desire for retribution�and strive not for violent revolt but a hopeful rebirth. Though the road ahead is fraught with danger and deceit, Darrow must choose to follow Eo�s principles of love and justice to free his people. He must live for more. Praise for Golden Son �Stirring . . . Comparisons to The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones series are inevitable, for this tale has elements of both.��Kirkus Reviews �Brown writes layered, flawed characters . . . but plot is his most breathtaking strength. . . . Every action seems to flow into the next.��NPR Don�t miss any of Pierce Brown�s Red Rising Saga: RED RISING � GOLDEN SON � MORNING STAR � IRON GOLD � DARK AGE.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member DabOfDarkness
Note: You really need to read Book 1, Red Rising, to understand this book.
This book picks up several months (a year?) after the end of Red Rising. It’s a space battle! Well, it’s a training space battle for the Academy. Darrow and his crew finish out the contest well enough, but then Darrow is
I thoughts the story couldn’t get any better when I finished Book 1, but I was wrong. Golden Son has impressed me more than Red Rising did. I became attached to several of the characters in Book 1 and that held true for Book 2. Darrow remains a complex character, discovering new parts to himself as he continues his ruse as a Gold. The layers of lies start to weigh on him and some of his closest friends notice his moodiness. There were so many times where I wasn’t sure whether Darrow should open up to a friend or not – can any of them be trusted with his deepest secret? Argh! It was nail biting!
There were moments where I was cheering the book on, doing a little fist pump when no one could see me doing so. Then there were times that my eyes misted up a bit. There are several intense moments in this book. Tactus. Mustang. Quinn. Darrow’s mom. Even though this book wrung emotions from me I wasn’t sure I had before, when I finished it, I wanted to go reread the first 2 books again.
While Book 1 took place all on Mars, Book 2 spreads out a bit and we get to see more of this terraformed solar system. Book 1 taught us the basics of this hierarchical society, but Golden Son shows us people from these other castes and what they are capable of. Darrow certainly has his hands full with the Sons of Ares and trying to upturn this caste system.
And why don’t we chat about the Sons of Ares. I, like Darrow, was expecting them to be all on the same page. Unfortunately for Darrow, that was not so. This added another dimension to the plot and made one more dangerous pitfall for Darrow to avoid. Though I did guess who Ares was early on, it was still a great reveal scene.
Next to Darrow, Sevro is my favorite character. He acts crude and rude all the time, but he has these shinning moments where he sets the bar high for what true friendship is. To my surprise, I became a bit attached to Victra. Perhaps it was her unashamedly flirtatious manner. Ragnar was an excellent new addition to Darrow’s circle of friends. The characters all around are just very well done. I love that the author doesn’t hold back from placing female characters in every job a male character traditionally holds in so much of SFF literature. The swordswoman Ajah is terrifying. The Sovereign is wickedly smart but also too proud of that fact.
The ending is super intense and I am so glad I have Book 3 lined up and ready to go. Golden Son does end on a cliffhanger and if I had read this book a year ago before Book 3 was out, this might have bothered me. Books 1 & 2 have set the bar high for Book 3 – I have every expectation it will live up to it!
The Narration: Tim Gerard Reynolds continues to do this series justice. I love that he shows a little of Darrow’s Red heritage in his accent when he thinks of home, yet maintains his cultured Gold accent throughout the novel. His voice for Ragnar is very well done, considering limitations on human vocal cords. Surprisingly, Reynolds does a very good sexy vixen for Victra.
This book picks up several months (a year?) after the end of Red Rising. It’s a space battle! Well, it’s a training space battle for the Academy. Darrow and his crew finish out the contest well enough, but then Darrow is
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publicly humiliated. Darrow is on the brink of losing it all and he must make some daring moves to maintain what he has worked so hard to achieve. Yet with his boldness comes new challenges and new enemies.I thoughts the story couldn’t get any better when I finished Book 1, but I was wrong. Golden Son has impressed me more than Red Rising did. I became attached to several of the characters in Book 1 and that held true for Book 2. Darrow remains a complex character, discovering new parts to himself as he continues his ruse as a Gold. The layers of lies start to weigh on him and some of his closest friends notice his moodiness. There were so many times where I wasn’t sure whether Darrow should open up to a friend or not – can any of them be trusted with his deepest secret? Argh! It was nail biting!
There were moments where I was cheering the book on, doing a little fist pump when no one could see me doing so. Then there were times that my eyes misted up a bit. There are several intense moments in this book. Tactus. Mustang. Quinn. Darrow’s mom. Even though this book wrung emotions from me I wasn’t sure I had before, when I finished it, I wanted to go reread the first 2 books again.
While Book 1 took place all on Mars, Book 2 spreads out a bit and we get to see more of this terraformed solar system. Book 1 taught us the basics of this hierarchical society, but Golden Son shows us people from these other castes and what they are capable of. Darrow certainly has his hands full with the Sons of Ares and trying to upturn this caste system.
And why don’t we chat about the Sons of Ares. I, like Darrow, was expecting them to be all on the same page. Unfortunately for Darrow, that was not so. This added another dimension to the plot and made one more dangerous pitfall for Darrow to avoid. Though I did guess who Ares was early on, it was still a great reveal scene.
Next to Darrow, Sevro is my favorite character. He acts crude and rude all the time, but he has these shinning moments where he sets the bar high for what true friendship is. To my surprise, I became a bit attached to Victra. Perhaps it was her unashamedly flirtatious manner. Ragnar was an excellent new addition to Darrow’s circle of friends. The characters all around are just very well done. I love that the author doesn’t hold back from placing female characters in every job a male character traditionally holds in so much of SFF literature. The swordswoman Ajah is terrifying. The Sovereign is wickedly smart but also too proud of that fact.
The ending is super intense and I am so glad I have Book 3 lined up and ready to go. Golden Son does end on a cliffhanger and if I had read this book a year ago before Book 3 was out, this might have bothered me. Books 1 & 2 have set the bar high for Book 3 – I have every expectation it will live up to it!
The Narration: Tim Gerard Reynolds continues to do this series justice. I love that he shows a little of Darrow’s Red heritage in his accent when he thinks of home, yet maintains his cultured Gold accent throughout the novel. His voice for Ragnar is very well done, considering limitations on human vocal cords. Surprisingly, Reynolds does a very good sexy vixen for Victra.
