Reviews tagging 'War'

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

219 reviews

jenmarie11's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Violence, War, Colonisation, Cursing, Child abuse, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Gore, Torture, and Death

skysalla's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

3.5

Very long and at parts confusing to keep track of the characters. A lot of interesting twists and surprises some of which were totally unexpected. 

A large chunk of this book reminds me  of Lord of the Flies. 

I don’t know if I could have finished it had it not been on audio book however -  while it was overall interesting, I think it wasn’t quite gripping enough given the length. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and War

Moderate: Rape

veni_vidi_legi's review

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

I’m itching to start book 2 so I’ll keep this pretty brief. Really like it, feels sorta like a combination of the 4 Hunger Games books (yes including the prequel) with Ender’s Game. A bit slow in the middle, but it’s clearly setting up the rest of the series so I think it was unavoidable. It would have felt strange if the middle chunk was shortened because it has important relational and internal developments. Overall, definitely recommend! Age rating: 16+ and PAX AU TELEMANUS

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and War

Moderate: Sexual assault and Cursing

amemuuras's review

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Cannibalism and Excrement

casualk's review against another edition

funny

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Violence, Sexism, Death, and Classism

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and War

Minor: Mental illness, Ableism, and Fatphobia

anna_kp's review

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, War, Rape, Sexual assault, and Torture

halflingnana's review

adventurous challenging dark hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, War, Sexual violence, Violence, Torture, Murder, Classism, and Slavery

pamelamoreno's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Animal death, Death of parent, Death, and War

chelseaisreading's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Interesting premise if you’re trying to relive your Hunger Games era. My biggest gripe is that women are only here to be a stepping stone on his heroes journey. 🙃 That being said I enjoyed the twists and strategy and am curious to see Darrow’s rise.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, War, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Slavery, Blood, and Child abuse

Minor: Rape, Vomit, and Sexual assault

rumpixel's review

adventurous dark hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The beginning of this book relies a little too heavily on some tired tropes. The second Eo was introduced, I knew home girl was going to be used as the crutch for Darrow's 'call to adventure'. It doesn't wholly detract from the impact and shape Darrow's grief and rage take, but she does become the manic pixie dream girl whose only story purpose was to love Darrow and thrust upon him a moral quest he otherwise had no interest in.

Once you get past that, the book becomes far more interesting. Nothing truly came out of nowhere in terms of plot twists, it's more like multiple plot points sit on a steady simmer on the backburner and you keep a wary eye on — which overall makes it a satisfying read. The world building was integrated throughout, I never felt bogged down with details. The game is brutal and fascinating. The relationships are what makes this book strong against my criticisms.

At the core of it, Darrow is a bit overpowered but he's also our conduit to engage with the wide cast of characters. All of them shine in their own way, even the deplorable ones. Sevro quickly became my favourite, the real MVP, and if he were the main character I think that would have diminished just how great he is to experience through Darrow's perspective. Darrow also fails enough times, either through his own hubris or miscalculated trust, that it offsets any feeling that he is invincible — in my opinion.

All in all, I'm definitely going to continue the series. I'm a sucker for a Greek/Roman God class system, and in the current age of late stage capitalism I'm particularly hungry to eat the rich >:3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Murder, Death, Violence, and War

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Racism