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adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-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
Re-read. I want to rate it higher but the audio issues/volume is hella annoying. I like the multi POV as it gives more complexity to the story and world. Seeing the cons of freedom and a new government. I just Darrow to be happy and at peace 😠I truly love this world that Brown has built. Hail Reaper
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Kidnapping
Moderate: Torture, Suicide attempt, War
Minor: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Classism
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
multiple POVs done really well. lots of set up (to be expected) but still gripping. some character choices make me soooo upset but they make sense and were very engaging.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Racism
Minor: Rape
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Genocide, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment
Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Homophobia, Rape, Dementia, Cannibalism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Death begets death begets death.
What a powerful line that really embodies this book in particular. I think in this book we really see the consequences of violence, even violence for a good cause (a resistance and desire for a more just society), and the affects that violence has on society and on individuals.
I really struggled with how to rate this. I actually did not enjoy the first like 65% of this book, and then really really liked the turns it took toward the end. And here’s the thing, I didn’t enjoy it but I still appreciate that it was good, and actually really really appreciate that Brown explored the themes of war trauma, of cycles of violence, and of imperfect characters. But I think with all that’s been going on in the world, that’s not what I wanted to read haha. I didn’t want to see some of my favorite characters as bad fathers, broken friends, or struggling with making moral decisions. But that’s the reality of war and post-conflict power vacuums. So, ultimately, even though reading this book wasn’t the most enjoyable or pleasant experience, I still have to rate it highly because it’s a good plot, important, and well written.
In theory I like the idea of an author exploring the generational effects that a war has on their world and on the characters, but it wasn’t pleasant to see happen to Darrow and Lyssander and to the Rim. But it has some extremely powerful themes (the scene where Mustang apologizes to Lyria had me tearing up) and was a solid follow up.
I will say one thing that definitely took it down a bit for me and just as a trigger warning is the pure goriness and really detailed descriptions of violence (which again, I think hit more personally because I’m consuming really graphic images of genocide on a semi-regular basis), but it was a bit graphic and gross for me (especially in audio form).
What a powerful line that really embodies this book in particular. I think in this book we really see the consequences of violence, even violence for a good cause (a resistance and desire for a more just society), and the affects that violence has on society and on individuals.
I really struggled with how to rate this. I actually did not enjoy the first like 65% of this book, and then really really liked the turns it took toward the end. And here’s the thing, I didn’t enjoy it but I still appreciate that it was good, and actually really really appreciate that Brown explored the themes of war trauma, of cycles of violence, and of imperfect characters. But I think with all that’s been going on in the world, that’s not what I wanted to read haha. I didn’t want to see some of my favorite characters as bad fathers, broken friends, or struggling with making moral decisions. But that’s the reality of war and post-conflict power vacuums. So, ultimately, even though reading this book wasn’t the most enjoyable or pleasant experience, I still have to rate it highly because it’s a good plot, important, and well written.
In theory I like the idea of an author exploring the generational effects that a war has on their world and on the characters, but it wasn’t pleasant to see happen to Darrow and Lyssander and to the Rim. But it has some extremely powerful themes
I will say one thing that definitely took it down a bit for me and just as a trigger warning is the pure goriness and really detailed descriptions of violence (which again, I think hit more personally because I’m consuming really graphic images of genocide on a semi-regular basis), but it was a bit graphic and gross for me (especially in audio form).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
SO GOOD. Per usual.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Racism, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
*this review contains very slight spoilers for previous ones - mostly just in the sense that it means the characters I mention are still alive*
I was hesitant to pick up this book because the original red rising trilogy is the most clever and near perfect trilogy I've ever read and I was afraid the author may have been trying to. milk the success, as the first three books had a satisfying conclusion.
I was wrong. This book was great. It picks up 10 years after the previous book and we can see what has become of the world. We can see that they don't live happily ever after and that defeating one enemy doesn't win the war. Peace isn't imminent. Politics are complex. The problems in this book felt so realistic, but not at all in a way that felt preachy to real life politics, which I deeply appreciate.
This book is different from previous books because Darrow is no longer the sole main character. The book switches between different perspectives:
1. Darrow's perspective as he struggles between his obligations to his family but also his ultimate mission of winning the war.
2. Lysander's perspective as he's living a life of exile with Cassius and stuggling to come to terms with his beliefs and his place in the new world.
3. Ephraim's perspective as he's tasked with committing a nearly impossible crime.
4. A new character, Lyria's perspective. She's a red who dreams of a better future after the uprising let her and her family down - and ultimately she gets caught up in things way bigger than her. Lyria is an important character because she shows us what life in like for the average small person after the revolution.
