A review by has3000
Red Rising by Pierce Brown

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Well, that was the fastest I’ve finished a book in a long time. In many ways, this has a lot of similarities to the Hunger Games. Dystopian future where young adults fight each other to the death for the entertainment of the rich, as the main character works to undermine the whole society. But in many ways this stands clearly as its own story.

It’s much more of an adult book. Not explicit, but it contains rape, murder, and mutilation. The character interactions and politics are complicated and ever-changing.

One huge point in favor of this book is that it’s across space. The story takes place centuries in the future, after mankind has colonized not just Luna and Mars, but most of the moons in the solar system.

The main character has plenty of flaws, and fights within himself to control his instincts for the sake of the better, harder path. He also grows as a person and his view of others changes from very black and white into more complex hues (if you’ll pardon the pun).

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