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adventurous
challenging
dark
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:
Complicated
4.5… May change this in the future but so far the reasons it’s not five stars are:
1. I am not big into Science Fiction so the first part of the book was boring to me.
2. The book ending did not leave me wanting to read the rest… there was no big cliffhanger, nothing emotional to really make me feel I HAVE to keep reading.
Will I ? Yes cause I already have the second one but we will see after that…
1. I am not big into Science Fiction so the first part of the book was boring to me.
2. The book ending did not leave me wanting to read the rest… there was no big cliffhanger, nothing emotional to really make me feel I HAVE to keep reading.
Will I ? Yes cause I already have the second one but we will see after that…
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Classism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i really really enjoyed it! i haven’t been as engaged by a book in as long as i can remember. only downside is there is a fair amount of sexism. i hope it improves in future books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Without giving anything away, I wasn’t expecting as much of the book to be about the process of the plotline as it was, but I enjoyed it. I think if you like the story types of Ender’s Game or Fourth Wing, you will also enjoy this one
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, War
Moderate: Rape, Cannibalism, Alcohol
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My scale:
- Terrible writing & story, or extremely offensive and problematic.
- Mediocre story, mediocre writing, or too problematic to enjoy.
- Good/great story with good writing.
- Great story with beautiful writing.
- An impactful story with breath-taking writing.
The writing is mediocre, pacing is ok, and the plot is subpar. Asides from the cool setting this book has no merit and I do not recommend this book to anyone.
First and foremost, this book has an underlying streak of misogyny in it and does it's part of holding up the patriarchy. You can clearly tell it is written by a white man. Majority of the insults hurled at each other have something do with being a girl or feminine. In fact, there were too many sentences that ended with "like a girl" when describing a negative trait. One time is too many, and any more than that just shows you what the author thinks of womxn. The female characters are constantly sexualized and infantilized. Darrow continuously reminds us that Eo was "just a girl" that was such a weak wisp of a thing. They're both 16. And he referred to himself as a man of the mines, and Eo just a girl. And then there are plenty of rape jokes. Just an abundance. And then there is actual rape and sexual assault throughout the book as well. All plot devices. Damsel in distress, and the men have to protect and save. It was infuriating to read.
This is not a book meant to think or to review how white Europeans and Americans have oppressed people of colour throughout the years. No. This is white male author who is profiting off of that story by replicating it on planet Mars for mass entertainment.
I hoped to read a book that critically looked at enslavement, power structures, and colonization and that demonstrated how these things perpetuated in our society. Unfortunately, this book was meant as pure white entertainment. Red Rising only lightly covers how colonialism and subjugation of the other is theoretically "bad." What it really is, is an exploration into that power and leaning into it. I should've clued into the trouble when a selfish and arrogant white 16 year old boy is going to fight the power for his people. LOL. Darrow becomes just as bad as who he is trying to overthrow and he is relishing in it. His fuel for power and vengeance is the same thing that Golds are fuelled by. There's so much praise for the early conquerers of the Western world, it's as if the book is begging us to go back to that golden age. It really gave me icky white nationalist vibes throughout this entire book. There's enough soft criticism of systems of oppression and enslavement to get by, but there are way too many potential dog whistles in this book that go uncontested for me to truly think anything else. This is definitely a book your red-pilled bf would read and easily miss the point. That's too problematic for me.
I also think it's absolutely MINDBOGGLING and so indicative of the authors white privilege that in a world of massive technological advancement they keep the (white) enslaved people in line by whipping them publicly and then they are hanged off gallows as warnings. What in the antebellum-loving Jim-Crow-fantasy shit is that???? Literally taking the worst parts of American history and decided to make an entertaining novel to make hella money and filled it with racist shit and allusions like that but completely erased blackness from your book. Fuck this book and this author.
Do not recommend.
First and foremost, this book has an underlying streak of misogyny in it and does it's part of holding up the patriarchy. You can clearly tell it is written by a white man. Majority of the insults hurled at each other have something do with being a girl or feminine. In fact, there were too many sentences that ended with "like a girl" when describing a negative trait. One time is too many, and any more than that just shows you what the author thinks of womxn. The female characters are constantly sexualized and infantilized. Darrow continuously reminds us that Eo was "just a girl" that was such a weak wisp of a thing. They're both 16. And he referred to himself as a man of the mines, and Eo just a girl. And then there are plenty of rape jokes. Just an abundance. And then there is actual rape and sexual assault throughout the book as well. All plot devices. Damsel in distress, and the men have to protect and save. It was infuriating to read.
This is not a book meant to think or to review how white Europeans and Americans have oppressed people of colour throughout the years. No. This is white male author who is profiting off of that story by replicating it on planet Mars for mass entertainment.
I hoped to read a book that critically looked at enslavement, power structures, and colonization and that demonstrated how these things perpetuated in our society. Unfortunately, this book was meant as pure white entertainment. Red Rising only lightly covers how colonialism and subjugation of the other is theoretically "bad." What it really is, is an exploration into that power and leaning into it. I should've clued into the trouble when a selfish and arrogant white 16 year old boy is going to fight the power for his people. LOL. Darrow becomes just as bad as who he is trying to overthrow and he is relishing in it. His fuel for power and vengeance is the same thing that Golds are fuelled by. There's so much praise for the early conquerers of the Western world, it's as if the book is begging us to go back to that golden age. It really gave me icky white nationalist vibes throughout this entire book. There's enough soft criticism of systems of oppression and enslavement to get by, but there are way too many potential dog whistles in this book that go uncontested for me to truly think anything else. This is definitely a book your red-pilled bf would read and easily miss the point. That's too problematic for me.
I also think it's absolutely MINDBOGGLING and so indicative of the authors white privilege that in a world of massive technological advancement they keep the (white) enslaved people in line by whipping them publicly and then they are hanged off gallows as warnings. What in the antebellum-loving Jim-Crow-fantasy shit is that???? Literally taking the worst parts of American history and decided to make an entertaining novel to make hella money and filled it with racist shit and allusions like that but completely erased blackness from your book. Fuck this book and this author.
Do not recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Slavery, Blood, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, Excrement, Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Cannibalism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Grief, War
challenging
tense
slow-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
Red Rising is a book filled with political intrigue, war strategy, and dystopian rage smushed into one.
It gave me some of the same feelings I got from reading The Hunger Games as a teen. That inner rage at injustice. That on the edge of your seat feeling.
This is not a light-hearted book. It’s detailed, complicated, and focuses heavily on character development. Which honestly, I love. It’s also very lacking in any romance, so if you’re looking for that, you won’t find it here.
I have a feeling this is one of those epic investment series. You get to grips with the characters so deeply, it kind of changes you, and I’m looking forward to the ride.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Murder, War
Moderate: Body horror, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Classism
adventurous
dark
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:
No
Usually I love dystopian novels with younger characters but this is one of the worst written books I’ve ever read. The characters have no depth and are constantly being shelved. The main character is a Gary Stu. The society makes no sense. The good premise means nothing because it isn’t properly utilized. The list of issues with this book goes on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
Main character is unsympathetic, feels like it is fanfiction about someone else’s world building. Sexual violence. It wants you to think it’s dark and edgy but is just another white mans chance to be the chosen one and inflict violence on the female characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Medical trauma
Moderate: Body horror, Cannibalism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Gore, Misogyny, Medical content, Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit, Cannibalism
[rape], [sexual violence], and [sexual abuse] off page, discussed with no/very little detail