Review : Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Pages : 382
Genre : Sci-fi/Fantasy
Series : Red Rising, book 1
My Rating : 3.5/5
About the Book :
But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.
Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society’s ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies… even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.
My Thoughts :
I truly don’t know how I really feel about this book. To be honest, I went in with some expectations. I had read countless raving reviews, friends with similar reading tastes recommended it to me with two thumbs up. So I was really looking forward to reading Red Rising, and while I had a lot of fun with it, I can’t say it’s a favorite.
Strong points : Pierce Brown’s writing, which I really enjoyed. It’s sharp and distinctive, a perfect fit for Darrow’s voice. Darrow himself, as a character, is complex and interesting, and I found myself really invested in his quest for revenge. And I loved how, as he gets to know some of the Gold caste, he starts to experience conflicting feelings.
I also enjoyed the fast pace. It’s much, much faster than what I usually prefer, but at the time of reading it, it was perfect for me. There’s a constant string of twists, revelations, action scenes, etc. So much happened! I almost felt like I’d read three books once I was done – but no, in fact I still have two more books to read in the series!
Sadly though, some aspects of Red Rising disappointed me a bit. It’s incredibly reminiscent of Hunger Games and co., which doesn’t feel very original despite the “space” aspect. Also, Darrow clearly loves to hear himself talk, which is entertaining when reading it, but a little less once you’re away from the page and digesting it all.
Also : so many characters! I can’t remember this many, sadly. Especially since they come and go so fast…
Overall, I feel I can honestly say that Red Rising was a lot of fun. It’s gripping, a page-turner, and it never gets boring. Some scenes are definitely more harsh and violent than in most similar YA dystopian stories I’ve read, so that’s different. But that’s where it let me down a bit. I didn’t find it as original as I’d hoped. And I didn’t get as attached to the characters as I would have wished. I’ll definitely read through the trilogy, but I know I’ll be lowering my expectations a bit!
One day I may try this series. I have definitely saw a lot about it, but there are so many series out there. lol
Haha! Yes, that’s how I feel too. I’m trying to catch up with what is on my shelves, but there’s always new ones I’m intrigued by!