“Golden Son” can only be described as a runaway train that obliterates everything in its path. Without hesitation — the second book in the Red Rising series surpasses even the brilliance of the first.
Book Review: Golden Son
- Author: Pierce Brown
- Series: Red Rising
- Publisher: January 6, 2015 by Del Rey
- Format: 466 pages, ebook
- Language: English
- ISBN 9780345539823
- ASIN 0345539826
“I am one of the Peerless Scarred. The cruelest and smartest of all mankind.”
Plot
Darrow has made it. He now belongs to the Martian lions and is under the protection and patronage of Augustus — or perhaps the Sons of Ares. But his victory comes at a price. Isolation engulfs him like a void. He can’t trust any of his former friends from the institute, the dancer seems to have abandoned him and he has to find the right path on his own.
The stakes are high and the game has shifted to a whole new level. In a world of golden intrigue and betrayal, where strength is measured not only in muscle but also in cunning and ruthlessness, Darrow is a rookie thrown into the middle of a deadly chess game.
in “Golden Son”, this dark and ruthless world is expanded even further. I feel both emotionally drained and deeply satisfied by the whirlwind Pierce Brown has given me.
Human nature is never just black or white. The author does a masterful job of bringing out a hint of goodness in even the darkest souls, while those who appear noble are capable of unspeakable cruelty. And in the midst of all this stands Darrow, whose inability to trust drives him to make bad decisions. His inner struggle between revenge and compassion— – believing in the good in people — makes him an even more complex and contradictory character.
Thoughts
“What else needs to change here, apart from everything?”
I adore dystopian novels like this. Each serves as a warning of how far humanity can go in the name of survival. Golden Son dissects human nature and social inequalities to their darkest corners. It explores fanaticism, dehumanization and the brutal conflicts they engender. Yet amidst the carnage, themes of friendship, loyalty, duty and blind obedience also shine through.
“Modern war is fear of the air, fear of the shadows, fear of silence. Death will come unnoticed.”
The journey with Darrow was a fascinating experience — questioning his decisions, justifying his actions and ultimately understanding him. And it’s not just the protagonist; I never expected these characters to burrow so deeply into my heart when I started the series. Although Pierce Brown tells the story solely from Darrow’s perspective, he manages to create memorable characters that you quickly take to your heart. The way their personalities and relationships unfold guarantees this series a place among my favorites. Every page brings a new emotion, a new surprise and the ending? One of the best ever!
Final rating
“Golden Son” is a book that will make you laugh, shock you with its brutal scenes and leave you wondering about human nature. An absolute 5 star read no matter how you look at it.
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.
