Joint Review: Golden Son by Pierce Brown (Spoilers)

Okay, if you haven't read Red Rising, you may want to skip this discussion/review. If you haven't read Golden Son yet, you may want to be careful while reading this review. If you have read Golden Son, we totally need to have a party and discuss All The Things.

Proceed carefully.



Title: Golden Son (Red Rising Trilogy #2)
Author: Pierce Brown
Publisher: Del Rey (Random House)
Release Date: January 6, 2015
Acquired Via: Publisher
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.

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.

Our Review

You can read Kayla's review of Red Rising, the first book in the trilogy, HERE.

BEWARE! THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FOR Red Rising (AND MAYBE Golden Son) BELOW!
Amber: So I decided to play hooky the last few minutes of work and finish.....

My first thoughts at the end were "Well, fuck."

At least Sevro and Mustang are free somewhere. They'll get Darrow out somehow.

Kayla: So did you see any of that coming? I knew what's-his-face would end up betraying him, but I didn't think Finchner would be killed. But then again, I didn't see a lot of things coming. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something would spin it on its head.

Amber: I'm pretty sure that every 10 pages there was some betrayal that had me rethinking everything. I figured that his "friend" would betray him, but I completely did not see that Finchner would die. I also didn't see him as Ares. I think that Sevro will end up taking over that.

I have no idea where the third book is going to go, but I'm sure it's going to be just as crazy.

So I listened to the first one and liked it. But this one was sooooooo much better. I liked the writing a lot more this time around. Could you tell if the writing changed, or was it just better for me in print?

Kayla: The only way I could even describe the book to anyone as I was reading it was that it was like a kaleidoscope. Every time you moved it, the characters and situations would be put in a completely different pattern.

I couldn't see Finchner as Ares, and I definitely didn't see Sevro as being half-Red. I could see Sevro taking over, but honestly, I refuse to even try to guess where Brown is going with this series.

I'm going to listen to this one when it comes out because I love the dude who is narrating. He really brings a depth to Darrow that isn't in the books. And I think that Golden Son had better writing than Red Rising, so I can't really say. I, personally, kept telling myself throughout the entire book how good it would be in audio format.

Amber: Almost every note I took is, so I didn't see so and so coming (and I have 5 pages of notes). It was non-stop action and betrayal and spoiled plans. This book is really hard to talk about without spoiling every single chapter.

Victra was probably the character I liked the most. She just cracked me up, especially when she told Darrow to stop being a little bitch. He did have some whiney bitch moments. I want​ed​ to shake him sometimes, and just scream TELL YOUR FRIENDS THAT YOU'RE A RED ALREADY! Who was your favorite out of the bunch?

I will be seriously pissed if Mustang betrays Darrow, although I don't know how I feel about their love relationship. What do you think?

Kayla: I know! I have a friend that wanted to know how it was because she loved Red Rising, and I'm like, "I'm sorry, I really can't tell you anything at all except that there are a few explosions." I mean, every chapter was a new change and a cliffhanger at the end of it.

I don't know if I even had enough time to have a favorite character. I was too busy trying to keep up with everything going on! I did like Pax's father and brother a lot, and I think Sevro is one of my all-time favorites for the series. Victra cracked me up, too, but I never really trusted her. (Off the record - wasn't she one that died? I have to go back and look at the end again.)

Darrow betrayed Mustang, in a sense, time and time and time again. I like their love relationship because it's a lot healthier than his with Eo. I think she wants to love him for him, if only he would let her. I think his stupid ass will figure it out too late, right before he dies at the end.

So, am I the only one that cried when Darrow went back among the Reds on Mars? The scene with his mother choked me up for some reason.

Amber: I think that Victra made it through (please, let her have made it through!), but you're right Sevro is one of the best. He's cracked me up since the first book. And, he's a good solid friend to Darrow.

You're right, Darrow probably is going to die at the end, and I'm going to hate it. There were times where I thought the book was a little too backstabby and harsh. Like when Darrow was trying to be a good guy and forgive someone who betrayed him, someone else removed the choice. I get the sentiment that Brown is trying to make regarding the human condition and human choices, but sometimes it just seems that Darrow is least horrible person rather than a good person.

I think that the scene with Darrow's mother was touching, but I didn't tear up. I think because I was so worried about Mustang's choice that I couldn't really focus on what was happening.

Kayla: Oh, it's no problem. I forgot about it, too.

We'll cross our fingers for Victra. I think I'll be done with the series if something happens to Sevro. I really think that he should be the hero of these books. (He kinda is already, if you think about it.)

I don't think Darrow is a good person at all, but I think the book is about him trying to do the right thing as he tries to figure out what the fuck it is. That's part of what makes him seem so realistic. I don't know about you, but it's not easy at all being a good person. I've seen the dark side, and they indeed have cookies.

I had a hard time getting into it all because I was waiting on something else to come along and bite Darrow in the ass, but his mom just got me. I guess because maybe I'm a sentimental sap? *shrugs*

Anywho, can we get the third book already? Please and thank you.

Amber: 4.5/5 Stars
Kayla: 5/5 Stars

Buy Links
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | Fishpond


To satisfy FTC guidelines, we are disclosing that we each received an advance digital copy of the novel from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. It has in no way affected the outcome. All expressed opinions are awesome, honest, and courtesy of us.