YA Review: Golden Son (Red Rising #2) by Pierce brown

Title: Golden Son
Author: Pierce Brown
Series: Red Rising
Book #: 2
Pages: 464
Reading Level: YA
Book Rating: 
Goodreads Rating: 4.65
Published: January 6th, 2014

With shades of The Hunger Games, Ender’s Game, and Game of Thrones, debut author Pierce Brown’s genre-defying epic 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 from the overlords of a brutal elitist future built on lies. Now fully embedded among the Gold ruling class, Darrow continues his work to bring down Society from within. A life-or-death tale of vengeance with an unforgettable hero at its heart, Golden Son guarantees Pierce Brown’s continuing status as one of fiction’s most exciting new voices.

Taschima's POV:

I am not going to lie, I am kind of devastated.

Reading the Golden Son was the wildest ride of my young life. It has constant action, intrigue, drama, strategies, romance, friendship, WAR, BLOOD, SWEAT, and definitely tears. I tried to read it in bits because I wanted it to last, but that didn't happen. It was perhaps the most epic read of the year (I know it is only January, but come on unless JK Rowling decides to write the next Harry Potter within the next 365 -and publish it- I am pretty sure no book shall surpass the awesomeness that is Golden Son).

Everything lived up to my expectations and more. The Golden Son is definitely as good as the first installment in all areas, writing, character development, plot, etc etc. It is full of twists, betrayals, reveals, intrigue... Can I just have the third installment ALREADY!?

Though after that ending...

I don't even know if I want it. The ending was just so devastating, it makes me both dread the sequel and want it like no other book.

 I was at the edge of my seat throughout the entire read. I am writing this review and I am still pumped!  I keep thinking of Darrow and his quest, Mustang and the decisions she will have to make, and Sevro (Oh Sevro, always my favorite). The theme of friendship is still going strong, trusting people over slaving them, pretty much The Golden Son is Red Rising only on a very LARGE scale. Pierce Brown is done easing us into this world.

You get to meet new characters (new awesome characters) and re visit old pals. Friends become enemies, as enemies become friends. There is a lot of death throughout the novel, some of them really hurting but all necessary. Darrow is still struggling with his choices and how many people have to die in order for his people to be freed. And then the other question is posed, what happens when they free the Reds? When they bring down the system? Chaos? Someone has to figure it out, and it isn't going to be Darrow. Darrow kicks ass throughout the novel and he also gets his ass kicked several times. I love how he can think on his feet, and how he is still that Red inside that has doubts. He is constantly struggling with his fate, hating what he has to do while understanding it is a necessary evil.

Behind every great man there has got to be a great woman, and Mustang is that woman. Mustang, she is the smartest girl in the galaxy. She will sacrifice herself if needed to avoid war, but she always has plans b, c, and d, to make sure that does not have to happen. She is no damsel in distress, in fact none of the women in this series are which is so kick ass! At one point the men in the story (the old farts) where coming down on Mustang, calling her a whore and what not, and she just shuts their mouth from a position of power. She reminds them that the women are not inferior to the men in any capacity. I love this woman, she is a fantastic role model for women anywhere. Darrow feels guilty, hiding his real self from Mustang, which is why he keeps her at arms length but Mustang isn't petty about it. I love how Darrow also starts to let go of in this novel and move on from his previous love, Eo, while always keeping her in his heart and mind.

[spoiler] The Golden Son actually reminded me of Harry Potter and the Half- Blood Prince in how the author just killed every grown up that could lend Darrow a hand. He is to lead this rebellion now whether he likes it or not. Poor Ares, poor Sevro!! I really, really hope he doesn't kill Sevro (NOT HIM). Hey if Mustang must die then I can live with that, just not Darrow's conscious.[/spoiler]

I cannot wait for the sequel, though at the same time I am dreading it. The final chapter of The Golden Son was intense, and absolutely nothing is certain for the next title. I am nervous and yet excited. Overall a great start to the new year. But next year...

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