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LibraryThing member jmoncton
Many sci-fi/fantasy trilogies have a problem with the 2nd book. The first book is new and fresh and often times we love the book just because of the world created is so innovative. The third book always has an exciting climax, but that middle book often suffers from sophomore slump. Not so with
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Golden Son! This book was fast-paced and there were plenty of surprises that had not been revealed in book 1 that kept this book fresh and exciting. The story continues of Darrow, a Red miner from Mars who is part of an uprising to break the oppressive rule of the Golds. This book is filled with military tactics, deception, and plenty of heroes that you can root for and mourn. Love this series -- can't wait to see how this ends! Show Less
LibraryThing member agarcia85257
Golden Son by Pierce Brown is book two in the Red Rising Trilogy and though most book twos have a tendency to be filler or set up for the final book of a trilogy; Golden Son is oh my m*f*ing God good!
Years have past since Darrow has survived and won the trials of the Academy. He has killed and
"...Once upon a time, a man came from the sky and killed my wife. Beside him now, I walk on a mountain that floats over our world..."
"...Take a last look,' he tells me as we near his shuttle. 'All that came before was but a whisper of our world. When you leave this mountain, all bonds are broken, all oaths are dust. You are not prepared. No one ever is..."
But Darrow has secrets of his own. Secrets that no one can learn. In a class society, each human is a color and their color depicts who they are. All classes are enslaved by the Golds. Darrow was born a Red, working deep in the mines of Mars, working to build a better world for the Golds. Until one day he and his wife break a rule, and Eo; his wife, his love, pays for it with her life. In grief he disobeys the laws of the Golds and buries her. For this he too is sentenced to death.
"...They took her from me. They hanged her. They made me pull her feet so that her neck would break and she would not suffer. I killed myself after that, burying her, letting them win. Letting them hang me. Drowning in my grief..."
But Darrow doesn't die, he is saved by the Sons of Ares, a revolutionary group bent on destroying the yoke of the Golds. Darrow undergoes a surgical and cultural transformation; as he is turned from a Red into a Gold and given a new identity and mission. To infiltrate and destroy the class society of the Golds from within.
"...So it's pride."
"It's always pride."
"Pride is just a shout into the wind."
He shakes his head, voice deepening. "I will die. You will die. We will all die and the universe will carry on without care. All that we have is that shout into the wind-how we live. How we go. And how we stand before we fall." He leans forward. "So you see, pride is the only thing..."
Now, not only considered one of them, but one of their elite. Darrow must carefully sow the seeds of rebellion as he battles to send the ruling class into a bloody civil war.
As a Gold, Darrow finds himself lost among those who think he is their friend and unsure if they are his. But how would they feel is they knew how much he really was not like them. That he was just a lowly Red. New love comes into his life but can he trust it? Can he dare to let anyone know who he truly is?
"...I turn to the sea of Gold faces.
This race-what a beautiful monster. They carry all of humanity's strengths, except one. Empathy. They cannot change. I know that. Perhaps not now, perhaps not in four generations. But it begins today, the end of their Golden Age. Shatter the Bellona, weaken Gold. Drive the civil war to Luna itself and destroy the Sovereign. Then Ares will rise.
I don't want to be here. I want to be home, with her, with my child who never was.
But can't be. I feel the tide inside me go out, baring old wounds. This is for you, I tell her. For the world you should have lived in..."
As Darrow finds himself in the rich but treacherous world of the Golds', he must struggle to never lose sight of himself and the dream Eo had of a better world for his people.
With Golden Son, Brown takes the saga of Red Rising and amps it up. Darrow is a powerful warrior, no longer the frightened boy just trying to survive. He weaves himself in and out of the politics of the ruling class as well as the bloody and violent feuds of the powerful families. This is very much like a feudal Japanese dynasty set against the backdrop of the Universe. Intrigue. Bloody battles. Massive destruction on a warlike scale. The courage of a writer to kill and maim major characters without fear, knowing it will only drive the story further. Brown displays and masters all of these. Making Golden Son not only a sequel but a step up in the story of Darrow and Red Rising.
But don't think Golden Son is all blades flashing and blood spilling, Brown attacks some very real social issues in this novel. Much as he did in the first and he doesn't shy away at all. Socialism. Slavery. Rape. Poverty. Class society. Golden Son, like Red Rising before it, will make you think hard on your societal views. The balls to separate the classes by color speaks to the simple courage of a honest writer. This is even more revealing when you understand the Red Rising is his first foray into the field. It is grand and immense in scope.
Perhaps Pierce Brown has the advantage of not knowing he shouldn't be this good. This fast.
But thank God he is.
Do you need to read Red Rising before you read Golden Son? No. But you should. You really should. Seriously.
Golden Son. Its going to be very big in 2015.
An excellent read!
Years have past since Darrow has survived and won the trials of the Academy. He has killed and
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stormed the castle of Olympus, until he and his team stood alone atop the mountain. "...Once upon a time, a man came from the sky and killed my wife. Beside him now, I walk on a mountain that floats over our world..."
"...Take a last look,' he tells me as we near his shuttle. 'All that came before was but a whisper of our world. When you leave this mountain, all bonds are broken, all oaths are dust. You are not prepared. No one ever is..."
But Darrow has secrets of his own. Secrets that no one can learn. In a class society, each human is a color and their color depicts who they are. All classes are enslaved by the Golds. Darrow was born a Red, working deep in the mines of Mars, working to build a better world for the Golds. Until one day he and his wife break a rule, and Eo; his wife, his love, pays for it with her life. In grief he disobeys the laws of the Golds and buries her. For this he too is sentenced to death.
"...They took her from me. They hanged her. They made me pull her feet so that her neck would break and she would not suffer. I killed myself after that, burying her, letting them win. Letting them hang me. Drowning in my grief..."
But Darrow doesn't die, he is saved by the Sons of Ares, a revolutionary group bent on destroying the yoke of the Golds. Darrow undergoes a surgical and cultural transformation; as he is turned from a Red into a Gold and given a new identity and mission. To infiltrate and destroy the class society of the Golds from within.
"...So it's pride."
"It's always pride."
"Pride is just a shout into the wind."
He shakes his head, voice deepening. "I will die. You will die. We will all die and the universe will carry on without care. All that we have is that shout into the wind-how we live. How we go. And how we stand before we fall." He leans forward. "So you see, pride is the only thing..."
Now, not only considered one of them, but one of their elite. Darrow must carefully sow the seeds of rebellion as he battles to send the ruling class into a bloody civil war.
