Book Avengers: Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Hello and welcome to our March Book Avengers post!  Today we are featuring Red Rising by Pierce Brown.  If you’ve read our intro post you know that this book has been on both of our TBR piles for a while and we were excited to start this series together for our new feature!

Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations.

Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.

But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.

Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society’s ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies… even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.

Kristina’s Thoughts:

I don’t even know where to start guys.  I sat down and read part one, eh.  Part two?  I was starting to get into it.  Part three? Eh again and I just didn’t get a positive feeling back after that.  I definitely see the Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones vibe and while I liked both of those series the combination didn’t work for me.  Maybe because it was mainly kids being so extremely violent?  I don’t know if I will ever truly pinpoint what was my biggest issues here but I’m very sad that I couldn’t get more into this one or connect enough to want to move forward in the series.

Did it live up to the hype?

SIGH.  I’m so sad to say this but it didn’t live up to the hype for me at all.  I’ve practically had a fake marriage to Pierce for several years now (in my head obvs) and was so worried going into this series because everyone loves it but when I started I just didn’t connect with anyone and I honestly don’t even have the desire to read book two at this point.  This one was a let down for me big time and I’m so sad because I feel like I let my friends down here.

Kristina’s Rating:

 

 

 

 

Sarah’s Thoughts:

Oh man, you guys. This book. THIS BOOK! The hype surrounding ‘Red Rising’ is HUGE! I’ve heard so many amazing things about this book and was so excited to finally dive in and find out what the excitement was all about. So, I’m sure you’re asking yourselves. Did she like it? That’s a really tough question for me to answer. I certainly didn’t dislike it, but at the end of the day, I’m giving this one three stars.

‘Red Rising’ started off a little slow for me, but after a few chapters, I was LOVING it! Like, totally invested, totally excited and I was so on board with the hype. But then, somewhere along the way, that just fell apart for me. I had a hard time believing Darrow’s transformation and the fact that literally NO ONE questioned a newcomer, a total stranger in fact, in to their exclusive and uber secretive society. I even had a hard time believing his motivations, even though Brown did a decent job outlining them in the beginning of the book. So after Darrow’s “Extreme Makeover” moment, I kind of checked out. That’s not to say there weren’t parts of the book that I continued to enjoy, but it usually involved a character other than Darrow. Can you say Sevro?

Much of the middle section of ‘Red Rising’ was up and down for me. Some parts I liked, some parts I was bored with. But I will say that I enjoyed the end of the book and some of the twists that were presented. For the ending alone, I would continue on with the series and read book two, ‘Golden Son’.

Did it live up to the hype?

Ummm…not really! I mean, I’m gonna keep it real here. I went into this book with SUPER high expectations! Bloggers I respect and admire love this book and it’s one of the books I’ve heard the most buzz about. So, maybe it was because I was expecting SO MUCH out of this book, that I was left feeling disappointed. Honestly, this is one of the biggest reading let downs I’ve ever encountered. But, like I said above, I didn’t dislike this book. It just didn’t push a lot of my buttons. Insert SUPER sad face here. I really, REALLY wanted to love ‘Red Rising’!

Sarah’s Rating:

 

LINK UP

Hey you guys! We want to see what you thought too.  Whether you have an older review or if you read along with us we want to know!  Link up and you could be eligible to enter our giveaway! Giveaway is US only but all are welcome to link up reviews to share the post love.  Link ups will close on March 28th so hurry!

Loved Red Rising?  This month we are hosting a WINNER’S CHOICE giveaway!  You can either win a SIGNED FIRST EDITION of Red Rising for the collectors out there or a $15 Amazon Gift Card! Just follow our rafflecopter link to enter!  US ONLY, ends 03/28.  GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want to be a part of picking our next book?  Below are our three April picks that we’ve narrowed down from our current TBR list.  One is a repeated rec, the second a new series to being, or lastly a standalone loved in blogger world.    For your vote to count your can either comment on this post with your pick or head on over to our twitter hashtag #bookavengers and vote using our twitter poll.  Feel free to retweet and help promote your pick!  Voting closes March 28th and we will be announcing both our next pick and giveaway winner via twitter that day.

April picks:

At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh to save his kingdom. He stands on the rock of the three wonders with his friend Prince Balthazar and Balthazar’s cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood to safeguard Lumatere.

But all safety is shattered during the five days of the unspeakable, when the king and queen and their children are brutally murdered in the palace. An impostor seizes the throne, a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere’s walls, and those who escape are left to roam the land as exiles, dying by the thousands in fever camps.

Ten years later, Finnikin is summoned to another rock–to meet Evanjalin, a young novice with a startling claim: Balthazar, heir to the throne of Lumatere, is alive. This arrogant young woman claims she’ll lead Finnikin and his mentor, Sir Topher, to the prince. Instead, her leadership points them perilously toward home. Does Finnikin dare believe that Lumatere might one day rise united? Evanjalin is not what she seems, and the startling truth will test Finnikin’s faith not only in her but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny.

In a bold departure from her acclaimed contemporary novels, Printz Medalist Melina Marchetta has crafted an epic fantasy of ancient magic, feudal intrigue, romance, and bloodshed that will rivet you from the first page.

Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London—but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her ‘proper adventure’.

 

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

 

 

We hope you guys enjoyed our post and link up to help promote your back list books!  Please remember to vote for your favorite and join us March 28th when we announce the winner for our giveaway and our April pick.  As always, if it is new to you as well please join us in reading, we’d love to chat with others while we are reading.  See you soon!

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