Golden Son: Book II of the Red Rising Trilogy

"Golden Son" is a breathtaking rollercoaster of political intrigue, betrayal, and epic battles that leaves readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Pierce Brown masterfully continues the saga he began in "Red Rising," delivering a sequel that surpasses its predecessor in every aspect.From the very first page, Brown plunges readers back into the dangerous world of Darrow, the Red-turned-Gold rebel determined to dismantle the oppressive Society from within. The stakes are higher, the risks greater, and the consequences more dire than ever before. As Darrow navigates the treacherous waters of Gold society, he is forced to confront his own morality, making impossible choices that blur the lines between hero and villain.One of the most captivating aspects of "Golden Son" is its richly developed cast of characters. Brown expertly crafts a diverse array of personalities, each with their own motivations, flaws, and secrets. From the cunning schemer Victra to the conflicted nobleman Cassius, every character feels multi-dimensional and utterly compelling. And at the center of it all is Darrow himself, a flawed but fiercely determined protagonist whose journey of self-discovery is both heart-wrenching and inspiring.But "Golden Son" is more than just a character-driven narrative; it's also a masterclass in world-building. Brown's vision of a future society divided by color-coded castes is as fascinating as it is horrifying, with each new detail adding depth and complexity to the world he has created. Whether it's the opulent halls of the Golds or the desolate mines of the Reds, every corner of Brown's universe feels vividly real, immersing readers in a world that is as beautiful as it is brutal.Of course, no discussion of "Golden Son" would be complete without mentioning its pulse-pounding action sequences. Brown has a knack for writing heart-stopping battles that are as intense as they are cinematic. Whether it's a harrowing space battle or a desperate fight for survival on the surface of Mars, each action scene is meticulously choreographed and expertly paced, keeping readers glued to the page until the very end.But perhaps what sets "Golden Son" apart from other sci-fi epics is its exploration of timeless themes such as power, loyalty, and sacrifice. At its core, the novel is a meditation on the nature of revolution and the price of freedom. As Darrow struggles to balance his desire for revenge with his duty to his cause, readers are forced to confront their own beliefs about right and wrong, good and evil.In conclusion, "Golden Son" is a tour de force of science fiction storytelling that deserves every bit of its five-star rating. With its unforgettable characters, immersive world-building, and pulse-pounding action, it's a sequel that not only lives up to the hype but surpasses it in every way. Whether you're a fan of the genre or simply looking for a gripping read that will keep you up long past your bedtime, "Golden Son" is not to be missed.