As a Gold, Darrow finds himself lost among those who think he is their friend and unsure if they are his. But how would they feel is they knew how much he really was not like them. That he was just a lowly Red. New love comes into his life but can he trust it? Can he dare to let anyone know who he truly is?
"...I turn to the sea of Gold faces.
This race-what a beautiful monster. They carry all of humanity's strengths, except one. Empathy. They cannot change. I know that. Perhaps not now, perhaps not in four generations. But it begins today, the end of their Golden Age. Shatter the Bellona, weaken Gold. Drive the civil war to Luna itself and destroy the Sovereign. Then Ares will rise.
I don't want to be here. I want to be home, with her, with my child who never was.
But can't be. I feel the tide inside me go out, baring old wounds. This is for you, I tell her. For the world you should have lived in..."
As Darrow finds himself in the rich but treacherous world of the Golds', he must struggle to never lose sight of himself and the dream Eo had of a better world for his people.
With Golden Son, Brown takes the saga of Red Rising and amps it up. Darrow is a powerful warrior, no longer the frightened boy just trying to survive. He weaves himself in and out of the politics of the ruling class as well as the bloody and violent feuds of the powerful families. This is very much like a feudal Japanese dynasty set against the backdrop of the Universe. Intrigue. Bloody battles. Massive destruction on a warlike scale. The courage of a writer to kill and maim major characters without fear, knowing it will only drive the story further. Brown displays and masters all of these. Making Golden Son not only a sequel but a step up in the story of Darrow and Red Rising.
But don't think Golden Son is all blades flashing and blood spilling, Brown attacks some very real social issues in this novel. Much as he did in the first and he doesn't shy away at all. Socialism. Slavery. Rape. Poverty. Class society. Golden Son, like Red Rising before it, will make you think hard on your societal views. The balls to separate the classes by color speaks to the simple courage of a honest writer. This is even more revealing when you understand the Red Rising is his first foray into the field. It is grand and immense in scope.
Perhaps Pierce Brown has the advantage of not knowing he shouldn't be this good. This fast.
But thank God he is.
Do you need to read Red Rising before you read Golden Son? No. But you should. You really should. Seriously.
Golden Son. Its going to be very big in 2015.
An excellent read!
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LibraryThing member ohsillytwigg
Bloodydamn Pierce Brown. That ending.
If you aren't reading this series, what exactly are you doing with your life?
If you aren't reading this series, what exactly are you doing with your life?
LibraryThing member dmclane
The kind folks at NetGalley along with the Publisher and Author provided me with an advance proof to read. Fortunately I recognized that it was the second book of a trilogy; and went hunting the first book, Red Rising, read it and then this continuation. I'd recommend reading the books in order to
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anyone just starting on the trilogy. So far the trilogy has been a is a wonderful mash-up of Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and Hunger Games just as advertised; however, without as much magic and with a lot more violence. Doubtlessly, there will be plenty of reviewers who will rehash the plot, characters, etc. So I'll not waste time with that beyond saying, the basic premise is dystopian and intriguing as a caste system has been created to rule mankind. The first book sets the stage for the second (Golden Son) wherein the main characters attempt to alter the status quo. A fun, easy read, which could easily become fodder for the cinema or TV folks assuming there's a third book and resolution that keeps faith with the plot. I really enjoyed reading it and will await the final installment anxiously. My thanks to all for the opportunity to read this story. Highly recommend. Show Less
LibraryThing member Nightwing
There had better be another book in this series! And, thankfully, there is. Book one of this trilogy, Red Rising, told the story of a man from one of the lowest rungs of society who is transformed to become a resident on the highest rung. In this book, the man starts a war. But that, he has to deal
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with the deaths, and lives, of friends, enemies he thought were friend, and friends who become family. Show Less
LibraryThing member anissaannalise
This was the book I closed out 2014 with. 4.5 stars. I can't believe it and I wasn't expecting it, but I liked this one even more than Red Rising. This was still another bloody and violent ride but I was also caught up in the political landscape and intrigue. I always want to know what the wider
I definitely recommend this one for fans of the series or just scifi fans. And if you like world building, there's a healthy dose of that in this book.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher on Netgalley exchange for my honest review.
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world characters move in, looks like and it's clear in this one Mars was only one stop on the Gold Galactic Tour of Tyranny. I also admit to finding it delightfully macabre that what begins as a lovely, formal, well catered Gold event can so quickly devolve into a fight to the death by opposing faction houses vying for position. It was reminiscent of the fall of the House of Batiatus in Spartacus. If this is ever made into a movie, I look forward to the death matches in formal wear. Another of my favorite aspects of this book was the second look at the Sons of Ares. It's always nice to see characters met in the first book to see what they're up to and I wasn't disappointed here. Darrow, with new information and a more mature outlook is even more an outcast, it turns out. I was glad of this development and liked him more than I did the first time around. I'm still not sorry when he's hard done by or in peril and no amount of obstacles thrown in his path worry me much (I expect him to make it to the last book, of course) but I'm enjoying watching them all. I was also fairly surprised in a few instances and they were good surprises (no spoilers from me because it'll really make you angry if you're robbed the surprise). I'm definitely all in on the final book in this series and there's nothing for me to do now but wait anxiously.I definitely recommend this one for fans of the series or just scifi fans. And if you like world building, there's a healthy dose of that in this book.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher on Netgalley exchange for my honest review.
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LibraryThing member Cyndecat
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
Wow! This is a rollicking good book that you won’t want to put down and you will impatiently wait for the next installment!!! Golden Son, the second book in a proposed trilogy, delivers a powerful follow up to the first book, Red Rising.
In Red Rising we saw Darrow, a
Darrow continues in his feud toward the Bellona family as the War games continue. The fierceness of the battle, the insane risks and the intense friendships continue to unfold as Darrow strives to understand what is expected of him. The Academy battle does not go his way and he is disgraced and abandoned by his sponsor.
The political intrigue, the scheming and the betrayals flow as Darrow must fight to counteract the betrayal of a sovereign and fight to restore some semblance of balance in the realm. The fighting is brutal and bloody. The book is a serious nail-biter to the end! This is a masterful story with incredible world building fantasy mixed with genuine emotions.
Wow! This is a rollicking good book that you won’t want to put down and you will impatiently wait for the next installment!!! Golden Son, the second book in a proposed trilogy, delivers a powerful follow up to the first book, Red Rising.
