Tag: red rising

Book Review: Light Bringer (Red Rising Saga #6) by Pierce Brown

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Length: 686 pages
Author: Pierce Brown
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: July 25th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Darrow returns as Pierce Brown’s New York Times bestselling Red Rising series continues in the thrilling sequel to Dark Age.

“The measure of a man is not the fear he sows in his enemies. It is the hope he gives his friends.”—Virginia au Augustus

The Reaper is a legend, more myth than man: the savior of worlds, the leader of the Rising, the breaker of chains.

But the Reaper is also Darrow, born of the red soil of Mars: a husband, a father, a friend.

The worlds once needed the Reaper. But now they need Darrow. Because after the dark age will come a new age: of light, of victory, of hope.

NEW SERIES FAVORITE.

I don’t even know how to write this review.

One. Because this book was ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
Two. Because I in no way want to spoil a single thing about it.

I loved the direction PB took for the storyline. It really came back around to Darrow and his continual character arc. I loved SO MANY of the moments Darrow got to have and confronting a lot of past choices and gaining opportunities needed for the final showdown in Red God. The relationship between Darrow, Sevro and Cassius is hands down one of my favorite men groups around. I LOVE THEM. It’s filled with complexity, tough love and unwavering support.

I’m pretty sure I moved through every emotion possible throughout. The way I love many of these characters and love to hate many others. There’s a much better balance of action to politicking and slower moments. Pierce Brown knocked it out of the park.

And I feel like I could keep talking about other aspects of this

Overall audience notes:

  • Sci-fi / Fantasy
  • Language: some strong
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: high blood/gore, loss of loved ones, battle and war themes

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: December 2022

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It’s the end of 2022! And there were plenty of amazing reads this month. I loved my rereads and the many new books I came across too.

Favorites

Least Favorites

  • Morning Star (Reread)
  • Lightfall
  • ACOTAR Series (Reread)
  • A Holly Jilly Christmas
  • Sisters of Sword and Song
  • Before I Let Go
  • Fractured Sky
  • The Co-Op
  • Bloodsinger
  • Dear Emmie Blue
  • A Heart Worth Stealing
  • You Wouldn’t Dare
  • The Last Tale of the Flower Bride
  • A Wilderness of Stars
  • Beauty Reborn
  • The Syren’s Mutiny
  • Just My Type
  • Cotswolds Holiday (Christmas Escapes #1) by Kasey Stockton
  • [Reread] Morning Star (Red Rising Saga #3) by Pierce Brown
  • [ARC] You Wouldn’t Dare by Samantha Markum
  • Keeper of Enchanted Rooms (Whimbrel House #1) by Charlie N. Holmberg
  • Lightfall (The Starchaser Saga #4) by Renee Dugan
  • [Reread] A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR #1) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC/Novella] A Holly Jilly Christmas (Sheet Cake Love Stories) by Emma St. Clair
  • The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis
  • Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross
  • Fates Illuminated (Call of the Norns #1) by Aimee Vance
  • Before I Let Go (Skyland #1) by Kennedy Ryan
  • [Novella] Visions of You (Lost & Found #0.5) by Catherine Cowles
  • [Novella] Snowbound (Tattered & Torn #2.5) by Catherine Cowles
  • A Vision in Smoke (Until the Stars Are Dead #2) by Allyson S. Barkley
  • Fractured Sky (Tattered & Torn #5) by Catherine Cowles
  • [ARC] Never Vacation With Your Ex by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
  • [Reread] A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2) by Sarah J. Maas
  • To Bleed A Crystal Bloom (Crystal Bloom #1) by Sarah A. Parker
  • [ARC] The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
  • Let it Snow by Michelle Stimpson
  • [Novella] A Very Merry Christmoose (Deadlights Cove #2.5) by B. Perkins and Aimee Vance
  • Esperance (Esperance Trilogy #1) by Heather Frost
  • [Reread] A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3) by Sarah J. Maas
  • A Wilderness of Stars by Shea Ernshaw
  • The Co-Op by Tarah Dewitt
  • Children of Ragnarok (The Runestone Saga #1) by Cinda Williams Chima
  • Two Wrongs Make a Right (The Wilmot Sisters #1) by Chloe Liese
  • Lord of Gold and Glory (Fae Isles #2) by Lisette Marshall
  • The Holly Dates by Brittainy Cherry
  • [Reread/Novella] A Court of Frost and Starlight (ACOTAR #3.5) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [Novella] Christmas Presents by Tarah Dewitt
  • 50 Ways to Win Back Your Lover (Bower Boys #1) by Kelly Siskind
  • Let Love In (Canyon Cove Love Stories #3) by Marie Soleil
  • Bloodsinger (The Starchaser Saga #5) by Renee Dugan
  • [ARC] Beauty Reborn by Elizabeth Lowham
  • [ARC] Off the Map (Beck Sisters #3) by Trish Doller
  • [Reread] A Court of Silver Flames (ACOTAR #4) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Just My Type by Falon Ballard
  • [ARC] The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim
  • The Syren’s Mutiny by Jessica S. Taylor
  • Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis
  • [Novella] Falling in Somerset (Lost Story Bookshop) by Jenny B. Jones
  • [ARC] A Heart Worth Stealing by Joanna Barker

