Book 3 in the Red Rising Trilogy is another breath-taker. This author is cruel and a genius. I have a rule about reading books that make me cry, but I get so absorbed in this book, I feel everything along with Darrow, His excitement, fear, losses, disappointments, and hopes all hit me hard. Did I mention Pierce Brown is a genius? No, this was not an emotional, mushy book; however the action and the honest openness of the protagonist  make it impossible not to get emotionally involved. Like all the books in this series this book has awesome world building and the characters are crafted  so realistically that you feel like you actually know them. I have people in my life I can associate with each one. They are in no way stereotypical, but complex and deep  and ever evolving, the way real real life people are. Hands down this is one of the absolute best books I have ever read. The book ended well tied up and could have easily ended the series, but imagine my surprise when Iron Gold was announced.  Have not read it yet, but i have already purchased it. I did purchase the audio version of Morning Star and like its predecessors it is amazing.

I give 5 out of 5 stars for Morning Star
I give 5 out of 5 stars for the audio rendition of Morning Star. 

Golden Son by Pierce Brown, Book #2 in Red Rising Series

Like Red Rising, Golden Son is an epic Science Fiction Novel. Darrow has grown in this book, but again he still has much to learn. I like the effort the author makes in this book to fill in additional details about lesser characters. I also enjoyed the banter between Darrow and his "crew". Stakes are rising and the dynamics are playing out. The complexity of the plot really begins to shine in this second installment as we see Darrow meeting with more intellectual and physical conflicts than ever before. As with many sequels this book moved a bit slower than the first, but was in no way a disappointment. Again the audio-book was awesomely rendered. Same reader as the initial novel, so if you liked the first book in audio, go ahead and spring for this one too.

I give Golden Son 4 out of 5 Stars

I give the Audio 5 out of 5 stars 

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Move over Star Trek and Star Wars fans, The Red Rising series may be the next big thing in Science Fiction. I read this book when it first released, and reread it each time a sequel was released. I love the dynamics and creativity held within the pages of this book. It is amazing to watch the lowly red "climb so high" and watch the protagonist evolve. Characters in this book are well developed. They have so many issues, political, family, physical, and emotional to contend with and it is all handled cohesively and seamlessly. I found myself weeping with Darrow, cheering for him, and even angry with him at times. I always get caught up in the moment when I am reading but this book, and series, sucked me in and I did not want to be released. I loved the audio version of this book. The reader's intonations perfectly mirrored the emotional state of the characters making the performance one of the best I have ever enjoyed.

I give Red Rising 5++ out of 5 stars
I give the audio 5++ out of 5 stars as well