In Red Rising we saw Darrow, a
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boy from deep in the mines of Mars, be carved (physically and genetically transformed) from a Red to a Gold so he can go undercover into the society that rules the universe as a representative of the Sons of Ares, a radical revolutionary group that seeks to overthrow the Golds society from within. He is painfully transformed and sent to the Institute to compete with other Gold children. After triumphing at the Institute, he is under the tutelage of his arch nemesis, ArchGovenor Nero au Augustus at the Academy to learn the Art of War. Darrow continues in his feud toward the Bellona family as the War games continue. The fierceness of the battle, the insane risks and the intense friendships continue to unfold as Darrow strives to understand what is expected of him. The Academy battle does not go his way and he is disgraced and abandoned by his sponsor.
The political intrigue, the scheming and the betrayals flow as Darrow must fight to counteract the betrayal of a sovereign and fight to restore some semblance of balance in the realm. The fighting is brutal and bloody. The book is a serious nail-biter to the end! This is a masterful story with incredible world building fantasy mixed with genuine emotions.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
I got a copy of this book to review through NetGalley. This is the second book in the Red Rising Trilogy. The third book will be titled, Morning Star, release date is TBD. This book was just as absolutely wonderful as the first book in this series. It was more of an epic sci-fi space battle type of
Darrow has established himself as a leader among the Golds. He is leading armies and participating in much court intrigue and contests for power. Everything changes when he is thrown out of favor by one of his leader’s other favorites. However, Darrow is able to make new and unlikely alliances to continue in his mission to destroy the power of the Golds from the inside.
I am having a bit of trouble writing this review because I really really loved this book, but I am not sure how best to articulate my love for it.
This book is incredibly action packed and very fast-paced. The world building is amazing, the characters are all very well down and have lot of depth. There is a ton of intrigue and politics as well. Pretty much this book has everything I could want in a book and is very well balanced.
The pace of this book is absolutely breathtaking, the action scenes will have you on the edge of your seat and just when you think you can’t take anymore....you will finally get a chance to catch your breath and watch all of the characters try to cope with all the ordeals they have just gone through.
Darrow is a fascinating character. He has grown a lot from the first book. He still makes errors and mistakes but he has learned a lot as well. He is a force to be reckoned with, yet still takes care of those who have helped him. He is an interesting contradiction of traits. Darrow will destroy thousands of people with a breath and then go to extraordinary measures to save one friend. He is constantly struggling with what he is forced to become to topple the Gold society.
There are a lot of wonderful side characters in this book as well. Mustang was my favorite, she was a love interest for Darrow in the first book. Mustang is a very strong female lead and has plans and ambitions of her own. She is smart, tough and incredible capable. I love the working relationship her and Darrow have. They both trust and respect each others abilities and decisions.
This is much more of an epic space opera of sort and doesn’t have as many of the fantasy elements as the first book. However, this change really worked well for this book and I enjoyed the change in pace a lot. There are still a ton of politics, strategy, and battle...it just takes place in space.
The amount of mass destruction and the loss of life in this book is staggering. This book really shows the price of a revolution and drives home how huge the human population is in this world. Thousands upon thousands are slaughtered in a single thought in some parts of this book. It is both awe inspiring and disturbing.
The book ends at an excellent spot and I am eager to see how things play out in the final book in this trilogy.
Overall I have loved this science fiction series. The world building is awesome, the story incredibly fast-paced and engaging, and the characters have amazing depth. There are spectacular action scenes, complex politics, epic battles, and characters you really care about. Some of the battle scenes will take your breath away, they are just that amazing. Add to all of that characters that think and contemplate some big issues and it all adds up to an amazing read that is both thought provoking and incredibly hard to put down. I can’t wait to see what the next book holds!
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book than Red Rising, but just as action packed and awesome!Darrow has established himself as a leader among the Golds. He is leading armies and participating in much court intrigue and contests for power. Everything changes when he is thrown out of favor by one of his leader’s other favorites. However, Darrow is able to make new and unlikely alliances to continue in his mission to destroy the power of the Golds from the inside.
I am having a bit of trouble writing this review because I really really loved this book, but I am not sure how best to articulate my love for it.
This book is incredibly action packed and very fast-paced. The world building is amazing, the characters are all very well down and have lot of depth. There is a ton of intrigue and politics as well. Pretty much this book has everything I could want in a book and is very well balanced.
The pace of this book is absolutely breathtaking, the action scenes will have you on the edge of your seat and just when you think you can’t take anymore....you will finally get a chance to catch your breath and watch all of the characters try to cope with all the ordeals they have just gone through.
Darrow is a fascinating character. He has grown a lot from the first book. He still makes errors and mistakes but he has learned a lot as well. He is a force to be reckoned with, yet still takes care of those who have helped him. He is an interesting contradiction of traits. Darrow will destroy thousands of people with a breath and then go to extraordinary measures to save one friend. He is constantly struggling with what he is forced to become to topple the Gold society.
There are a lot of wonderful side characters in this book as well. Mustang was my favorite, she was a love interest for Darrow in the first book. Mustang is a very strong female lead and has plans and ambitions of her own. She is smart, tough and incredible capable. I love the working relationship her and Darrow have. They both trust and respect each others abilities and decisions.
This is much more of an epic space opera of sort and doesn’t have as many of the fantasy elements as the first book. However, this change really worked well for this book and I enjoyed the change in pace a lot. There are still a ton of politics, strategy, and battle...it just takes place in space.
The amount of mass destruction and the loss of life in this book is staggering. This book really shows the price of a revolution and drives home how huge the human population is in this world. Thousands upon thousands are slaughtered in a single thought in some parts of this book. It is both awe inspiring and disturbing.
The book ends at an excellent spot and I am eager to see how things play out in the final book in this trilogy.
Overall I have loved this science fiction series. The world building is awesome, the story incredibly fast-paced and engaging, and the characters have amazing depth. There are spectacular action scenes, complex politics, epic battles, and characters you really care about. Some of the battle scenes will take your breath away, they are just that amazing. Add to all of that characters that think and contemplate some big issues and it all adds up to an amazing read that is both thought provoking and incredibly hard to put down. I can’t wait to see what the next book holds!
