*I received a free copy of Golden Son from Del Rey via Netgalley. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *
Warning: This book includes mature content such as: sexual content, and/or drug and/or alcohol use, and/or violence.

Series: Red Rising Trilogy #2
Published by Del Rey on 6 January 2015
Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Pages: 464
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley




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.
I don’t even know where to start! Golden Son is fast-paced awesomeness, danger, brutality, chess-play, intrigues and deadly battles.
My Golden Son review:
Golden Son starts two years after the end of Red Rising, and it’s obvious from the start that much has happened in Darrow’s life in the meantime. The readers are brought into the midst of the action, on a space-ship where there is either a big victory to be won, or a loss so bad it might be impossible to recover from. The pace is more or less at break-neck speed through-out the story, and that really goes well with the plot and the characters and all that’s at stake in Golden Son.
The intrigue in Golden Son is many-fold, there are so many layers of political play, treason, games, and both long and short cons going on. It really isn’t easy for Darrow to trust, and it seems even harder for him in this story. The writing is so beautiful I feel like I have to make sure I’ll do it justice in my review. The story Brown paints is so vivid, colorful and brutal, it’s impossible to not pay attention to the smallest details. The poetry of Darrow is like a strong melody, one that made me feel slightly obsessed for the time it took me to read. And I dreamt of Darrow and his friends when I slept at night, that’s the kind of impact Golden Son had on me.
Darrow has a lot of different things to deal with in Golden Son, he needs to always be the best, he needs to keep his secrets, and at the same time, he really needs to show his friends and allies that he trusts them enough to open up to them. This balancing act, as well as missing his family and feeling a little uncertain about Dancer and the Sons of Ares has Darrow doubting both his mission and his new way of life. Between the highly political aspects of the story, and the bloody battles being fought in several places, I almost felt a little out of breath at times, but I also really needed to know more.
The world-building was already amazing in Red Rising, and Brown expertly used the building blocks to make the whole universe in the series even more realistic and strong. The story is split into parts, and each part has a theme. The writing is so good – quite poetic in places amidst all the brutality of the action – mostly from Darrow’s point of view in first person present tense, and this way, the readers only know what Darrow knows. And the ending, I don’t even have any words to explain that. I simply have no idea how Morning Star will begin. And I’m so sad I have to wait for a whole year before I can find out what will happen next!
Some of my favorite Golden Son quotes:
He’d have me win for him, but I’d win for the Red girl with a dream bigger than she ever could be. I’d win so that he dies, and her message burns across the ages. Small order.
I’m still playing games. This is just the deadliest yet.
Were I still the man Eo knew, I would have stood frozen in horror. But that man is gone. I mourn his passing every day.
So many doubts. Is this me being a coward?
We lock eyes. He grins toothily. And I know I’ve made a deal with the devil.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Twitter: Mlsimmons
I keep hearing good things about this series, but I avoid YA. I read some, but I’m really picky. I might have to pick it up at some point. I’ve also heard the narration is good, which will move it up the list faster. Glad to see it still going strong. Can’t wait to see what you think of the final book.
Really, Melanie, it’s not your usual YA story at all. Darrow is quite mature, even at the beginning of Red Rising, and the whole world-building and the political structure of the universe makes it feel much more ‘adult’ than HG for example.
*cries* I have to wait a whole year for the next book!!
Twitter: bmreviewsohmy
Just skimmed over it since I haven’t read the first book, but it seems like you really love this series. 🙂
Hmm… what gave me away, Stormi? The gushing? The fan-girling? The five-starring?
Truly a great series, and I wish I could live inside Brown’s brain for a little while to see what will happen next 😀
Great review Lexxie! It definitely makes me want to check out the series! Also love the cover!
This series is so well done, Laura! And the writing is beautiful, really and truly. Happy Monday 🙂
Ok, just before I stopped by your blog I left a comment on Kimberly’s about this book. Are you girls trying to push my curiosity to the limit? 😛 Glad it worked SO amazingly well for you, too, Lexxie! I’ll have to get to this Trilogy, I’m just not sure when…
This series is made of amazing, Silvia, and of course I’m trying my best to push your curiosity to the limit 😀
Happy Monday.
I only skimmed your review because I’ve officially decided to listen to this series ‘just for me’ once my Audible credits have been replenished. As you know, YA isn’t really my thing; however if it falls on the dystopian side of the genre spectrum, I actually don’t mind it. Plus, a fellow blogger compared it to Game of Thrones, and how can I say no to that?
I haven’t read Game of Thrones yet, but I will very soon. The dystopian world Brown has created is pretty amazing, Carmel, and even if you don’t usually read YA, rest assured that the characters are pretty mature.
Just saw 5/5 on Kimba’s too. So need to read Red Rising
You definitely need this series in your life, Brandi!
Twitter: talksupeblog
I just told my dad to read the series and let me know how it fared. I’m iffy about the sci-fi aspect but I can tell the human element is amazeballs!
I actually think you’d love this series, Braine! The Sci-Fi elements really aren’t hard to understand, and the world-building plus the character development is so well done.
Truly great writing does leave an impact that I feel is hard to express in reviews as well. I believe you did it justice! I think dreaming about a book definitely proves that it had a profound effect on you 😀 Excellent review!
Yeah, I feel like I need to be more eloquent than usual to bring justice to the writing I just read 🙂 Dreaming about it definitely means there was a great impact, and I’m so sad I have to wait a year for the next instalment.
It seems that everyone’s reviewed this one today! I still haven’t started the Red Rising trilogy but I’ve been meaning to get my hands on it. I love that this sequel didn’t suffer form second book syndrome and that the significant time jump worked for you. I promise to read this one soon!
I guess that’s because the release date is tomorrow, Lily 🙂 It didn’t suffer in the least from second book syndrome, either, if anything, Golden Son was possibly even better than Red Rising.
I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did!
Twitter: kimbacaffeinate
OMG..I think it is so cool that you see it as a strategic game of chess too Lexxie. Words cannot even begin to express my love for this series..love your review!
This series is made of amazing, Kim! I’m so happy we both love it so much! I would really like to chat with you about a couple of things…
Yes, yes yes!!! Just one more day and I get my greedy little ears on this book! You guys are killing me! This is turning out to be a long Monday 🙂
Great Job Lexxie! I’m so happy the second book delivers.
You are in for a real treat, Lup! I really hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did 🙂 *happy reading*
Wow! Golden Son sounds very exciting, Lexxie. My adrenaline is pumping just from reading your review. I’m glad this installment was every bit as wonderful as Red Rising. I’m going to try to get Red Rising read…sometime this year. *ha* But seriously, this world and Darrow, too, have me very eager to get started. Fantastic review, my dear!
**BIG HUGS**
Yeah, Brandee, Golden Son was so well done! I look forward to seeing what you think of both Red Rising and Golden son 🙂
*BIG HUGS*
Seems it’s all good things with this series. I’m finally starting Red Rising this week!
I really loved Red Rising, Tabitha, it was one of my top favorites for 2014, and I was so excited about Golden Son… which actually exceeded my expectations!
Hi Lexxie,
Thanks for the follow. LOVE your blog 🙂 🙂 🙂 I’m so glad you likes Golden Son. I received this from NetGalley also but I have to read the first book still.
Thank you, Kim!!
The whole series is really good, I can’t wait to read Morning Star – even if it’s quite a long time to wait 🙂 Have a fantastic week!