Scan barcode
n0ize's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Body horror, Death, Transphobia, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Slavery, War, Murder, Blood, Classism, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
readyforit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I can’t believe this missed me during my 2014 dystopian phase but I’m glad it found me 10 years later. I think I would’ve liked it more if I read had a copy to read while I listened, since there are a lot of fantasy-esque names to remember. I liked the narrator a lot but I had to slow it down since he has an Irish accent so I couldn’t get through it as fast as I normally do with audiobooks. The beginning was a bit slow to start, as most fantasy books are with world-building, but surprisingly it also slowed down in the middle after Darrow entered the institute. This author is really good at jerking you around with his twists and turns though I’ve never had my jaw on the floor as much as when reading this series.
Darrow is a labor worker in the poorest class of people in the solar system, red. He and his people are told they’re making mars livable for higher classes, but we soon find out the dream has already been realized and all classes of people are living on mars, and other planets. To free his people he must become one of his enemies, a gold, and bring them down from the inside. He goes to the institute (aka hunger games for district 1 kids but somehow more brutal), where he makes friends and enemies, trying to win. We meet a lot of side characters who are all deeply fleshed out, and you either learn to love or hate.
If you liked the hunger games, divergent, or the maze runner, you’ll love this series. I’m definitely going to try listening to the graphic audio and reading along to a physical copy to see if that’s a better experience. Overall, I really liked the book and will reread! I wish this had a larger fan base for a series or movie or better fanart though, since I’m someone who has trouble picturing things in my head.
Graphic: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Grief, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Genocide, Police brutality, Death, Rape, Murder, Sexual violence, Slavery, Body horror, Sexual assault, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Suicide attempt, War, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, and Vomit
I’ve seen this labeled as YA but I wouldn’t let your kids read this, it’s really gory. I’d recommend hunger games insteadsaskiajva's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Even with these faults, I ended up plowing through this in just a couple days and am excited for book 2 and 3. I highly recommend this for fans of the Hunger Games and anyone who loves world building that features the cruelest of humanity and those moments that make you go “holy shit, that’s messed up”. The audiobook narrator also does a great job, though there was at least one line i couldn’t understand what he said even after rewinding, and it was hard to tell who was talking on occasion, but overall it did not take away from my enjoyment.
Graphic: Slavery, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, Excrement, Death, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, War, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Grief, Murder, Blood, Classism, Torture, Violence, Body horror, Cannibalism, and Gore
Moderate: Rape and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Misogyny
jacksonmax12's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Pros: fast-paced but manageable, accessible sci-fi with exposition woven seamlessly into the story.
Cons: The main character has a lot of plot armor. There is a lot of graphic violence and child death
Graphic: Colonisation, Sexual assault, Death, Grief, Racism, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Blood, Rape, Child abuse, Child death, and Kidnapping
guessgreenleaf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Torture, War, Classism, Slavery, Death of parent, Death, Violence, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Grief, Gore, and Murder
Minor: Rape
jordyfrombookclub's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
A lot of reviewers note having to trudge through the start of the book. Personally, I could have gone for even more of this world-building story. You have to really experience being underground in the mines to believe our main character’s fury. The book without the first 150 or so pages would fall quite flat.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Classism, Murder, and War
Minor: Animal death
qveenmab's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Slavery, War, Death, Classism, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Murder, and Sexual violence
Minor: Cannibalism
auniverseinside's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Body horror, Gore, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Cannibalism
brittonmc1221's review against another edition
2.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Torture, Child death, Death, Murder, Rape, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Physical abuse, and War
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
- 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 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.
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.