Book Review: Is Red Rising the Next Hunger Games?
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
books 1-3
4/5 stars overall
I’m obsessed with a new series and it feels so good
Is Red Rising the next binge-worthy series? It might be too long to read in one week, but it won’t leave your head until you’ve finally finished the whole thing.
This is another seven-book series like Harry Potter, but it sucks you into a whole new world with no wizards or dragons.
I embarked on a seven-book series and only just came up for a breath.
This is the first series I’ve read since reading The Fault In Our Stars; read my blog post about that book.
Finishing the third book felt like a good spot for a quick recap and debrief. And boy do we have a lot to debrief.
Red Rising is a science fiction series set in a dystopian universe in space.
Our main character, Darrow, lives on Mars where he mines toxic gas from the planet’s core to make it habitable for society.
Unfortunately, that’s all I can tell you without spoiling anything.
The book follows Darrow’s fight for freedom as he grows into one of the most amazing characters I’ve ever read!
Characters and everything else
One of the reasons I love this series so far is because of the characters. Brown creates complex and unique characters that fit into the story so flawlessly you’d think they were real.
You know how picky I am with my characters, yet Brown has such a diverse cast of characters with unique traits and flaws that I felt spoiled.
His ability to write female characters astounded me.
Something I struggle with is how many authors write female characters. So many authors think female characters need to be beautiful and sexy to be confident. They don’t realize that one can stand without the other.
Truthfully, I’m tired of the “effortlessly beautiful and doesn’t know it and every man loves her“ character. Give me more!!!
Despite not being a woman, Brown seems to understand how to write a female character without throwing her into the tropey, stereotypical format. And when he does write the typical damsel or sexy character, it makes sense. Those characteristics fit into the story and are done tastefully.
Instead of being a default description, it’s important to the plot. Does that make sense?
A female character can be strong and bold without being sexy and beautiful, and Brown knows that. Some of his main female characters breathed a whole new idea into strong female leads.
Because this series has so many plot twists, I don’t want to dissect any characters other than Darrow.
Darrow is an example of a male lead who can be confident and strong without being toxic and misogynistic. Another problem I find in newer books is men being misogynistic and being hidden as playful and cute.
Darrow’s ability to express his emotions and feelings deepens his character and makes it so easy to fall in love with him. I speak from experience.
I love a male character who tells his friends he loves them and doesn’t go ballistic over male dominance.
I’ve been in a reading rut since I’ve slowly drifted away from fantasy. I still love my fairies and dragons, but I’ve been struggling to find books that fit my interests now.
This book felt like the perfect step away from fantasy and back into dystopian. While the book is definitely scientific fiction, it has all the elements of a futuristic society that I’ve loved since a kid.
Brown definitely incorporated the nostalgic thrill of Divergent and Hunger Games into this series without making it feel overdone. Read my blog about the newest Hunger Games book.
I rarely dabble in true science fiction, so this felt like a brand new world for me. Brown’s deeply thought-out life in space created the perfect story to suck in a tentative sci-fi girl.
The plot twists and surprises were so severe and jaw-dropping that it feels almost inappropriate to discuss anything besides the most basic plot descriptions.
So you guys are going to have to trust me on this. And why wouldn’t you, have I ever led you astray?
Read Red Rising if you know what’s good for you! Kisses and hugs!
What are you reading? Give me some suggestions in the comments below!
I’ve been a freelancing machine, so check out my recent article on NJ Digest: https://thedigestonline.com/nj/what-to-look-for-on-a-walk-through-nj-this-fall/
Check out my LinkedIn - Julia DiGeronimo - for my news clips from the Cape May Star and Wave. I’ve been writing some of my most researched and mature pieces for them, and I’m really enjoying myself.
