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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-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:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have been reading so much dystopian fiction hoping for something even a little bit close to the same caliber of societal commentary and deep world building of the Hunger Games…and oh, did this deliver!
I will say I almost stopped reading at around 10-15% because it’s a slow start, but I’m very grateful I kept going because the story really picks up after there and it’s gripping!
Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen in this book I was proven wrong in the best way possible.
A must read for any dystopian fans.
I will say I almost stopped reading at around 10-15% because it’s a slow start, but I’m very grateful I kept going because the story really picks up after there and it’s gripping!
Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen in this book I was proven wrong in the best way possible.
A must read for any dystopian fans.
It was fun revisiting this one! I listened to the audio this time around and the narrator was awesome. I straight up forgot most of the stuff that happened in this book so it was almost like I was reading it for the first time. Such an action-packed and intense book and extremely addicting. Excited to re-read the second and third (if only so I can get to the ones I haven't read yet).
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The world building and plot carried this from 2 to 3 stars. The concept and storytelling are admiral but the dialogue is a bit unbelievable and overly dramatic at times. People who should have been killed were not and the ones that were, seemed a bit random. However, I will plan to read book 2 because I'm curious how this will work itself out or if the writing/dialogue improves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Colonisation, War, Classism
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I liked the book overall, however the pacing felt off to me. I could never fully immerse myself in the story after the first 4 chapters or so. It was hard for me to finish it, but I do want to read the next to see if this issue resolves.
Spoilers ahead for the last 1/4 of the book.
I also hated that in the last 50 pages, Darrow caught the Jackal had such a good outsmarting him tactic. Then just is stunned by how crazy the Jackal is. It felt stupid that he was so well informed about the Jackal, and playing 3D chess the whole time with Fitchner and the others. Then when the Jackal is exactly as crazy as we had established him to be, Darrow just is stunned and lets him go. It made the last 50 pages a real drag for me because then we had to hunt the Jackal diwn off screen in favor of Darrow hunting the Proctors. It felt unnecessarily dragged out for the sake of having multiple twists, but they felt predictable and fell flat for me at the end.
Spoilers ahead for the last 1/4 of the book.
The comparisons with Will of the Many are understandable. However, I feel that they merely share a foundation - the actual houses are built very differently. Will of the Many had more Harry Potter vibes while Red Rising feels more at home with Hunger Games. This book had excellent pacing, and I was hooked for the entire ride. Darrow, being filled with fury and vengeance, doesn’t come across as simple and unidimensional. He’s complex especially for a teenager. His anger is justified and wants his oppressors to burn - and you want to see him succeed.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Rape
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated