Golden Son
2015
- franchise:red rising
- series:red rising trilogy
- series:red rising saga
- form:novel
- genre:science fiction
- resistance to government
- nyt:hardcover-fiction=2015-01-25
- undercover operations
- space colonies
- dystopias
The story
"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. Praise for Red Rising "[A] spectacular adventure. one heart-pounding ride. Pierce Brown's dizzyingly good debut novel evokes The Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies, and Ender's Game. [Red Rising] has everything it needs to become meteoric."--Entertainment Weekly "I don't know what Pierce Brown did before he started writing books, but whatever it was, he was wasting his time. Fast-paced, gripping, well-written--the sort of book you cannot put down. I am already on the lookout for the next one."--Terry Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of The Sword of Shannara "Pierce Brown has done an astounding job at delivering a powerful piece of literature that will definitely make a mark in the minds of readers."--The Huffington Post "Ender, Katniss, and now Darrow: Pierce Brown's empire-crushing debut is a sprawling vision of humanity's diaspora to the stars."--Scott Sigler, New York Times bestselling author of Nocturnal "[A] great debut. The author gathers a spread of elements together in much the same way George R. R. Martin does."--Tor.com"--
What it’s like
Hard-edged, fast-moving space opera with a hot, sun-bleached palette: the sky over Mars and the orbital habitats is rendered in the book's imagery as gold-lit marble halls, rust-red tunnels, and blood-dark nights, so the prose keeps shifting between opulent surfaces and grimy underground textures. The voice is punchy and kinetic, built on short declarative sentences, sharp dialogue, and sudden bursts of stillness before the next confrontation. It feels like a tense, adrenaline-driven read best taken in a single stretch: a long-haul flight, a late night with the lamp on, a weekend when you want to be pulled along. The vibe is ruthless ambition under a glittering surface, with a current of grief and simmering rage. The intensity is high: frequent, often brutal violence, including combat, executions, and betrayal, with some graphic gore and a mature edge, though sexual content is limited. Character arcs follow a wounded idealist who must become more ruthless to survive, shifting alliances, and a slow reckoning with what power demands. It suits readers who want a relentless, plot-forward epic with a vengeful hero, fans of The Hunger Games and Ender's Game who can handle a darker, more violent tone.
More books like Golden Son
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Golden Sonand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
