Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

17 reviews

stephanieluxton's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

5.0

This book book did not hook me from the very beginning. It takes a but of time to get a feel for the setting and what is going on. I found myself thoroughly captivated during the second half.

This book is about 16 year old Darrow - a member of the Red's on Mars who beleiie they're slaving away in the planets mines for a higher purpose of terraforming the planet to get it ready for future generations. He lives with his family and wife, in terrible conditions. An act of disobedience triggers a series of events which shatter his entire world and he learns Mars is already terraformed and Mars is a bustling, fairly high tech civilization run by the Golds. His people, the Reds have been lied to in order to create an entire cast of people who are literal slaves. Darrow is then presented with the opportunity to infiltrate the Golds and must push himself beyond the limits to move up in society in order to reform the system.

So much happens in this book. The book takes place over the course of a couple years and it's fantastic. There's a ton of characters but they feel complex. The stakes feel super high in this book. I love feeling afraid for the main character. There's little twists and turns throughout the whole story. I loved not knowing how things would play out. The character growth is unreal. Darrow changes so much during the story and it's empowering to experience his growth - although he messes up quite a bit too.

I can see how some people may think of the Hunger Games or Lord of the Flies while reading this but it's definitely it's own story. I am not someone who enjoys series a lot, but I am really excited to keep reading this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, War, Grief, Toxic friendship, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Death, Murder, Misogyny, Slavery, and Bullying

Moderate: Cannibalism, Sexual violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Alcohol

Minor: Excrement

A lot of dark things happen in this book but none are described in absolutely excruciating detail. You can probably handle it.

zanazy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was the first male main character lead story and sci-fi fantasy I’ve ever read. The setting is a dystopian society sometime in the future. Earth is dying/has died, and humanity has found a home in other planets. Darrow the main protagonist is a strong and complicated character. The book takes a few early chapters to set the setting of the story and the "caste" like system, and then quickly introduces the conflict and sets Darrow up for his story arc. Very early on, you get a sense of how far humanity is willing to go to survive, at the cost of others, and how the governing leaders silence those who dare to speak up. 

There is a mystery around the death of

Eo. Right away I want to know more about her song and what her last words were. The impact her death has on Darrow influences him and stay with hin throughout the story. I have a feeling we will learn more about Eo as the story continues.

 

The supporting characters in this story are all complicated and complex characters that add to the storyline and make you invest in their fates. Darrow finds himself in a world where everyone should be his enemy, and where despite his new status he is still a lower ranking than his peers, but he rises above and is a natural leader. He is a great example of someone who was born to lead. His leadership growth and the way he adapts and learns from his early mistakes in being a leader humanize him and make him relatable. No character in the story is without flaws. 

There is very little romance in the story, which I thought I would miss, but it fits the setting. There are hints of characters becoming more, and the gradual build-up to this relationship is realistic, due to Darrow's early loss in the book. I look forward to seeing how this relationship evolves. 

My favorite relationship is that of Sevro and Darrow. Brothers, loyalty, pride, and overcoming misconceptions and status. Sevro and the Howlers are the best, and their loyalty to Darrow, the Reaper is a highlight. I can't wait for Darrow to prove everyone wrong and show that loyalty was not just confined to their trial, some bonds truly cannot be broken and are for life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and Torture

Moderate: War, Death, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Blood, Sexual assault, Classism, Cursing, and Medical content

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Self harm, Rape, Grief, Physical abuse, and Slavery

lillelow's review against another edition

DNF 40%.

The book begins the worst possible way with drunk father figures and community leaders laughing about raping the protagonist’s wife - and no one raises an eyebrow. Misogyny, machoism, masochism, prostitution as a means of female survival and male pleasure, a world in which all women are beautiful, marry when they’re 14 and work with silk while all the manly men work in the mines… This is a sci-fi novel, a world of make believe. You can write about ANYTHING. Create ANY future. Yet this is what we get. I’m SO F* TIRED of reading about this bullshit.

I wanted to put the book down then and there, but decided to give it a go because of all the good reviews.

I shouldn’t have bothered. It doesn’t get better.

The premiss is interesting, but the execution and the character portrayal is horrible.

I didn’t like the protagonist at all. Clever, brave, strong, humble, hardworking, loving… All the right things! At least, that’s what I’m told. Honestly, all I see is a self absorbed insular teenager with no weakness who excels at everything he does for no reason other than he’s the chosen one. He doesn’t have to be likeable, but believable is quite important, and this book does none of it.