**Will contain spoilers in my review. I need to get as much down so when the last book comes out next year I remember enough of the pertinent details, not that I actually think I could forget anything about this book but just in case :)**I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SERIES TO EVERY SINGLE READER I KNOW! As a matter of fact I'm going on Amazon to buy these two books in hardcover so I can have them on my shelves... so very exciting!Very rarely do I come across a book (or book series) that seriously keeps me up at night. Rarely do I come across a book that give me continuous dreams. Rarely do I wake up thinking of characters and plots several days after finishing the book. Rarely do I take so long to think of exactly WHAT I want to put in my review because every little thing is super important.But when I do? I know I've struck literary Gold (no pun intended).There was really only one thing I didn't absolutely love about this book. One thing, but yet I found myself coming up with excuses / reasons why it was totally acceptable. The book is first person, Darrow's point of view, so therefore it is acceptable for us to believe that we will see and know all Darrow see's and knows. There are a few instances of us finding something out with the rest of the characters instead of knowing ahead of time. One I could almost excuse, the training, it happens between the books, in the time that is only remembered but not shown. There is a lot that happens between the Institute and the Academy and we are only briefly told of what happened in that down time. So, I can almost excuse the MASSIVE item of the training by Lorn (Rage Knight)... almost. But thing that are happening as we're reading? Tracking Aja, etc, those are things we should know with him, not as it happens to others around us.Now, with that being said. Holy Moly, what a book. To compare this to other existing dystopian books is to compare a cat to a dog, sure they're both living, sure they both do most of the same things but they are totally different species. Golden Son continues Darrow's journey from a Red or slave of society to one of the elite Golds and boy does he become an elite Gold. The total loyalty or utter contempt he draws from everyone around him exceeds anything else I've ever read. The web's he's weaving to break the Society from the inside are masterful and so well thought out they almost seem reckless when put into action. But Fate favors the bold and if nothing else Darrow is Bold.Darrow is slowly going crazy with a. his guilt about loving Mustang, who is CLEARLY the exact opposite of EO b. betraying his friends, which ultimately he's going to have to do c. lying to so many people to maintain his facade d. not knowing what's going on with The Sons of Aries since it's been years since anyone has contacted him e. the thought that he'd have to betray the Sons if he wants to continue on HIS mission, which now seems far away from the group as run by Harmony and so many others.When the story comes back Darrow is in league to win at the Academy, which is yet again another testing ground for these Golds to prove themselves to the Society. Darrow is once again plotted against by people in power and continues to shine but in the end loses because he is beaten, both in the game and physically after the game by the Bellonas. They win by means of cheating which is something that is acceptable to the Golds as a Society but not to Darrow.He wins favor back by quite literally starting a Civil War when he exposes a plot by the Sovereign to exterminate the ArchGovernon and his entire staff at a Gala. AFter foiling that plan and starting a war with the Bellona's AND the Sovereign he finds new ally's in his friends and their extended families. In doing this he further alienates some key friends from the Institute which will ultimately be his demise.Darrow FINALLY declares his love for Mustang and he trusts her to show her his true past and humble beginnings. We're still not sure how Mustang reacts as she walks away from Darrow in the end and we don't see her. We're left wondering if she is the one who betrays him to her brother the Jackal or if it's someone else. I'm honestly hoping and praying it's someone else because Virginia truly seems like a worthy Gold to rule with her sense of kindness and loyalty. Although, I think now we're seeing how far that kindness and loyalty will go now that she knows Darrow was/is a lowly Red only disguised as a Gold.Fitchner / Sevro / Aries. Can we say goryhell, what was THAT!?!? I LOVE that Fitchner was Aries. His story was heartbreaking and truly touching. The fact that Sevro is TRULY a Son of Aries and a mixbreed? I wonder how many others there are! How exciting! I was left with all kinds of questions in relation to this though. I'm wondering how the colors came about and such. It is mentioned that when humans went to the Moon and Mars they were genetically motified to create the color scheme. I'm assuming some pretty strong ass genetic modifying would be involved to turn someone Pink or Violet, etc and also to modify the reproductive systems so there could be no breeding between colors. This is a leap of faith for me, that whole sci-fi thing I struggle with because it's outside my realm of reality, but I'm working on it. So... in order for the colors to breed you have to go to a carver and have them modify the reproductive systems to they woman can handle the mixed breeding... very interesting... also very interesting that this is apparently happening all over the planets but the Society is killing anyone who does it, the modification, or the actually trying. The fact that Sevro is a TRUE mixed breed is what is most awesome. My only fear is that people (higher levels) look down on Sevro because he is not a high bred Gold, so that part of society will never respect him enough to follow him. The lowColors will look to him as if he's a hero, the perfect example of the strength of Gold and the mix of a lowColor. It's quite the web we have going on here. Quite interesting. Now, very end... I'm wondering like crazy if Jackal KNEW Fitchner was Ares... I'm hoping he doesn't. I'm hoping that he just killed him because he was a traitor to the Sovereign and he's trying to gain the Sovereign's trust and the ArchGovernor-ship of Mars. But the now knowing is KILLING ME!The Jakal... what a well written villain. Convincing, malicious, intent, spoiled, psychotic, the list goes on and on... I'm wondering if he has Mustang somewhere... I'm wondering if Mustang went to him about Darrow, I'm wondering how the hell he found out about Darrow. I have to go back and re-read the last few pages after the betrayal and capture but he says Darrow someone led to his own demise or something of the sort... I know Rogue has suspected him from the beginning, that part has been obvious since the Institute AND Serve told Darrow he couldn't never tell Rogue or Thistle because they were to entrenched in their own importance and Society... turns out he was exactly right because both of them showed their loyalty to status quo, smart Serve... love him.Lorn... aw Lorn, what a sad damn story. I admired the old man, even if he was entrenched in the Gold way of thinking. I admired his gumption and thought his death unworthy of his life. And Lilith killing him... so not good. She wasn't' worthy of that death. Victra also, I really enjoyed her, and her crawling to Darrow in the end seriously just about broke my damn heart. But Rogue, oh Rogue, there is a special place in hell for people like him, Jackal, you expect betrayal, Rogue was terrible.Ragnar! God I loved that character. He utmost FEAR of freedom was truly heartbreaking. I'm waiting for so much more to come from him. I hope he's safe somewhere and gets together with Sevro and Mustang to rescue Darrow from the Sovereigns nasty grips.When Darrow went home to his mother, wow... so so significant. His mother knowing him right away warmed my heart. Her conditions turned right around and broke it. But her explanation of women and how Darrow needs that, how Women are the ones who create objects, etc is going to be key in the next book I hope because seriously... Mustang has to come back and save him... she has to. It's her who's meant to rule, I just know it. I'm quite literally going to be sitting here waiting for the next book and stalking Pierce on every piece of social media he has to try and figure out just that for the next year... I'm so not kidding...I was ever do worried by the fact that Cassius said the Sovereign wanted Darrow alive so they could dissect him... oh so worried by that. Someone please come in and save Darrow from this... I don't want to watch him be tortured, so not what I want book three to start out as.I'm thinking of rereading this series again, slower and for more detail now that I THINK I have the jest of it. It will most definitely be re-read prior to the third book coming out in January.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SERIES TO EVERY SINGLE READER I KNOW! As a matter of fact I'm going on Amazon to buy these two books in hardcover so I can have them on my shelves... so very exciting!