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LibraryThing member melissarochelle
Read from January 01 to 07, 2015
I finished this while pumping in the wee hours of the morning and just thought, "bloodydamn cliffhangers." Unlike RED RISING where I struggled in the beginning, GOLDEN SON starts fast and just keeps flying. Definitely a good one for anyone who likes books with
Don't read any further if you want to avoid potential spoilers.
So Darrow makes a lot of plans here and is successful maybe 5% of the time. In the first book he was nearly perfect, well clearly his perfection caught up with him and everyone figured him out. The poor guy couldn't win. And in some cases I'm not sure if his plans worked or not. (Did they kidnap all of the Institute kids from other planets?) Can't wait to see how he gets himself out of this next predicament.
Darrow is a horrible friend and all of his problems are because he forgets to trust people -- or is an idiot and trusts the wrong people because he thinks he's smarter than them.
I like that more was explained about the Society though there are still aspects in unclear on.
We know who Ares is and it kind of makes sense.
At the end when the shiz hits the fan, wasn't Sevro just there? Where'd the Howlers go?
I finished this while pumping in the wee hours of the morning and just thought, "bloodydamn cliffhangers." Unlike RED RISING where I struggled in the beginning, GOLDEN SON starts fast and just keeps flying. Definitely a good one for anyone who likes books with
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"game(s)" in the title: Ender's Game, A Game of Thrones, The Hunger Games. It's violent, clever, more violent, and full of spacecraft (not my favorite part, I tend to space out when discussing ships and weaponry).Don't read any further if you want to avoid potential spoilers.
So Darrow makes a lot of plans here and is successful maybe 5% of the time. In the first book he was nearly perfect, well clearly his perfection caught up with him and everyone figured him out. The poor guy couldn't win. And in some cases I'm not sure if his plans worked or not. (Did they kidnap all of the Institute kids from other planets?) Can't wait to see how he gets himself out of this next predicament.
Darrow is a horrible friend and all of his problems are because he forgets to trust people -- or is an idiot and trusts the wrong people because he thinks he's smarter than them.
I like that more was explained about the Society though there are still aspects in unclear on.
We know who Ares is and it kind of makes sense.
At the end when the shiz hits the fan, wasn't Sevro just there? Where'd the Howlers go?
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LibraryThing member LibStaff2
Wow! I never thought I would say this, but book two is even better than book one (and the first novel is awesome). It's fast-paced. The story starts off at a sprint and never slows down. Once I started Golden Son, I couldn't put it down. This is Sci-fi/fantasy at its best. The world-building, the
Net Galley Feedback
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characters, the plot, the action, the detail, the emotion...A+, Pierce Brown. A+.Net Galley Feedback
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LibraryThing member MaryJensen
I will be 100% honest. I don't know how to review this book.
It might be because once I got going, I didn't know how to put it down, so I was up until a ridiculous hour of the morning finishing it.
It might be because I'm still recovering emotionally from certain parts of this book. This is not a
It could be because I'm absolutely in awe. I'm a librarian's only child, so it's not like I have limited experience in reading books. I've read a lot of them. A LOT. And with his first two published works, Pierce Brown has managed to write my two favorite books of all time and flip my favorite genre on its ear.
I guess the only thing I can say is... Did Pierce Brown manage to avoid the sophomore slump that plagues so many authors? Cacatne ursus in silvis?
(If you don't know the Latin phrase, read the book.)
It might be because once I got going, I didn't know how to put it down, so I was up until a ridiculous hour of the morning finishing it.
It might be because I'm still recovering emotionally from certain parts of this book. This is not a
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book for the faint of heart, especially as you get attached to the characters, going back to Red Rising.It could be because I'm absolutely in awe. I'm a librarian's only child, so it's not like I have limited experience in reading books. I've read a lot of them. A LOT. And with his first two published works, Pierce Brown has managed to write my two favorite books of all time and flip my favorite genre on its ear.
I guess the only thing I can say is... Did Pierce Brown manage to avoid the sophomore slump that plagues so many authors? Cacatne ursus in silvis?
(If you don't know the Latin phrase, read the book.)
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LibraryThing member everfresh1
The first book was very good. The second one is even better. A lot of action, excellent characters, unpredictable plot, a lot of violence. Just excellent!!!
LibraryThing member JenLamoureux
Dear Pierce Brown,
Why? Why are you trying to ruin my life? I just closed the cover on this book, and there are not sufficient words for all the emotions you have left me with. And now I have to wait another YEAR to find out what happens.
Dear Readers,
Please read the Red Rising trilogy. I love to
If you want to read about dystopian worlds, Brown has finally done the genre justice. In my opinion, this book easily sits on the shelf with so many other great works of literature.
Why? Why are you trying to ruin my life? I just closed the cover on this book, and there are not sufficient words for all the emotions you have left me with. And now I have to wait another YEAR to find out what happens.
Dear Readers,
Please read the Red Rising trilogy. I love to
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read, but it's very rare that I become evangelical about a book. I have been dragged through a hellstorm of emotions for the past 442 pages. The writing is eloquent. The plot is on-point. Not a single word or page is wasted. There has not been a single moment in the past two books when I have wished for things to hurry on. There is not a SINGLE character (and believe me, there are plenty of characters in these books) who I would easily discard. Everything is rich and vibrant and complex. Everything makes sense. Everything is in character. Never before have I been dragged so viscerally between triumphs and failures.If you want to read about dystopian worlds, Brown has finally done the genre justice. In my opinion, this book easily sits on the shelf with so many other great works of literature.
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LibraryThing member stefferoo
Disclaimer: I won this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers Program but haven't received the book yet - I was able to get a copy from elsewhere.
Tales of courtly politics, noble house squabbles and the machinations of psychopathic lords and ladies have taken the epic fantasy genre by storm in
As ever, when the ruling nobility go to war it is the common people who suffer, and it’s really not so different in Brown’s Golden Son. Elite Gold houses embroil themselves in a power struggle with very little thought for the low colors, and at the bottom of the hierarchy are the Reds, miners and laborers literally being kept in the dark below the surface of Mars as they toil away for the glory of the Sovereign. But a new hope has arrived in the form of Darrow, a Red who has overcome much in order to don the guise of the enemy and ultimately arise as the Golden Child. Last we saw him, Darrow had bested the competition in the deadly games at command school, and now he has been taken under the wing of his arch nemesis Nero of House Augustus – just as the rebel Sons of Ares have planned.
