My review
My book review of Red Rising
- Author
- Pierce Brown
- Series
- Red Rising Trilogy #1
- Release date
- January 28, 2014
- Read from
- 07.05.2026 – 11.07.2026
Book facts
Archetype
- Primary: Power Seeker (rising against oppression, personal transformation, ambition, strategy, fighting an unjust system)
- Secondary: Emotional Alchemist (grief, sacrifice, resilience, discovering who you are through suffering)
Tropes
Spice level
None. Romance exists, but it takes a back seat to the plot, political conflict, and Darrow's journey.
POV
Single POV following Darrow.
Vibe
Fast paced · Brutal · Addictive · Unpredictable · High stakes. A story filled with political manipulation, betrayal, impossible choices, and twists that constantly keep you guessing.
What I loved
- The plot. This is easily the strongest part of the book. Every time I thought I knew where the story was heading, it completely surprised me.
- The pacing kept me hooked from beginning to end. I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen next.
- The twists were genuinely unpredictable. I never knew who to trust, and almost every character felt suspicious at some point.
- Pierce Brown did an incredible job planning the story. Everything felt carefully constructed, and I loved never knowing what would happen next.
- The constant danger kept the stakes high. Characters were dropping like flies, and it made every decision feel important.
The highlights
- The unpredictable plot twists.
- The constant feeling that anyone could betray anyone.
- Watching Darrow outsmart impossible situations.
- The second half of the book, where everything really came together.
Characters
Darrow was easy to root for, even though he could be a bit self-centred at times. I still couldn't help wanting him to succeed. Every time he came close to being exposed, I was genuinely nervous for him.
There are a lot of characters, especially early on, and I definitely struggled to remember who everyone was at first. But by the second half, my brain finally caught up. Thankfully, it got much easier as the story went on.
The Jackal felt a bit overrated. He didn't really live up to the reputation the story built around him, and I expected him to be much more intimidating.
What didn't work
The writing occasionally felt a bit amateurish. The prose felt abrupt, and some scenes ended so suddenly that I had to reread them to understand what had happened.
At times, it felt like pieces were missing between scenes. I wanted more description and atmosphere instead of moving so quickly from one event to the next.
The first half was harder to follow than the second. Once everything was in motion, I found the story much easier to get into.
Another minor criticism I had was that some of Darrow's plans felt a little too convenient by the end, and I wasn't completely convinced everything could have worked out the way it did.
My final thoughts
What a wild ride.
I kept asking myself, "What the actual F...is this really happening?" Every time I thought I'd figured the story out, it completely changed direction. I genuinely don't think I've read many books that kept me guessing as much as this one did.
The plot is absolutely the star of the show. It's clever, addictive, and incredibly well planned. Pierce Brown managed to write a story where I questioned almost everyone's motives, and I never felt confident predicting what would happen next.
While the writing style wasn't always my favourite, and I thought the ending relied on a few convenient moments, those criticisms weren't enough to take away from just how much fun I had reading this book.
This came incredibly close to being a five-star read. The twists, pacing, and constant tension completely carried the experience, and by the final page I couldn't wait to continue the trilogy.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely.
If you enjoy fast paced fantasy with brilliant plotting, unpredictable twists, political intrigue, and constant high stakes, I highly recommend giving Red Rising a chance. Just be prepared to question absolutely everyone.
