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January 24, 2015

Review: Golden Son by Pierce Brown


Golden Son (Red Rising Trilogy, #2) 

Title: Golden Son (Red Rising, #2)
Author: Pierce Brown
Publisher: Random House Canada
Publication date: January 6, 2015
Genre(s): Adult (Science Fiction)
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 464
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.
Let's start with my thoughts as soon as I finished the book (acquired from Goodreads):
"I... That ending. I was dozing off because it is super late but the last 4 pages woke me up with a virtual slap. Wow wow wow. This is crueler than Red Rising. That ending *cries* this book was glorious and exceeded my expectations by 100x times." 
Yes, I was blown away by Golden Son. If you read my review of Red Rising, you would know that I thoroughly enjoyed it but I wasn't blown away.. however, I stand corrected, Pierce Brown really hit it out of the ballpark. This book was so much more than I expected. I don't think I've ever read a book with this much plotting, manipulation, gasp inducing scenes, twists, and shocking revelations, all written in an engaging and addicting read. I honestly couldn't stop thinking about Golden Son, even after I finished my buddy read with Giselle from Booknerd Canada (I also buddy read Red Rising with her last year). There is just so much in this book that rereading it almost immediately will still result in discovering new things for the first time. 
Golden Son is set two years after Red Rising and the whole book spans another year of Darrow's life. I was quite impressed with this jump in timeline because this series is hovering, if it isn't already, on the line between young adult and adult fiction. I feel the gruesomeness of the book and the events that take place would shock many younger readers, however, being twenty four, I welcomed the uncensored feel of the book. Darrow really is a fantastic protagonist. I generally don't read male POV books because I don't connect with them but in Golden Son, Darrow captures your attention from the get go and you can't help but cheer him on and feel for him and invest your emotional well being in his outcome. 
I also loved the breakdown of all the colors as well as the houses and the people in them. It is always welcomed when fantasy/science fiction books include such glossaries and breakdowns so that we won't be lost halfway through the book. Those sections are so pretty (as evident from the photo above) and I just love the cover of the book too.  
Like I mentioned, from the first chapter, Brown kept throwing at Darrow (and us) complication after complication, twist after twist, I honestly wish I could say I was able to predict some of them but I couldn't predict a single one. It actually hurt my pride of being able to predict things, but at the same time I was ecstatic that finally, I can read a book where I 100% got everything wrong. It is glorious. Putting aside the plot, some of our favorite characters come back including Servo. God I love that foul mouthed boy. He is hilarious and I cracked up every time he said anything. There has also been a ton of crying moments (I admit it.. I cried) and I loved how Golden Son was able to tug at all my heartstrings but at the same time have so much substance and just so much action. I respect Brown for being able to create such a world and plot with so many details and all the interwoven plots without losing us. I am very excited for Morning Star and I honest'y don't know how I'll be able to wait over a year until it is in my hands. 
 
My review of Red Rising 

5 comments:

  1. YAYAYAY so glad you loved this book as well! I think I enjoyed this one even more than I enjoyed Red Rising - which was pretty hard to achieve! I can't wait to read Morning Star. I have a feeling everyone is going to die or something along those lines... I don't trust Pierce Brown LOL.

    Fabulous review, Juhina!

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

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  2. Sounds like such a great book!! I still have to read the first one, Red Rising, And considering how much everyone is loving them, I am sure I will love them. :)

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  3. Aw, yay :D Amazing review Juhina. <3 I am so so glad you loved this book. I need to start reading my copies of this series soonish. So curious :D But worried I won't like that two year jump. Hmph. Hoping it won't be too bad :) Thank you for sharing your thoughts sweetie. <3

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    1. it won't be! I honestly think it's necessary, if you don't want the storyline to drag.

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  4. Like you, I seriously LOVED this book. It really amped the stakes and the action, the plot twists, the character development...it was all AMAZING. Can't wait for Morning Star now! ;) Wonderful review, Juhina!

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