Golden Son by Pierce Brown

Golden Son (Red Rising, #2)

by Pierce Brown

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Red Rising hit the ground running and wasted no time becoming a sensation. Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR, BUZZFEED, AND BOOKLIST • “Gripping . . . On virtually every level, this is a sequel that hates sequels—a perfect fit for a hero who already defies the tropes. [Grade:] A”—Entertainment Weekly

As a Red, Darrow grew up working the mines deep beneath the surface of Mars, enduring backbreaking labor while dreaming of the better future he was building for his descendants. But the Society he faithfully served was built on lies. Darrow’s kind have been betrayed and denied by their elitist masters, the Golds—and their only path to liberation is revolution. And so Darrow sacrifices himself in the name of the greater good for which Eo, his true love and inspiration, laid down her own life. He becomes a Gold, infiltrating their privileged realm so that he can destroy it from within.
 
A lamb among wolves in a cruel world, Darrow finds friendship, respect, and even love—but also the wrath of powerful rivals. To wage and win the war that will change humankind’s destiny, Darrow must confront the treachery arrayed against him, overcome his all-too-human desire for retribution—and strive not for violent revolt but a hopeful rebirth. Though the road ahead is fraught with danger and deceit, Darrow must choose to follow Eo’s principles of love and justice to free his people.
 
He must live for more.

Praise for Golden Son

“Stirring . . . Comparisons to The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones series are inevitable, for this tale has elements of both.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Brown writes layered, flawed characters . . . but plot is his most breathtaking strength. . . . Every action seems to flow into the next.”—NPR

Don’t miss any of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Saga:
RED RISING • GOLDEN SON • MORNING STAR • IRON GOLD • DARK AGE • LIGHT BRINGER

Reviewed by e_rodz_leb on

5 of 5 stars

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During the holidays we played a game in our office during our Christmas lunch.  We passed a box that was wrapped in paper until the music stopped and then peal a layer of wrapping paper off.  The winner was the one that unwrapped that last layer.  The point to this little story (yes, there is a point!) is that reading Golden Son felt like unwrapping layer after layer of pure awesome to get to even more awesome.

Giving details about this book is very hard. The plot is so complex, complicated, twisty, action packed, surprising; honestly is a gem.  I cannot fathom how Brown came up with it and kept track of it all! Golden Sun starts almost two years after the end of Red Rising.  Darrow has spent time with the Andromedus family and is now finishing the Academy.  He is committed to his cause, to make a different, to make Eo proud.  He has lost contact with the Son of Ares, but keeps his goal of becoming someone with power.
“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. So let him lead me onto his shuttle. Let him think he owns me. Let him welcome me into his house, so I might burn it down.”

Darrow is such an intricate character, full of contradictions. He’s afraid and fearless. Brutal and tender. Loyal and traitorous. His mission makes it a necessity to always plan ahead and always lie.  It’s such a hard life, such a twisted path.   I adore Darrow.
“Were I still the man Eo knew, I would have stood frozen in horror. But that man is gone. I mourn his passing every day. Forgetting more and more of who I was, what dreams I held, what things I loved. The sadness now is numb. And I carry on despite the shadow it casts over me.”

Darrow’s relationship with Mustang is complicated (I know, I know, but it really is!)  There is no doubt that they love each other, but there are both so strong and unbending.  Darrow doesn’t feel guilty anymore of being in love with someone else, but he’s doesn’t believe he deserves her when he’s keeping such a big secret from her.  There is a host of amazing characters from Red Rising and also new characters that make an appearance here.
“She wears black in a sea of gold, white, and reds… I’m reminded of the warmth of her flesh, the mischief in her voice, the smell at the nape of her neck, the kindness of her heart. “

Brown’s writing is enthralling and thought provoking.  It kept me at the edge of my seat the whole time.  There is defeat, war, death, life, love, trust, friendship, and so much more in this book. This ending, bloodydamn! How am I ever going to be able to wait a whole year for Morning Star? I can’t even explain because it would the mother of all spoilers.

Overall, Golden Son was such a great read.  I wish there were words to describe how good this book, the series is, is without spoiling it for you.  If you like strong characters, complicated plots, amazing writing, fantasy and sci-fi, this is the series for you.This review was originally posted on Reading With ABC

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 23 January, 2015: Finished reading
  • 23 January, 2015: Reviewed