Non stop action and all the twists. At times the politics are over my head but I am beyond impressed by the world Pierce Brown created. The imagery and depth of this society is staggering! I cried at that ending. Ugh!

I don’t know how it could get better than the first one, but it did. It is better than Red Rising, it’s simply a masterpiece

Hard to put down, Golden Sun more than matched my expectations for the second book in this series. I can’t wait to start the next book and see where that takes Darrow and his friends. Highly recommended this series to anyone who enjoys books like the hunger games and game of thrones.

Golden Son, the second book in the Red Rising series, is an electrifying continuation of the epic saga that began with Red Rising. Pierce Brown has once again delivered a masterpiece that surpasses all expectations.From the very first page, Golden Son grabs hold of your imagination and refuses to let go. The story picks up right where Red Rising left off, plunging readers back into the heart-pounding action and intrigue of Darrow's world. The stakes are higher, the dangers more perilous, and the plot twists more jaw-dropping than ever before.One of the highlights of Golden Son is its relentless pace. Brown expertly balances heart-stopping action sequences with moments of quiet reflection, keeping readers glued to the edge of their seats from start to finish. The battles are epic in scope, the political machinations are intricate and compelling, and the emotional depth of the characters is truly remarkable.Speaking of characters, Golden Son introduces us to a host of new faces while also deepening our understanding of familiar ones. Darrow continues to be a captivating protagonist, but it's the supporting cast that truly shines in this book. Each character is fleshed out with their own motivations, flaws, and complexities, adding layers of depth to an already richly imagined world.But perhaps what I love most about Golden Son is its willingness to challenge conventions and defy expectations. Brown isn't afraid to take risks with his storytelling, and the result is a narrative that is as unpredictable as it is thrilling.In conclusion, Golden Son is a tour de force of science fiction storytelling that will leave you breathless and eager for more. Whether you're a fan of the genre or simply appreciate a well-crafted tale of adventure and intrigue, this book is an absolute must-read. Trust me, you won't be able to put it down!

Here we go! The first book structured something amazing and it's been so cool to follow the development and expansion of that world in this book.