This story has so many layers - unlikely alliances, devestating betrayals, and generally just a lot going on. This book doesn't end on as much of a cliffhanger as the previous two. It just ends in the middle of so many things happening. I can't wait to read the next one. These books are insane.
I was hesitant to pick up this book because the original red rising trilogy is the most clever and near perfect trilogy I've ever read and I was afraid the author may have been trying to. milk the success, as the first three books had a satisfying conclusion.
I was wrong. This book was great. It picks up 10 years after the previous book and we can see what has become of the world. We can see that they don't live happily ever after and that defeating one enemy doesn't win the war. Peace isn't imminent. Politics are complex. The problems in this book felt so realistic, but not at all in a way that felt preachy to real life politics, which I deeply appreciate.
This book is different from previous books because Darrow is no longer the sole main character. The book switches between different perspectives:
1. Darrow's perspective as he struggles between his obligations to his family but also his ultimate mission of winning the war.
2. Lysander's perspective as he's living a life of exile with Cassius and stuggling to come to terms with his beliefs and his place in the new world.
3. Ephraim's perspective as he's tasked with committing a nearly impossible crime.
4. A new character, Lyria's perspective. She's a red who dreams of a better future after the uprising let her and her family down - and ultimately she gets caught up in things way bigger than her. Lyria is an important character because she shows us what life in like for the average small person after the revolution.
This story has so many layers - unlikely alliances, devestating betrayals, and generally just a lot going on. This book doesn't end on as much of a cliffhanger as the previous two. It just ends in the middle of so many things happening. I can't wait to read the next one. These books are insane.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Alrighty then. The last 100 or so pages bumped this from a 3.5 to a 4.
I’d say that this one was definitely the weakest out of the 4 Red Rising books I’ve read thus far, but it was still amazing. It was cool having multiple perspectives to read from other than Darrow’s. Although, having 2/4 of them being from characters we’ve never met before made it feel a little more disconnected (if that makes sense).
For the two newer characters, I really enjoyed reading Lyria’s perspective as a Gamma Red post-rising and how it wasn’t all peaches and cream. It showed how Mustang and the other heroes failed to rebuild the Republic after so many people were displaced after the Rising. Her perspective was really necessary and tragic and eye opening. She was a new fav character for me. Her first few chapters were heart pounding.
On the other hand, our other newbie, Ephraim’s POV was a PIECE OF WORK. He was a real self loathing, shitty ass, dirt bag. I know Trigg loved him, but I sure didn’t. The characters introduced in his chapters I really felt no connection to as I really didn’t like HIM as a character. Volga was ok, but I wasn’t rooting for her by any means. She reminded me of Lea from book one, just a puppy dog following a guy around. Didn’t like it. Yuck. Overall, Ephraim is honestly irredeemable as a character with what he did. The only reason he tried to help in the end was guilt and that’s it. He’s too lost. But I suppose we’ll see what happens in the next book. I may eat my words.
As for Darrow’s chapters, gotta give a round of applause for the babies - I loved meeting the new family members and seeing how all the characters evolved into parents over the last 10 years. I wish we got more human moments with them all. For the rest of Darrow’s story, I really disagreed with him for a lot of it. He was far too rash, and as someone who built the Republic to create fairness for all the colours, he sure didn’t mind fucking everyone over to do whatever he thought was a means to an end. He killed millions to get the war over with rather than waiting it out. He acted above the law HE created and I didn’t like that. The Vox Populi and Mustang had a point. I understand why he did it, but he needed to articulate that before he acted. He was getting far too comfortable letting others die for him. Hope he turns this ‘tude around.
As for the last POV, Lysander is a punk and I don’t like that lil bitch. He is so pompous and so sexually repressed, it’s irritating. I did enjoy returning to the Rim though, there are very interesting characters there. I feel as though this dumb dork is gonna cause us a lot of problems in the future.
There was a lot of heists in this book to the point of too many (counted AT LEAST 4). I personally wanted a little more of the humanity between the characters especially after 10 years. There were A LOT of new characters introduced and I wish we got to know them a little better. Like Wulfgar, Colloway, Rhonna, Alexandar, Seraphina, and the kiddos. Here’s hoping in the next book.
Overall, this series still slaps. I just wasn’t the biggest fan of this particular book. Hoping it picks back up (I hear from booktok the next two are the bomb.com - here’s hoping!🤞)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism