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Red Rising (Red Rising Saga #1) by Pierce Brown

"Red Rising by Pierce Brown is an epic and gritty space opera that follows Darrow and his attempt to make the last words of his wife, "break the chains", a reality. He will be the hammer that shatters their golden shackles. The first test is surviving the Institute, a school where the best and brightest of the Aureate, the Golds children go to prove their merit. And Darrow knows he must win but nothing prepares him for the trials he'll face, the choices he'll make or the friendships he'll form. This is my third read and the series just keeps getting better." 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Pros - A cast of truly likable characters and all for different reasons/Sevro, the quiet, keenly observant, loner/Roque, the gentle poet/Cassius, arrogant but charming/Darrow's guilt at their friendship is truly heartbreaking at times/The idea of colors was an interesting catch, Reds, Pinks, Blues, Greens and the most powerful Golds. 

Cons - The 12 Houses of the Roman Pantheon in the Institute was a lot for one story and there were times where it felt like too many characters/Military strategy is completely lost on me, so some of the descriptions of the Houses going to war were a touch boring. 

Full Review:

Darrow is a red. His life is simple. He's a Helldiver on a mining team, digging the tunnels of Mars for helium-3. He's smart, quick and proud but not a jerk. H loves his family and adores his wife, Eo, a beautiful, sweet, dreamer of a girl. One night they steal away and she shows him a secret. A garden in a bubble dome. 

Darrow's lived all his life underground, he's never seen grass, trees or the stars. It's the best gift anyone has ever given him. Later, Eo starts talking about his strength, how people would follow him, that they could make a difference, if they just tried. Darrow's father was hanged when he was 12, for doing the Forbidden Dance and Darrow can't stomach the idea of rebellion. He simply wants to watch the sun-rise with his wife but their moment is short-lived once they're found by the Grays, security and are promptly arrested.

When they see each other again, it's to watch as the other is flogged in the Commons of the mine, for all eyes to see,  until their backs are raw. Darrow takes his, his eyes never leaving the cold, soulless shark-eyes of the man who passed down their punishment. 

The Arch Governor of Mars, Nero Au Augustus, is an Aureate, cruel perfection. And he gave their sentence with barely a twitch of an eyelid, there's nothing there, no emotion, only cruelty.

When Eo is brought to the post and does the absolute worst thing she could do, sings the Forbidden Song, Darrow is horrified. He knows now that she'll be killed, that her talk of rebellion days ago was serious. He begs the Arch Governor, pleads for mercy but all the man does is glance at Eo, then at the Grays and tells them to simply, "Hang the Red bitch." 

And they do. But, while standing on the scaffolding, Eo, fearless in impending death shouts out to all those gathered, "Break the Chains" and then the platform drops.  

I mean, if you're going to start a Rebellion, might as well make the beginning of it all truly heartbreaking. And Brown, who's had his foot steady on the gas pedal for the whole beginning, slams that thing to the floor and doesn't let up. This is such a great, fun, fast-paced read and I'm excited to read the sequel, Golden Son for the third time 🤣.  

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