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Red Rising (Red Rising Saga, #1)

Pierce Brown

Start date: November 23, 2015

Finish date: November 29, 2015

Discussion: Red Rising

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Red Rising

11/29 SUN || 330-400 (Ch. 39-END)
By Shannon · 5 posts · 29 views

last updated Nov 30, 2015 03:19PM

11/27 FRI || 219-262 (Ch. 29-33)
By Shannon · 4 posts · 19 views

last updated Nov 30, 2015 09:20AM

What Members Thought

Oct 15, 2014 Michaela rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed, own-it, sci-fi-nerd, why-did-you-have-to-die, read-in-2016

Read this review on my blog, 93 Diagon Alley

~4.5 stars~

Red Rising follows the story of Darrow, a teenage boy who is a member of the Reds, the lowest caste of a futuristic society on Mars. Humans have been populating the planet for some time once this story begins (the exact timeline is unclear), and the Martian society has been divided into colour-coded classes with Reds, miners forced to work their whole lives, at the bottom, and Golds, the dominant ruling class, at the top. When Darrow suffers Read this review on my blog, 93 Diagon Alley

~4.5 stars~

Red Rising follows the story of Darrow, a teenage boy who is a member of the Reds, the lowest caste of a futuristic society on Mars. Humans have been populating the planet for some time once this story begins (the exact timeline is unclear), and the Martian society has been divided into colour-coded classes with Reds, miners forced to work their whole lives, at the bottom, and Golds, the dominant ruling class, at the top. When Darrow suffers a personal tragedy, he finds himself in position to infiltrate the Institute and disguise himself as a Gold in order to participate in a legendary competition to enter the leading class alongside other Gold teenagers.

This novel is the first in a now completed trilogy by Pierce Brown, the second and third books being titled Golden Son and Morning Star. I am definitely looking forward to completing this series this year!

I feel that this is more of a 4.5 star novel. I really enjoyed it overall and I only knocked off half a star because I have a feeling the next two books will be even better!

Pierce Brown has an amazing ability to write a fast-paced, yet poetic story. I was on the edge of my seat for the better part of the book, especially during the battle scenes, but the deeper themes of politics, love and morality were not lost during these moments. Add witty banter and lush description to the cocktail and you have yourself some addictive prose!

I also appreciate Pierce Brown’s ability to make science fiction so accessible. I have never been a big fan of reading science fiction until recently because so many of the popular novels seem huge and daunting. Pierce really introduces the reader to the world gradually, and the martian lingo is close enough to English that it’s easy to understand and keep straight in your head.

I have seen some people compare this series to The Hunger Games. I can agree that there is similarity between the competitions that take place in these series, but I think Red Rising will appeal to a more adult audience. Darrow grew immensely as a character just in this first book so I am looking forward to seeing how he develops in the next two. I also found this novel more suspenseful and unexpected than The Hunger Games. Red Rising ended on such a cliffhanger that I’m surprised I didn’t pick up the next instalment right away.

If you are a fan of YA or adult adventure/dystopian/science fiction with likeable characters and political intrigue, I highly recommend this series! I know I can’t wait to see what happens next! ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 29, 2015 Felicia rated it really liked it

Shelves: dystopia, sci-fi

This world is crazy! It really felt like a mix of the Hunger Games, Ender's Game, and Braveheart to me. Amazing world building, and a fantastic cast of characters. I found that there were some characters that I expected to behave a certain way, and they didn't, so that was refreshing. Some things felt a little too convenient, especially at the end of the book. Also, this book is quite brutal and bloody at times, so I wouldn't recommend this for those who don't handle things like that well. But o ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 23, 2014 Dalmush rated it it was amazing

4.5 stars

3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 20, 2014 Michelle (Bookaholic Banter) rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-for-the-hubby

I was iffy about this one in the beginning. I found myself easily distracted and all the lingo and keeping all the characters straight confusing. Three quarters into it I finally got the gist of it all and really started to enjoy it. It was extremely creative and different from what I am used to reading. It was an epic adventure. I am VERY eager to read the next book and see what happens next.

2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 17, 2014 WTF Are You Reading? rated it it was amazing

Shelves: great-leading-man-boy, favorites, dark-and-delicious, hard-to-beat-heroines, wishlist, life-issues, how-thrilling, fantasy-tastic, 2015-review-books, chilling-thriller

Darrow is a young man who has been lead to believe that his hard-scrabble life as a Low-Red terraformer on Mars is a necessary part of making the plant habitable for coming generations.

When a series of unfortunate circumstances lead to the loss of all he hold dear, the near loss of his life, and the decimation of his entire belief system.
Darrow is set upon a course that will if successful not only serve to change him as a man, but to also change the world.

This is a book that serves as a close up ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 09, 2014 Mom2triplets04 rated it did not like it

Shelves: audio-listened, read-on-my-kindle

I'm sorry to say this book I did not like it was not my cup of tea. I tried reading it months ago and DNF'd it because it was very slow. I decided to give it another try and read it with the goodreads group Read with Friends. I decided to start from beginning again but this time I listened to it. I enjoyed the beginning and did feel bad in the beginning but once the heartache was over the book just dragged on and on. Pacing moved up and down losing my interest. By 3/4 of the way I decided that I ...more

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Apr 30, 2015 Janet S rated it liked it

I really had to power through the last 50 pages of this. I didn't ever fully comprehend the "slang" and it bothered me so much to not know how to pronounce things. I felt somewhat lost.. this just wasn't my cup of tea. ...more

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Jan 07, 2015 Lauren rated it liked it

While I liked the book and it kept me reading the pacing was super slow for me. It was really sad even from the beginning though. I wish they'd explained more about the world in the beginning as well. ...more

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