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Book Review: Morning Star (Red Rising Saga #3) by Pierce Brown

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sci-Fi
Length: 524 pages
Author: Pierce Brown
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: February 9th, 2016
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Red Rising thrilled readers and announced the presence of a talented new author. Golden Son changed the game and took the story of Darrow to the next level. Now comes the exhilarating conclusion to the Red Rising Trilogy: Morning Star.

Darrow would have lived in peace, but his enemies brought him war. The Gold overlords demanded his obedience, hanged his wife, and enslaved his people. But Darrow is determined to fight back. Risking everything to transform himself and breach Gold society, Darrow has battled to survive the cutthroat rivalries that breed Society’s mightiest warriors, climbed the ranks, and waited patiently to unleash the revolution that will tear the hierarchy apart from within.

Finally, the time has come.

But devotion to honor and hunger for vengeance run deep on both sides. Darrow and his comrades-in-arms face powerful enemies without scruple or mercy. Among them are some Darrow once considered friends. To win, Darrow will need to inspire those shackled in darkness to break their chains, unmake the world their cruel masters have built, and claim a destiny too long denied—and too glorious to surrender.

WHAT AN ENDING.

I never wrote a review for this when I first read it (after release), so I’m back with a quick jot down of my thoughts.

OH HOW I LOVE THIS SERIES EVEN AS IT TEARS MY HEART OUT.

There’s a plethora of amazing scenes here that I can’t even begin to name them all. And what I wouldn’t do to have Sevro’s POV in this book. THE THINGS I WOULD DO FOR THIS Y’ALL. He’s my favorite. And his love interest is perfect. Sevro still remains my favorite side character of all time.

I loved Darrow’s progression and character changes. He goes through hell and back 1,000 times and still gets up and does it again. All for the people he loves and the world he wants to see in a better place.

The audiobook is fantastic and I highly recommend that avenue.

I’d have a lot longer review but I really don’t want to spoil a thing about this because it’s better to experience it without prior knowledge.

JUST READ IT OKAY?

Overall audience notes:

  • Sci-Fi
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: very high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: extremely high levels of blood and gore depiction, executions, suicide, loss of loved ones, mass murder, gun violence

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Book Review: Golden Son (Red Rising Saga #2) by Pierce Brown

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Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Sci-Fi
Length: 442 pages
Author: Pierce Brown
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: January 6th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

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.

WHIPLASH.

Good heavens I forgot how much I love these books! This is a reread review as I gear up for Lightbringer and its good (and painful) to be back with this saga.

I LOVE Darrow. Don’t get me wrong, he goes on one heck of a journey, BUT THE SIDE CHARACTERS. They bring the house down. I love so many of them and how well crafted each personality and soul is. Sevro, Mustang, Victra, Ragnor, etc. The whole dang cast is wonderful and completely captivating. They MAKE this book what it is.

The plot is continually pulling you every which way in the emotions field. There’s highs, lows, and everything in between. I had remembered the main gist of the novel, but getting a chance to reread and see all of the details floored me. These books are intricate and amazing and the best sci-fi series I’ve ever read.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sci-Fi
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: very high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: slavery, slut shaming, blood and gore depiction, torture mentioned

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