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A review by jefferz
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
If Red Rising was the hook to get me interested, Golden Son delivered the full goods and sold me on this series. While I found Red Rising to be ambitious and an exciting read, it had some pretty notable drawbacks that took me out of the story at times. Does it matter that a random reader with no following like myself has critiques and notes for a book published a decade ago? Absolutely not but regardless, I found Golden Son to carryover all of the elements Red Rising got right and improve on every aspect I found initially lacking.
The main elements that I found to be weak in Red Rising were primarily the sheer number of characters involved that are largely shallow and undeveloped, story arcs that were inconsistent in interest for me personally, and Darrow's character voice being tiresome and being hyper masculine honor-based. While I'm still not a huge fan of Darrow's personality, his growth and maturity in Golden Son is exponential which made him far more tolerable to me. With the narrative growing increasingly complex and politically-driven, it was a relief that he develops more emotional and strategic intelligence. With a smarter and more rational character voice leading the story, I felt like it allowed Golden Son's plot to really shine compared to it previously taking me out of the action in Red Rising. A particular highlight is when the internal thoughts and feelings when Darrow makes a trip back to visit his childhood mines in Lykos.
Speaking of the plot, it's relentlessly entertaining. Like I wrote in my review of Red Rising, reading Pierce Brown's work is to expect the unexpected. Alliances are formed and a broken constantly (with elaborate strategic planning and betrayal) and nobody is spared from the increasing body count racking up as Darrow and the Son of Ares make their move. The sheer scope and magnitude in this sequel manages to make the Hunger Games-style Institute on Mars feel small compared to the space conquest and warring parties here across numerous planets and moons. While Darrow and co. were flying through space, I was also flying through the pages. Reading Golden Son reminded me of the excitement of reading childhood favorites like Harry Potter or Eragon way past my bedtime that I hadn't experienced in decades (which I'm sure Pierce would find thrilling as a Harry Potter fanboy himself, just check the author's book jacket blurb).
Despite how large the scale of the narrative and cast of characters has become, Golden Son somehow manages a more streamline and contained plot than Red Rising. The political and strategic plays managing societal views and impressions is excellent and the constant outplays clever. My chief complaint of Red Rising's giant undeveloped/throwaway cast is fully rectified in this sequel where every character is accounted for and improved on. Fellow students in the institute, their families and houses, Son of Ares, the Jackals' group, the Howlers, the Sovereign on Luna, even the oppressing regulators in Mars' mines, every character previously introduced is brought back into the story and given a specific purpose. I was thrilled at how every character's movements in book1 were all accounted for into book2 which made it far easier to follow. Not only that but the core cast are also developed as well with highlights with new additions playing off or replacing previously lost characters (Victra is an excellent [if slightly male-fanservice heavy] foil to Antonia and the Telemanus House members filling Pax's niche) and the growing theme of familial loyalty is carried throughout. Golden Son also finally reveals the identity of Ares, the leader of the rising movement who recruits Darrow in book1 near its conclusion. I had high hopes that Ares was a character previously introduced rather than a reclusive new character controlling movements from a distance and I was utterly thrilled at who it was revealed to be. I found it to be unexpected yet brilliant pick; my only nitpick is that their motivation for starting the movement feels a bit contrived compared to the rest of the ambitious plot.
Book 2 also feels like we're getting to the meat of the central themes and statement of the series. While Red Rising felt heavy-handed with its "break the chains of society and rise up", Golden Son feels more refined in its discussion of deeper topics. An obsidian (aka war monster group) named Ragnar's upbringing into what is essentially a life chained to endless violence and slavery who is suddenly allowed to have an opinion and basic rights is explored thoughtfully. Conflicting approaches to overthrowing society is also an interesting plot point that compares/contrasts revenge and vengeance to reform and purpose. An important internal dialogue where Darrow questions what or who he's fighting for vs vague and impersonal purposes also adds weight to the movement.
I've heard people often say that Red Rising is the weakest book in the series and patience will be rewarded if you aren't initially wowed by it; I'm happy to report that indeed was also the case for me. Golden Son is a thrilling, fast-paced, and a strategically brilliant read that improves on Red Rising in just about every way. The only scenario I can see someone being letdown by Golden Son is if they read Red Rising purely for the Hunger Games plot as the series makes its turn towards the epic political space opera that it always hinted at being. Also the ending. I need to get a copy of Morning Star asap and I feel for readers back then who had to wait a year to see what happens next.
