Golden Son: Book II of the Red Rising Trilogy

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars | 46,222 ratings

Price: 22.57

Last update: 11-28-2024


About this item

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.


Top reviews from the United States

Bryan Desmond
5.0 out of 5 stars Let fall the Rain.
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2017
2023-06-05: What a book. I remember it being the standout of the series on my first read, but really it's just one enormous launching point after the events of Red Rising, and after that point is reached, this book rarely lets up. There are a few sections where the reader is allowed to breathe, sure, but the pace in Golden Son is just blistering. I actually think that too fast a pace can be a problem at times, but it's one that Brown expertly avoids, somehow keeping everything on screen relevant, important, and effective.

This is an extremely tight package. Everything moves the story, the characters, or the world along in one way or another. It's impressive what Brown was able to pack into a sub-500 page novel, and it's rare for a second book in a trilogy to hit as hard as this one does. It's just full of incredible, memorable, iconic moments for the series. Earned moments. Moments that were built efficiently, effectively, and result in something well-crafted, and above all, addicting.

This second installment is where war breaks out in the Society. It's where the reader begins to question if the end really justifies the means, and where Darrow is caught between the self-reflection necessary to be a good man, and the realization that the things he must do for the Rising may forbid him from ever actually being one. Death is fast. War is terrifying. And Golden Son is undeniable.

Too many good things to say about this one. Pierce really shows his chops here, and his historical ken (his study of empire, of war). He masters his setting, and continues to craft one of the most convincing main characters I've read. He's a phenomenal show-don't-tell writer. New information is inferred by context and display; experience rather than exposition. The scenes he does not show are just as important as the ones he does, and he's savvy enough to know the difference.

Anyone not already reading these books who happens across this review and feels like being convinced: read them. Science-fantasy influenced by the likes of Herbert and Wolfe with lightning pacing and the rule of cool turned to the maximum. What more could you want?

2015-07-21: It has been a long while since a book has made me raise my fist in triumph, pound it in anger, and cry tears of both sadness and joy; but here we have Golden Son. I cannot recommend this series enough. If you are a fan of Red Rising and have not yet picked up this sequel, you owe it to yourself to do so.

Red Rising blew away my expectations in its pacing, its characterization, and the sheer amount of fun I had while reading it. Golden Son had more to live up to, and again I was incredibly impressed. Even more fast-paced, even more gripping, even more brutal, the sequel is everything that Red Rising was and more. If you are on the fence about Pierce Brown go buy his books. You will not regret it.
Emma Green
5.0 out of 5 stars incredible book, captivating the entire way
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2024
As someone who grew up reading the hunger games and similar books, this series has me reading again as an adult. Complex enough that I don’t predict the twists and turns, but still able to be followed and enjoyed.

This series has given me my love of reading back.
Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Solid second installment for the Red Rising series
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2017
After finishing Red Rising, I had high expectations for Golden Son. After finishing it I can safely say it was a good read. However it did drag in the beginning for me and suffered slightly from second book syndrome. It was an absolutely necessary transition book to the epicness of Morning Star, but still a bit slow for the first 30% or so. I will admit I had a hard time jumping back into it! The book picks up with Darrow leading a fleet of ships against Karnus au Bellona, Cassius’ brother. The setting, the terminology, the names- it was a lot to take in at once. Once I got used to it, the story picked up quickly.

Darrow is a different character in Golden Son. He hasn’t heard from the Sons of Ares in months, and he loses sight of his mission. How can one person change the fate of an entire world? He also has a hard time letting his friends in which causes him some serious grief later in the book- although you will be relieved to know he does open up to a few!

Once I was fully immersed back in Darrow’s world I was happy to see familiar faces- Roque, Tactus, Cassius, Mustang and Sevro. While not all of them were on Darrow’s side (Cassius is still verrrrry angry if you were wondering), they all have their important parts to play. Also, Sevro is my favorite little Howler in the series. He is as crazy as ever. We are also introduced to some new (and some of my favorite!) characters. Victra, Antonia’s sister, has kind of a tough-love attitude but ends up being a very loyal companion to Darrow. We also meet Ragnar, an Obsidian, who is one of my favorite characters in the series!

I don’t want to speak too much to the plot, but know that it is incredibly intricate, smart and sets the tone nicely for the third book. It is filled with action-packed scenes and clever battle tactics. Darrow also continues to be the luckiest character in the world and he escapes from some pretty ridiculous situations. However, Darrow does face some challenges throughout the story. He finally learns what Eo told her sister before she died, he deals with the weight of his secret as he learns to love some of the Golds as his own family when they were previously the enemy, and he deals with betrayal that hits a little too close to home. Darrow is an extremely complex character and this book really highlights how much he has changed from a quiet, hard-working Red to a Peerless Scarred that wants to change the structure and political climate of his entire world.

The story itself has a very different feel than Red Rising. Darrow now out in the real world and his actions have direct repercussions on the world he lives in. He also finally learns more about the organization that originally recruited him in the first place, the Sons of Ares. While this story literally has nonstop action, a huge part of this book is Darrow reconciling the mission he thought was important with the one he is now realizing- living in a world where Reds, Golds, Pinks, Obsidians ,etc. can all live together. If you loved Red Rising then you will be excited to continue on this incredibly complex and amazing story with Golden Son. Also, THAT ENDING. I immediately picked up Morning Star and started reading.

While it was a little slow to get started, this is an incredible series and this book on further displays Pierce Brown’s massive talent. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Ian
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect follow-up
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2024
I absolutely loved Red Rising, and so I made sure to read its sequel as soon as I possibly could. Man, this is an incredible follow-up! It does everything so well, which is not something that can be said for every second book in a series. It continues the plot of Red Rising while taking the series to new and exciting places. It’s very different from the first book, but it manages to still feel like a cohesive part of this universe that Brown has established.

We get more into Darrow’s headspace with this one, seeing how he’s adjusting to the new world he’s been thrust into after book 1. It’s satisfying to see him try and navigate situations and environments that he is still trying to understand, all the while remaining fixed on his goal. The development of established side characters like Sevro and Mustang is also very compelling, and it was a pleasure to see them again in their respective places within the narrative.

Golden Son is an incredible book that perfectly bridges the gap between itself and Red Rising, while also setting up Morningstar as an epic finale to the series. I can’t wait to jump into book 3!

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