The supposedly romantic interactions between the protagonist and his wife are probably supposed to be charming and sweet but only feel stiff, cliche and childish and evoke no emotions at all. But hey, at least she is incredibly beautiful and we’re told everyone loves her… I guess that was enough for the author.

I didn’t like any of the other characters either. Even the ones who are described in good light are horrible, not to mention the way they express themselves. I’m not prude. Explicit language and swearing is fine. But most of the writing, dialogue, slurs and expletives in this book are just disturbing and annoying. You cannot make me believe people talk like this for real. Is it supposed to be cool?? I couldn’t stand it, I hated almost everyone and the flat writing did nothing to help.

At 40% through, I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t care about the story or the characters and was mostly annoyed at it all. Ender’s Game’s the perfect chosen one meets the segregation and killing of The Hunger Games or Gladiator (only it’s terrible) in a violent color-coded elite school on Mars with some sprinkles… no, make that a heavy rain…. of machoism and sexism.

No thank you.
★★-

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Classism, Self harm, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Body shaming, Alcohol, War, Trafficking, Slavery, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, Death of parent, Sexism, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Addiction, Blood, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, Cursing, Racial slurs, Body horror, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Rape, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Excrement, Gore, Death, and Eating disorder

jjamiee's review

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Classism, Death, and Slavery

Moderate: Grief, Gore, and Rape

Minor: Cannibalism, Excrement, Alcohol, and Fire/Fire injury

ecourtis's review

adventurous dark inspiring sad 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Rape, Alcohol, Animal death, and Blood

Minor: Cannibalism

trinitystewart55's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

Bloodydamn 


This book was as great as remembered first reading it in highschool years ago near when it first came out. The story is phenomenal start to the beginnings of Darrow’s journey to the Rising. Pierce Brown coveys a writing system that mimics Darrow’s mind and is pleasant for to read.

It definitely takes inspiration from the Hunger Games and Ender’s games as nice mind child but I feel that compared all these books together does some deserves to them all as they are good on their own parts. 

The book does start out a bit slow to set up the world building and colors systems with political dynamics but each part continually builds until Darrow fully becomes the Reaper that will one day sow Eo’s dream. 

Mustang and Sevro will always have special place in my heart as some of the best secondary characters. 

This book is classic sci-fi, dystopian novel that every fan of genre must check out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, War, and Blood

Moderate: Alcohol

blackbird300's review

adventurous funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I’m mad that I enjoyed this so much. My biggest issue with the entire book lies with the fact that nearly every femme-presenting character introduced in the story is assaulted at some point. Yes, many of them are well developed characters, but it does not erase the fact that they were assaulted/nearly assaulted. That fact alone feels out of place in the entire plot. 
This first book belongs solidly within the YA genre. The plot moves at break neck pace, losing the reader first at the beginning, but once accustomed, it becomes easy. Certain plot points are wrapped up quickly upon being introduced, but all strings are tied at the very end. 
I’ve been wrestling with myself as to whether or not I should purchase the sequel…and my answer is a solid yes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Misogyny, Medical content, Abandonment, War, Violence, Torture, Slavery, Sexism, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gore, Excrement, Animal death, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Cursing, Colonisation, Blood, and Alcohol

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

aelytacchan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I can't say I understand why Red Rising is a fan favorite. It wasn't bad, but its tempo is so gruelling that I almost DNFd it - saved only by the fact I already had all the audiobooks from a past sale.

I didn't love it, I didn't hate it, but I found a lot of it foul. I think that might be on purpose, but a lot of the violence seemed unnecessary and out of bounds even for the world's laws and customs.

Women were constantly used as symbols, to further plot points, or as convenient caretakers. Despite there being women peppered into the story, they were mostly inconsequential or, when they were of consequence, they just naturally decided they would rather follow Darrow.

I'll take some time to reflect on whether I want to invest more time into the following books, seeing as they're somewhat on the longer side, but as of now, I don't particularly feel like jumping into the next part of the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Cannibalism, Classism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death of parent, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Alcohol, Colonisation, Death, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Toxic friendship, and Sexism

danivm's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Slavery

Moderate: Gore, Death, Classism, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Alcohol, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, and Cursing

n0elle's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Gaslighting, Animal cruelty, Blood, Rape, Animal death, Classism, Gore, Police brutality, Violence, War, Murder, Physical abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Confinement, Excrement, Sexual assault, Grief, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Racism, Slavery, and Torture