The main elements that I found to be weak in Red Rising were primarily the sheer number of characters involved that are largely shallow and undeveloped, story arcs that were inconsistent in interest for me personally, and Darrow's character voice being tiresome and being hyper masculine honor-based. While I'm still not a huge fan of Darrow's personality, his growth and maturity in Golden Son is exponential which made him far more tolerable to me. With the narrative growing increasingly complex and politically-driven, it was a relief that he develops more emotional and strategic intelligence. With a smarter and more rational character voice leading the story, I felt like it allowed Golden Son's plot to really shine compared to it previously taking me out of the action in Red Rising. A particular highlight is when the internal thoughts and feelings when Darrow makes a trip back to visit his childhood mines in Lykos.
Speaking of the plot, it's relentlessly entertaining. Like I wrote in my review of Red Rising, reading Pierce Brown's work is to expect the unexpected. Alliances are formed and a broken constantly (with elaborate strategic planning and betrayal) and nobody is spared from the increasing body count racking up as Darrow and the Son of Ares make their move. The sheer scope and magnitude in this sequel manages to make the Hunger Games-style Institute on Mars feel small compared to the space conquest and warring parties here across numerous planets and moons. While Darrow and co. were flying through space, I was also flying through the pages. Reading Golden Son reminded me of the excitement of reading childhood favorites like Harry Potter or Eragon way past my bedtime that I hadn't experienced in decades (which I'm sure Pierce would find thrilling as a Harry Potter fanboy himself, just check the author's book jacket blurb).
Despite how large the scale of the narrative and cast of characters has become, Golden Son somehow manages a more streamline and contained plot than Red Rising. The political and strategic plays managing societal views and impressions is excellent and the constant outplays clever. My chief complaint of Red Rising's giant undeveloped/throwaway cast is fully rectified in this sequel where every character is accounted for and improved on. Fellow students in the institute, their families and houses, Son of Ares, the Jackals' group, the Howlers, the Sovereign on Luna, even the oppressing regulators in Mars' mines, every character previously introduced is brought back into the story and given a specific purpose. I was thrilled at how every character's movements in book1 were all accounted for into book2 which made it far easier to follow. Not only that but the core cast are also developed as well with highlights with new additions playing off or replacing previously lost characters (Victra is an excellent [if slightly male-fanservice heavy] foil to Antonia and the Telemanus House members filling Pax's niche) and the growing theme of familial loyalty is carried throughout. Golden Son also finally reveals the identity of Ares, the leader of the rising movement who recruits Darrow in book1 near its conclusion. I had high hopes that Ares was a character previously introduced rather than a reclusive new character controlling movements from a distance and I was utterly thrilled at who it was revealed to be. I found it to be unexpected yet brilliant pick; my only nitpick is that their motivation for starting the movement feels a bit contrived compared to the rest of the ambitious plot.
Book 2 also feels like we're getting to the meat of the central themes and statement of the series. While Red Rising felt heavy-handed with its "break the chains of society and rise up", Golden Son feels more refined in its discussion of deeper topics. An obsidian (aka war monster group) named Ragnar's upbringing into what is essentially a life chained to endless violence and slavery who is suddenly allowed to have an opinion and basic rights is explored thoughtfully. Conflicting approaches to overthrowing society is also an interesting plot point that compares/contrasts revenge and vengeance to reform and purpose. An important internal dialogue where Darrow questions what or who he's fighting for vs vague and impersonal purposes also adds weight to the movement.
I've heard people often say that Red Rising is the weakest book in the series and patience will be rewarded if you aren't initially wowed by it; I'm happy to report that indeed was also the case for me. Golden Son is a thrilling, fast-paced, and a strategically brilliant read that improves on Red Rising in just about every way. The only scenario I can see someone being letdown by Golden Son is if they read Red Rising purely for the Hunger Games plot as the series makes its turn towards the epic political space opera that it always hinted at being. Also the ending. I need to get a copy of Morning Star asap and I feel for readers back then who had to wait a year to see what happens next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Gore and War