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stephanieluxton 's review for:
Iron Gold
by Pierce Brown
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