“Red Rising” by Pierce Brown • Book Review
source: @_mkarys on Instagram
Published: Jan 28, 2014 by Del Rey (Random House) and Recorded Books
Format: Audiobook (unabridged), 17 hours, Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
“So much pain. I had thought it would be over, but not all scars heal. Not all sins are forgiven.”
★★★★★ (5 / 5 stars) HO-LY CRAP. I am at a loss for words. If I were talking to you in person, it would just be a nonstop stutter because I don't even know how to form sentences at this point. You're lucky my fingers are even strong enough to be typing this right now. Can we just— I mean— I feel so— Darrow just— my heart...
Here's the truth: I had heard of Red Rising and heard great things about it specifically. For whatever reason, I never actually knew someone who had read it. So the series, and Pierce Brown, simply went under my radar for a long time. Now that I have Scribd, though, I am constantly diving into the books that have been on my TBR pile for years. Thus, began my journey with Darrow: Helldiver, Reaper, Savior. Ultimately, the opening novel to this saga of a story exceeded all my expectations.
!! WARNING !! There are spoilers ahead!
summary.
Let's dive right in. And be forewarned, these spoilers start with something major in Chapter 5, so be prepared to have your mind blown if you haven't started or are only part-way through the book. Red Rising is presented as the first novel in a dystopian trilogy set on Mars where our main character Darrow lives as a Red. You see, the current society (of all humankind in the universe) is divided into a caste system based on “color,” where Reds are at the bottom, Pinks serve as prostitutes for all other colors, Greys work as soldiers, Blues seem to be more robot than person, and Golds reign over all.
Darrow is a Helldiver in his mining colony on Mars, meaning he operates the drill for his clan as all Red miners on Mars harvest a specific Helium gas meant for terraforming other planets. They are told that humans are on the verge of making Earth uninhabitable and that it's up to them and their mining quotas to preserve humanity. However, when Darrow's wife Eo is hanged proclaiming “Break the chains!” and serves as a martyr for a rebellion against the society's structure, Darrow awakes from his own attempted hanging to find that not only was his "death" a lie but so is his entire purpose.
It turns out, nearly all the planets and moons in the universe are already habitable and operated by functioning societies. Darrow is recruited to joined the rebellion and carved with technologically advanced surgery to turn him into a Gold so he can attend the Institute, study at the Academy, and earn as high a position as possible (for the highest rebellious impact). Once at the Institute, sh*t hits the fan. Honestly, so much happens, it's not even worth summarizing here (particularly because I've gone on too long already), so let's just say things get crazy, bonds are formed, atrocities are committed, and Darrow is rewarded for his epic victory over the Institute itself.
basically, i'm a masochist now.
One of the reasons this book captivated me so fully is because there are clear Acts in the story-line. Act I has a clear start, as Eo's death spurs Darrow into action, and his transformation forces him to sacrifice everything that has formed his identity up until that point. He becomes the hero we (and the rebellion) need him to be; all he keeps with him is his name and the hymanthus blossom Mateo offers as a keepsake.
Throughout the rest of the story, Brown's foreshadowing, world-building, and unique slang is intriguing the whole way through and extremely well crafted. Even though I was predicting some of our plot twists, there was no real cliche trope in this novel, which is hard to do with dystopia.
But let's forget about plot for a moment, and acknowledge these characters! I mean, come on! Brown makes us feel the brotherhood between Darrow, Cassius, and Roque so deeply and Darrow's leadership growth as he travels with Mustang, Pax, and Tactus is beautiful to watch. I feel ridiculously attached to our character cast and am desperate to see the dynamics shift, grow, and disintegrate over the next novels. ALSO, Brown was shameless in killing off characters in such beautiful, raw ways that you can't even do anything but be heartbroken and move on. He makes you FEEL every single second of pain and hardship and tough calls just as Darrow felt them. And I have to say, I enjoyed suffering alongside him.
Since I listened to the audiobook, I must say the narrator (Tim Gerard Reynolds) is AMAZING. He even did a great job with the Song of Persephone. It was so solemn and beautiful. My s/o thought he sounded like Aiden Gillen (Petyr Baelish in Game of Thrones)—I mean, he was CONVINCED—but alas, it is not. Overall, if you've thought it might not be worth the hype, YOU'RE WRONG. It really challenged the typical dystopian model and tackles the system in an incredibly interesting, unique way. It is very much worth it, and it's one of the best dystopian stories I've read in my life (so far...we'll see how Books 2 and 3 go).
highlights.
I don't think I could leave behind this book without drawing your attention to some of the epic moments that broke my heart. So here are some the highlights of mine.
I definitely knew Eo was going to die, but it was still so hard to see Darrow suffer through that, especially that little bit about pulling her legs to break her neck after hanging
When Darrow had to kill Julian and keep it a secret from Cassius
That time Titus was a literal monster, Darrow found out he was a RED, and Cassius executed him
When Darrow whipped Tactus and then had Tactus (& then Pax) whip him, too to earn his trust (I died)
That time Darrow stabbed the Jackal's hand into the table, AND THE JACKAL SAWS HIS OWN ARM OFF TO ESCAPE
Pax's death (Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!)
When Darrow lets “bloodydamn” slip out before he kills Apollo—and then Sevro hides it!!