A review by miak2
Golden Son by Pierce Brown

adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 
"For seven hundred years, my people have been enslaved without voice, without hope. Now I am their sword. And I do not forgive. I do not forget." 



This series is SO hyped and I definitely see the appeal but something about it just isn't fully clicking with me.

As usual, I'll start with what I enjoyed. My god, not many authors can write plot twists like Brown. So many moments had me genuinely 'drop the kindle, hand over my mouth' in shock. And these twists weren't just included for the shock factor, but really helped to progress the story and challenge Darrow. Incredible. The last chapter alone was full of shocking and entertaining moments. I'm glad we got to see more of the society as well, that part was really interesting and Brown did some great worldbuilding.

Most of the characters are really fantastic as well. Sevro, although sometimes too much of character, is my little goblin son and I love every scene he's in. Darrow continues to be a compelling narrator, and much of the supporting cast were really strong too (Lorn, Roque, Mustang, Ragnar, etc.)

Here's where I get to my first criticism. While some characters were so strong, others fell short. Namely Victra, who had so much potential but I felt like she existed only to 1. be a romantic alternative to Mustang and 2. to give us someone whose loyalties we should question. Additionally, because there was a time jump between the end of Red Rising and the start of Golden Son, Darrow's forged and developed relationships with characters we've never met before, or met only briefly. In such an action-packed book with a huge set of characters, it's hard to build strong feelings for them when so much of the development took place off-screen.

I don't feel as strongly about this book as so many others do, but I am looking forward to reading the third book; I'm sure Brown will continue to shock and surprise me with it. 
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