Red Rising by Pierce Brown

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Read: March 03, 2026 - March 20, 2026

I have heard so many incredible things about Pierce Brown and his Red Rising series, and let me just say... they're all right. I went into this book knowing nothing... I didn't even read the back of the book before starting it, that's how invested and trusting I was.

I found that this book took me SO long to read, simply because the world is so beyond intricate that I wanted to make sure that I was fully invested and understanding everything that was happening. He explains and describes everything so incredibly that I had no questions, which is rare for me. I love his incredible worldbuilding and characters. It is so difficult to create such complex characters that grip the readers as Darrow does.

Sometimes I forgot that a majority of this book is just one big game of Capture the Flag because it's so intense and violent. But I loved it. I also loved Darrow and Mustang together, even though the part "she has now been gone longer than we've been together" (referring to Eo) HURT MY SOUL.

I think I'm going to regret saying this, BUT, I'm excited to continue with these characters in this world I find myself getting lost in.

4.5 stars.