You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
margarcia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Rape, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, and War
cecurtis89's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
aliyah_d's review against another edition
dark
tense
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? No
2.5
Journal entry from when I was at 50% of the book :
So far, Red Rising is quite the formulaic and a Manichean book that struggles the most when it must flesh out its characters (especially women) and give more dimension to its world. A well developed, more nuanced political and societal structure, which is at the core of this book's plot, would have helped elevate it away from the initial YA fiction concepts in which it is seeded. The first two acts of the book in particular are just a succession of tropes, executed decently if not uninspired, which I suspect has the benefit of allowing the younger readers or those not into fantasy or sci-fi to not get lost and even predict what would happen on a chapter-to-chapter basis.
Speaking of the very genre of the book itself, I do feel, in spite of the omnipresence of scientifically backed up elements and concepts that it is more" sci-fi for fantasy readers" rather than actual sci-fi ; I believe some of the scientific explanations were straight up incorrect or not fully thought through (and I'm not a science gal, really, but some claims about Mars gravity established early on in the books made me raised an eyebrow).
Finally, I have many problems with the main character, Darrow. Darrow is not that compelling to me as he is clearly a wish fulfilment type of character for heterosexual men in their thirties. Which I do not have a problem with but if you look up the definition of "Gary Sue" online, you will find a pretty illustration of Darrow. He is the perfect boy, or rather, the perfect boy who speaks, thinks and acts like a late thirty-year-old man. Darrow smells the best, looks the best, dances the best and he is the strongest and the smartest teen you will ever meet.
Never mind that he is thrown into an unknown environment filled to the brim with societal customs and expectations that he only knows the surface of and had to learn in a few months. I never felt any sense of danger or worry for him because his challenges were completely artificial and were a mere inconvenience to him. Easy come, easy solve. I also do think the first-person narrative really didn't help at all.
It seems like I have nothing but criticism for this first entry of the trilogy, but I'm enjoying it so far ! It's easy to read and enjoyable. It is not a slog or a bore, everything is moving at the right pace and although I adore purple prose, the simple writing here is effective and curiously engaging (albeit a tad cheesy and dry sometimes). Similarly, I tend to skim through conflict, battles and fights in books, but all of them were written very clearly, all raw and exciting.
Overall, this is a nice book which scratches the surface of a bigger, better, more tri-dimensional story, so I'm curious to see how the author manages to evolve in his writing from here.
Speaking of the very genre of the book itself, I do feel, in spite of the omnipresence of scientifically backed up elements and concepts that it is more" sci-fi for fantasy readers" rather than actual sci-fi ; I believe some of the scientific explanations were straight up incorrect or not fully thought through (and I'm not a science gal, really, but some claims about Mars gravity established early on in the books made me raised an eyebrow).
Finally, I have many problems with the main character, Darrow. Darrow is not that compelling to me as he is clearly a wish fulfilment type of character for heterosexual men in their thirties. Which I do not have a problem with but if you look up the definition of "Gary Sue" online, you will find a pretty illustration of Darrow. He is the perfect boy, or rather, the perfect boy who speaks, thinks and acts like a late thirty-year-old man. Darrow smells the best, looks the best, dances the best and he is the strongest and the smartest teen you will ever meet.
Never mind that he is thrown into an unknown environment filled to the brim with societal customs and expectations that he only knows the surface of and had to learn in a few months. I never felt any sense of danger or worry for him because his challenges were completely artificial and were a mere inconvenience to him. Easy come, easy solve. I also do think the first-person narrative really didn't help at all.
It seems like I have nothing but criticism for this first entry of the trilogy, but I'm enjoying it so far ! It's easy to read and enjoyable. It is not a slog or a bore, everything is moving at the right pace and although I adore purple prose, the simple writing here is effective and curiously engaging (albeit a tad cheesy and dry sometimes). Similarly, I tend to skim through conflict, battles and fights in books, but all of them were written very clearly, all raw and exciting.
Overall, this is a nice book which scratches the surface of a bigger, better, more tri-dimensional story, so I'm curious to see how the author manages to evolve in his writing from here.
My final thoughts after reaching the end :
I took a month break from this novel because I could smell it would soon devolve into everything I fear it could become. And it did not disappoint.
Darrow being such a formidable, "no problem is a true problem" prodigy exhausted me. I could not care less about this whole clash of the clans act because you have these two or three characters that keep taking down does big factions that are way smarter, more mature, more organized, well fed and better communicators/brothers in arms than them, on top of being whole armies.
That whole plan to bring down Titus was good on paper, until the actual execution of it that made me doubt the whole house of Minerva shared more than one brain cell. The following ones were written better but that initial first demonstration of Darrow's intelligence (and EVERY other houses sheer stupidity) made me worry about the author's ability to write compelling strategical battles and an interesting massive uprising that didn’t relied on the enemy somehow not being clueless whiny idiots ?
Adding to that, the pacing dulled any feeling I might have been able to develop towards this novel and what's happening in it: it's a fast succession of dramatic moments, so those that are supposed to be major and gut-wrenching fall flat since the author doesn't allow them to stretch beyond two pages. It doesn't feel like I'm part of the action. It feels like someone is trying to resume me an action movie big scene by big scene, skipping anything that might add dimension and substance to the characters so I do not get bored... forgetting to make me care in the process. The fighting and battles sequences are becoming hit or miss since half the time they involve characters barely described or personified.