Needless to say, the story has exploded beyond the small confines of the Institute. The bloody battles that Darrow faced against his fellow Golds in the war games in book one? Child’s play, compare to all that he has to deal with in this crazy follow-up. But while he may be wholly embedded in Gold society now, Darrow still has games to play. As the rising star of a powerful house, he has also made no shortage of enemies. Saddled with certain expectations, Darrow must do all he can to maintain his cover if he’s to bring down the Society from within its rotten core.
While the first book Red Rising had certain elements in it that made me classify it as Young Adult, Golden Son takes a turn for the much darker, ramping up the violence and mature themes, blurring the lines between YA and Adult and yet managing to transcend both categories at the same time. Once again, Pierce Brown manages to utterly blow me away with his exquisite writing. Subtle and even at times poetic, he can describe something as ugly as war and still make it beautiful, if perturbingly so:
“Roses of a thousand shades fall from the trees as Golds fight beneath them. They’re all red in the end.”
The story takes on a life of its own in this sequel, barreling through one stunning plot development after another. There is seriously very little time to catch your breath. Trust no one, believe nothing. Darrow walks this fine line between deciding to keep his companions at arm’s length versus drawing them close into his inner circle. Perhaps my only real complaint is the inconsistency in his character. For most of the book he is a cunning strategist whose only tool is cold logic, a military genius who seems to read his enemies like an open book. I would question how he gained all this knowledge growing up as a simple laborer in the mines of Mars and would even go as far as to call him a “Gary Stu” if not for the odd inexplicable moments where he just goes and does something downright stupid and unjustified. These decisions often come from his heart, but nonetheless I find it hard to swallow that one moment Darrow can blank out his feelings for the sake of war planning, and the next he can insist on making an emotional decision that he knows may jeopardize years of planning, not to mention snuff out all hope for millions of oppressed.
Still, I enjoy the way his character has grown in the two years since his stint at the Institute. In that time, Darrow has learned that not everything in the world is black and white – or Gold and Red, as it were. Some of the worst and most degenerate people he knows are Golds, but then so are many of his loyal followers as well as the woman he loves. Even if he can succeed in breaking their chains, the low colors might not even accept him as one of their own, not when his own family would probably fail to recognize him. Darrow is in the midst of an identity crisis, knowing that every day he spends as a Gold takes him further away from his life as a Red. It is gut-wrenching to read, knowing all that he has given up and how much more he still has ahead of him.
And of course, speaking of gut-wrenching, there’s that ending. Why must middle books of a series always end with everyone getting the shaft? My poor battered heart can only take so much! Golden Son concludes with a bombshell of a cliffhanger that is blatantly written in a way to drive you nuts, and yet I can’t think of anything else I want to say while I’m down here melting in a puddle of emotions except “Please, Mr. Brown my good man, can you stab me in the heart some more?” I just can’t help it! This book left me more exhausted and stricken than Red Rising, which I can’t claim is an entirely pleasant feeling. But even as it crushes and mangles you, twisting you up like a grungy old mop in a wringer, the story is just so powerful and addicting. Need the third book. Now.
Tales of courtly politics, noble house squabbles and the machinations of psychopathic lords and ladies have taken the epic fantasy genre by storm in
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recent years, and it looks like author Pierce Brown has been busy taking notes, adopting these elements for book two of his own futuristic sci-fi dystopian series.As ever, when the ruling nobility go to war it is the common people who suffer, and it’s really not so different in Brown’s Golden Son. Elite Gold houses embroil themselves in a power struggle with very little thought for the low colors, and at the bottom of the hierarchy are the Reds, miners and laborers literally being kept in the dark below the surface of Mars as they toil away for the glory of the Sovereign. But a new hope has arrived in the form of Darrow, a Red who has overcome much in order to don the guise of the enemy and ultimately arise as the Golden Child. Last we saw him, Darrow had bested the competition in the deadly games at command school, and now he has been taken under the wing of his arch nemesis Nero of House Augustus – just as the rebel Sons of Ares have planned.
Needless to say, the story has exploded beyond the small confines of the Institute. The bloody battles that Darrow faced against his fellow Golds in the war games in book one? Child’s play, compare to all that he has to deal with in this crazy follow-up. But while he may be wholly embedded in Gold society now, Darrow still has games to play. As the rising star of a powerful house, he has also made no shortage of enemies. Saddled with certain expectations, Darrow must do all he can to maintain his cover if he’s to bring down the Society from within its rotten core.
While the first book Red Rising had certain elements in it that made me classify it as Young Adult, Golden Son takes a turn for the much darker, ramping up the violence and mature themes, blurring the lines between YA and Adult and yet managing to transcend both categories at the same time. Once again, Pierce Brown manages to utterly blow me away with his exquisite writing. Subtle and even at times poetic, he can describe something as ugly as war and still make it beautiful, if perturbingly so:
“Roses of a thousand shades fall from the trees as Golds fight beneath them. They’re all red in the end.”
The story takes on a life of its own in this sequel, barreling through one stunning plot development after another. There is seriously very little time to catch your breath. Trust no one, believe nothing. Darrow walks this fine line between deciding to keep his companions at arm’s length versus drawing them close into his inner circle. Perhaps my only real complaint is the inconsistency in his character. For most of the book he is a cunning strategist whose only tool is cold logic, a military genius who seems to read his enemies like an open book. I would question how he gained all this knowledge growing up as a simple laborer in the mines of Mars and would even go as far as to call him a “Gary Stu” if not for the odd inexplicable moments where he just goes and does something downright stupid and unjustified. These decisions often come from his heart, but nonetheless I find it hard to swallow that one moment Darrow can blank out his feelings for the sake of war planning, and the next he can insist on making an emotional decision that he knows may jeopardize years of planning, not to mention snuff out all hope for millions of oppressed.
Still, I enjoy the way his character has grown in the two years since his stint at the Institute. In that time, Darrow has learned that not everything in the world is black and white – or Gold and Red, as it were. Some of the worst and most degenerate people he knows are Golds, but then so are many of his loyal followers as well as the woman he loves. Even if he can succeed in breaking their chains, the low colors might not even accept him as one of their own, not when his own family would probably fail to recognize him. Darrow is in the midst of an identity crisis, knowing that every day he spends as a Gold takes him further away from his life as a Red. It is gut-wrenching to read, knowing all that he has given up and how much more he still has ahead of him.