I have no insensitive to care about this character disappearing or this character dying because the in-between fun/relaxing/dialogue moments were clearly written as fillers and last three lines. Darrow's male friends and acquaintances are barely more than tropes or gimmicks while Darrow's female friends and acquaintances are no more than mere names. Occasionally, a commentary on the state of their beauty will be made. That or they will be turned into some sorts of victims to give Darrow and the boys some good self-righteous motivation (or to make the big bad the baddest), a motivation that promptly turns to pity when the big old rapist turns out to have some sad backstory. Then it's all "Iam so sorry I have to kill you my brother, I get you now".
Anyways. I already bought the whole trilogy and was told that the following two are a huge step up in terms of overall quality in all aspects I have been critical off so I'm glad I’ve reached the end of this one. If the next disappoint, I'll just find a balding heterosexual dude with strong power-fantasy and dump him the whole trilogy.
Darrow being such a formidable, "no problem is a true problem" prodigy exhausted me. I could not care less about this whole clash of the clans act because you have these two or three characters that keep taking down does big factions that are way smarter, more mature, more organized, well fed and better communicators/brothers in arms than them, on top of being whole armies.
That whole plan to bring down Titus was good on paper, until the actual execution of it that made me doubt the whole house of Minerva shared more than one brain cell. The following ones were written better but that initial first demonstration of Darrow's intelligence (and EVERY other houses sheer stupidity) made me worry about the author's ability to write compelling strategical battles and an interesting massive uprising that didn’t relied on the enemy somehow not being clueless whiny idiots ?
Adding to that, the pacing dulled any feeling I might have been able to develop towards this novel and what's happening in it: it's a fast succession of dramatic moments, so those that are supposed to be major and gut-wrenching fall flat since the author doesn't allow them to stretch beyond two pages. It doesn't feel like I'm part of the action. It feels like someone is trying to resume me an action movie big scene by big scene, skipping anything that might add dimension and substance to the characters so I do not get bored... forgetting to make me care in the process. The fighting and battles sequences are becoming hit or miss since half the time they involve characters barely described or personified.
I have no insensitive to care about this character disappearing or this character dying because the in-between fun/relaxing/dialogue moments were clearly written as fillers and last three lines. Darrow's male friends and acquaintances are barely more than tropes or gimmicks while Darrow's female friends and acquaintances are no more than mere names. Occasionally, a commentary on the state of their beauty will be made. That or they will be turned into some sorts of victims to give Darrow and the boys some good self-righteous motivation (or to make the big bad the baddest), a motivation that promptly turns to pity when the big old rapist turns out to have some sad backstory. Then it's all "Iam so sorry I have to kill you my brother, I get you now".
Anyways. I already bought the whole trilogy and was told that the following two are a huge step up in terms of overall quality in all aspects I have been critical off so I'm glad I’ve reached the end of this one. If the next disappoint, I'll just find a balding heterosexual dude with strong power-fantasy and dump him the whole trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gore, Torture, and Murder
mayabaxx's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Who TF is recommending this as YA?
Picturing a white man sitting down and writing this level of graphic violence, gore and sexual assault makes me uncomfortable. And it’s only ever been recommended to me by a man who says it’s their favourite book ever. Like ok. Don’t ever come near me, thanks.
Picturing a white man sitting down and writing this level of graphic violence, gore and sexual assault makes me uncomfortable. And it’s only ever been recommended to me by a man who says it’s their favourite book ever. Like ok. Don’t ever come near me, thanks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Excrement, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Colonisation
kaseybereading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Colonisation, War, and Classism
bookishholly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I have so many conflicting feels about this book.
Potential spoilers and TW for r*pe mention
Overall I enjoyed Red Rising, I liked the setting and the overall story. I don't think it's saying something new or really adding anything of value other than entertainment to the world and sometimes that's ok.
There were multiple times where I felt uncomfortable with the clear misogyny that I don't even know if the author is aware he has written. I admit that it was written 10 years ago but I thought even then that the insult of doing something "like a girl" was outdated. Also to me it feels like there is an undertone of casual homophobia.
Essentially all of the main cast are insufferable and the fact that one character's attempted r*pe of another is so quickly moved on from is hard to swallow, especially since beginning book 2 and realising that they are still around.
At this point, I intend to keep reading but that may change.
Potential spoilers and TW for r*pe mention
There were multiple times where I felt uncomfortable with the clear misogyny that I don't even know if the author is aware he has written. I admit that it was written 10 years ago but I thought even then that the insult of doing something "like a girl" was outdated. Also to me it feels like there is an undertone of casual homophobia.
Essentially all of the main cast are insufferable and the fact that one character's attempted r*pe of another is so quickly moved on from is hard to swallow, especially since beginning book 2 and realising that they are still around.
At this point, I intend to keep reading but that may change.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Grief, and Cannibalism
Minor: Excrement
dreadspawn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Dysphoria
Minor: Cannibalism
ashlynregan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
3.5
Close enough welcome back Katniss Everdeen!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
n0ize's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book has all that we of multiple fandoms want packed into a series. This book is for Harry Potter , Divergent, Hunger Games and PJO fans alike. The plot the characters the world building is all top tier. You feel yourself rooting for just about everyone, but make sure you also steel your heart as well. Great read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
readyforit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.25⭐️0🌶️0.5💧
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and War
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 instead