And of course, speaking of gut-wrenching, there’s that ending. Why must middle books of a series always end with everyone getting the shaft? My poor battered heart can only take so much! Golden Son concludes with a bombshell of a cliffhanger that is blatantly written in a way to drive you nuts, and yet I can’t think of anything else I want to say while I’m down here melting in a puddle of emotions except “Please, Mr. Brown my good man, can you stab me in the heart some more?” I just can’t help it! This book left me more exhausted and stricken than Red Rising, which I can’t claim is an entirely pleasant feeling. But even as it crushes and mangles you, twisting you up like a grungy old mop in a wringer, the story is just so powerful and addicting. Need the third book. Now.
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LibraryThing member lostinalibrary
One of my favourite reads of 2014 was Red Rising by author Pierce Brown. I looked forward to its sequel with anticipation but, to be honest, I wasn’t expecting anything anywhere near as exciting as Red Rising. It would be, after all, the middle book in a trilogy and middle books tend to be
But gorydamn if Golden Son isn’t at least as nail-bitingly exciting and unputdownable as the first. Darrow and most of his Howlers have survived the deadly games of the Institute but he still has one more test to pass if he is to be accepted by the Governor, the man who killed Darrow’s wife. And just when he thinks he has proven his worth, he is defeated and it seems like his chance to bring down the colour caste system is over even before it has started.
Instead, he finds a way to turn his defeat into an even bigger opportunity to aid the Sons of Ares. But while their plan is to bring down the system seemingly one Gold at a time, Darrow has other ideas; he will foment a Civil War that will bring it all down around them quickly – that is, if he can survive the arrogance and betrayals of both his enemies and his friends among the Golds.
In Golden Son, Brown expands the world-building and we get a glimpse of just how big this world is. And, while this is most definitely Darrow’s story, he also gives us a more three-dimensional picture of many of the other characters including Roque, Mustang, and Cassius. Golden Son is not a standalone so if you haven’t read Red Rising, you should do that first – trust me, you won’t be sorry. No surprise that this ends on a cliffhanger but, wow, what a cliffhanger – normally I hate them but this was just so…so…never mind, just read the book. But make sure you have lots of time and no interruptions because you are not going to want to put this one down for anything trivial like eating. I do have one question, though, how in all the hells of Mars will Brown top Golden Son in the last book of the trilogy?
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bridges between the first and the third books, mostly filler with some hints to keep the reader’s interest while waiting for the really good stuff. Not to say that a second book can’t be a compelling read but, at least in my case, my expectations tend to be lower than for the other books.But gorydamn if Golden Son isn’t at least as nail-bitingly exciting and unputdownable as the first. Darrow and most of his Howlers have survived the deadly games of the Institute but he still has one more test to pass if he is to be accepted by the Governor, the man who killed Darrow’s wife. And just when he thinks he has proven his worth, he is defeated and it seems like his chance to bring down the colour caste system is over even before it has started.
Instead, he finds a way to turn his defeat into an even bigger opportunity to aid the Sons of Ares. But while their plan is to bring down the system seemingly one Gold at a time, Darrow has other ideas; he will foment a Civil War that will bring it all down around them quickly – that is, if he can survive the arrogance and betrayals of both his enemies and his friends among the Golds.
In Golden Son, Brown expands the world-building and we get a glimpse of just how big this world is. And, while this is most definitely Darrow’s story, he also gives us a more three-dimensional picture of many of the other characters including Roque, Mustang, and Cassius. Golden Son is not a standalone so if you haven’t read Red Rising, you should do that first – trust me, you won’t be sorry. No surprise that this ends on a cliffhanger but, wow, what a cliffhanger – normally I hate them but this was just so…so…never mind, just read the book. But make sure you have lots of time and no interruptions because you are not going to want to put this one down for anything trivial like eating. I do have one question, though, how in all the hells of Mars will Brown top Golden Son in the last book of the trilogy?
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LibraryThing member melaniehope
I read the first book in this series, Red Rising. Golden Son is book #2. This is a fantastic series. It does has similarities to the Hunger Games, but the story keeps going above and beyond that. It is creative, fast paced and the plot is so entertaining that I am upset when the book ends.
This is a
Darrow has been taught to hate those he will overthrow, but he begins to find friendship, respect and even love among his "enemies."
These books are gripping and dramatic...one of those rare books that you don't want to put down.
I would recommend this book to anyone. Another fantastic read, can't wait for the third book!
I received a complimentary e-book copy via Netgalley.com
This is a
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science fiction story about Darrow who grows up on the colony of Mars as a Red mining the ground. But the society he serves is based on lies. As he discovers the truth, he becomes a part of a plot to overthrow the Golds (the elite of society.)Darrow has been taught to hate those he will overthrow, but he begins to find friendship, respect and even love among his "enemies."
These books are gripping and dramatic...one of those rare books that you don't want to put down.
I would recommend this book to anyone. Another fantastic read, can't wait for the third book!
I received a complimentary e-book copy via Netgalley.com
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LibraryThing member JanaRose1
In the sequel to "Red Rising" Darrow continues to work his way through gold society. I thought there was a big disconnect between the first and second books. I feel like I missed part of the story. Overall, I was more interested in the people surrounding the ruler than the people surrounding
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Darrow. Darrow just was not a particularly lovable, relatable or endearing character. I doubt that I will read the next book in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member readafew
Darrow has his first major set back and he doesn't really know how to recover from it. On top of that his sponsor, Augustus, isn't very forgiving of those who let him down. One of Darrow’s faults is his lack of politicking skills. This is a serious shortcoming when dealing with a race brought up
What saves our hero more often than not is his friends. His problem, he doesn't know whether to embrace them or set them up to die with the rest of the gold leadership. It’s his internal vacillation that keeps his friends at arms length. They never really know what he’s thinking or feeling and this alienates them, often at very inopportune times. It is a lesson he needs to learn over and over. Often a little too late. Every time he seems to be about to complete an important goal, his ego seems to get in the way and ruin everything.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I gave it 4.5 stars. I gave Red Rising 5, partly because it was fresh and exciting, but also because it was a complete book. The series could have ended there and it still would have been good. Golden Son ends on a cliffhanger and the last book will be needed to come to some resolution. Pierce Brown also seems to be taking a few notes from George R.R. Martin and Robin Hobb. No one is safe and they must all go through life crushing experiences.
This book while still full of action, it also had a lot of politicking and mind games, most of which our hero wasn't really equipped to handle. Good book, Great series, can’t wait for the last one!
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on extreme Machiavellian tendencies. By the time Darrow registers a back stabbing threat often it’s after the knife has plunged home. And the matriarch of the Bellona family holds a grudge like none other and she intends to have her revenge, she literally wants his heart on a platter.What saves our hero more often than not is his friends. His problem, he doesn't know whether to embrace them or set them up to die with the rest of the gold leadership. It’s his internal vacillation that keeps his friends at arms length. They never really know what he’s thinking or feeling and this alienates them, often at very inopportune times. It is a lesson he needs to learn over and over. Often a little too late. Every time he seems to be about to complete an important goal, his ego seems to get in the way and ruin everything.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I gave it 4.5 stars. I gave Red Rising 5, partly because it was fresh and exciting, but also because it was a complete book. The series could have ended there and it still would have been good. Golden Son ends on a cliffhanger and the last book will be needed to come to some resolution. Pierce Brown also seems to be taking a few notes from George R.R. Martin and Robin Hobb. No one is safe and they must all go through life crushing experiences.
This book while still full of action, it also had a lot of politicking and mind games, most of which our hero wasn't really equipped to handle. Good book, Great series, can’t wait for the last one!
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LibraryThing member DanTarlin
Book 2 of the trilogy is a non-stop thrill ride, like the first one in that there is virtually no break in the action and the twists and turns come fast and furious. I couldn't put it down.
Darrow returns after a puzzling time lapse (puzzling in that there would be plenty of material to write about
One thing that nibbles at me is that Darrow's training is absurdly complete- he is able to completely pass as a Gold even though he really didn't have much time to learn Latin, History, etc, but still passes the intellectual tests as well as the martial ones. That feels too contrived.
Overall, though, amid the carnage there are important themes of family, friendship, loyalty, guilt, and lots more that is skillfully handled by the author. A great read, and a tortuous year or more to wait for the final installment.
Darrow returns after a puzzling time lapse (puzzling in that there would be plenty of material to write about
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between the end of Book 1 and the start of Book 2, but I guess that would have been training and the like, whereas Brown would rather write the carnage that comes after the training). One thing that nibbles at me is that Darrow's training is absurdly complete- he is able to completely pass as a Gold even though he really didn't have much time to learn Latin, History, etc, but still passes the intellectual tests as well as the martial ones. That feels too contrived.
Overall, though, amid the carnage there are important themes of family, friendship, loyalty, guilt, and lots more that is skillfully handled by the author. A great read, and a tortuous year or more to wait for the final installment.
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LibraryThing member CinderH
I actually liked this one more than I liked Red Rising. I felt a little more fleshed out though I still don't like his fight scenes. They just don't do anything for me.
I read some review comparing it to Game of Thrones (politically) ummm...no. Just no. It's nowhere near the complicated political
The plot still feels pretty disorganized to me and I think it's because there is no other point of view. Things are just happening to or around Darrow and I don't really always understand why certain characters just change on a dime.
And...it sounds like I didn't enjoy it. I did, but somewhere in the middle I get a little bored and then I get back into it, but not with the initial excitement.
I read some review comparing it to Game of Thrones (politically) ummm...no. Just no. It's nowhere near the complicated political
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and familial drama as GoT. That being said, the reference made me realize what I feel like I'm missing in the RR series. It's that it is truly only about Darrow. I'd love to see some other characters thoughts and feelings sometimes. Another point of view to add suspense and drama (of which I feel there is almost none). The plot still feels pretty disorganized to me and I think it's because there is no other point of view. Things are just happening to or around Darrow and I don't really always understand why certain characters just change on a dime.
And...it sounds like I didn't enjoy it. I did, but somewhere in the middle I get a little bored and then I get back into it, but not with the initial excitement.
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LibraryThing member VPbookseller
This book 2 in a wonderful science fiction saga. Love the book and the characters. Lots of detail. And ultimately a close look into human nature, love and betrayal. You can't really read this when you are distracted. Bring on number
LibraryThing member renbedell
The sequel to Red Rising really moves the story along into different territory normally seen in YA dystopian type books. This book covers much more ground and has the normal violent and mental games in Red Rising, but also adds politics and a bit of humanism too. The ending is a much more of a
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cliffhanger then Red Rising, which makes it a big agonizing of a finish. But it definitely ended with a bang. Great book and great series. Show Less
LibraryThing member ltcl
It is difficult for me to truly be wowed by the second book in the series but once in a while I can happily say - wow! The second episode in the "Red Rising" phenomenon continues with our confused Darrow and his merry band of anarchists trying to control the universe and rid the world of its evil
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caste system. While this edition is much more violent than its predecessor, this violence is the essence of the story and vital to us understanding how humans can get when pushed to the level of extinction. Pierce Brown has a wonderfully twisted way of leading you in one direction only to drop a bombshell on you the next minute. As in any political tug and war for power, Darrow is never really sure which alliance will hold and who is stabbing him in the back. The story is a cross between the violence and righteousness of Ancient Rome, "Game of Thrones" and a healthy dose of "Star Wars" with multiple Darth Vaders! There are just as many strong women as men and moral dilemmas mixed in with the battles making this an all around great choice for science fiction lovers, military historians and political intrigue. I truly hope this series has been opted for the movie rights! My thanks to the publisher for sharing an early edition with me. The book is out in January 2015. Show Less
LibraryThing member SESchend
Very powerful follow-up and great 2nd novel in a series.
My only complaint may simply be my not rereading the first book before the second. It took me a while to remember exactly the relationships among all the characters due to the time between books; a dramatis personae list as an appendix or
Otherwise, it takes more twists and turns than expected (though I expected the final one more than 100 pages before it hit) and is recommended for those who don't mind their science fiction to be a bit grisly and violent.
My only complaint may simply be my not rereading the first book before the second. It took me a while to remember exactly the relationships among all the characters due to the time between books; a dramatis personae list as an appendix or
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endpapers might have been helpful. Otherwise, it takes more twists and turns than expected (though I expected the final one more than 100 pages before it hit) and is recommended for those who don't mind their science fiction to be a bit grisly and violent.
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Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Science Fiction — 2016)
RUSA CODES Reading List (Winner — Science Fiction — 2016)
Prometheus Award (Nominee — Novel — 2016)
NPR: Books We Love (2015)
Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults (Fiction)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2015-01-06
Physical description
464 p.; 6.4 inches
ISBN
9780345539816
Local notes
Remainder mark on bottom.