Red Rising: Sons of Ares: Volume 1 [Dramatized Adaptation]

Sons of Ares [Dramatized Adaptation] #1

by Pierce Brown

From the world of the best-selling YA series Red Rising comes a story of love and loss and rage!

In the future, when mankind has spread across the stars, the hierarchy of man is dictated by the color of one's caste. The Golds rule but what will happen when one falls for a lowly Red? See how a forbidden love will set the course of events for the future and lead to the formation of the formidable Sons of Ares!

Adapted form the graphic novel and produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects, and cinematic music.

Genres: Audiobook, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

1 pages, Audio CD

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

Hello. I'm Pierce Brown, the author of the Red Rising Saga, a NYT #1 bestseller.
I figured I'd write you myself than have corporate copy pasted below my totally natural author photo.

In my books you'll find stories of men and women finding their inner strength when all seems lost. You'll also find me exploring themes of love, violence, hope, and power--what it means, why people seek it, and how they hold onto it.




IG @piercebrownofficial
Twitter @pierce_brown

Reviews

[Twila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not normally a great fan of prequels but I will read literally anything this man writes and I was ecstatic to learn Graphic Audio had picked this up. I went with them instead of the comic since I'm absolute trash for any audio they do. Their production is a wonder that I usually never fail to enjoy, and I did enjoy this, but I did find some issues with the rhythm of the narration; scenes would jump around with no audible warning and it caused me a bit of trouble keeping track.

Of this first volume, I can say that the amount of Ares’ backstory we’re given here isn’t anything we don’t already know from the main trilogy and I can’t help but feel a little disappointed that I spent an entire audible credit on a story I already knew most of. I am, however, excited to continue this series since we don’t know much more of Ares’ story after this point and I’m really eager to learn more how the Sons formed.

[Rhys McMillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Rising: Sons of Ares Vol. 1 is a gripping prequel that strikes a great balance between emotion, action, and worldbuilding. It adds depth to the Red Rising universe without feeling overly fan-servicey, making it a solid read for both new and returning fans. I was fully engaged throughout and appreciated the added backstory behind the legend of Ares. Looking forward to seeing where the next volume takes the story.

My rating 4.1/5

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pierce Brown was simply made to write books (or in this case, graphic novels) for GraphicAudio, and I was simply made to run to them. Perfection 👌

[Iwi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a simple fool, I see Sevro's name and lose my mind~

That aside, it's nice seeing more of Fitchner 🥲

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d read this man’s grocery list if he ever saw fit to publish it.

I actually think I enjoyed the graphic audio version better than actually reading this one.

[Charlotte Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was there ever any doubt that I would love this? Nope!
This is of course a prequel told from Fitchner's POV during his own time at the Institute and how he became a Peerless Scarred. It documents how he met Brynn etc and continues to show how disgusting the Golds can really be when trying to keep people beneath them.

I really liked the narrators who did an excellent job and of course the dramatisation was just epic in all the right places. I love that we get to see how much of a real G Fitchner really is since he seems to have lost a bit of his edge in the main series. He's definitely not one to be played with in this first of 3 volumes!

[Brietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was actually so much better than reading the graphic novel and the backstory enhances the main series so beautifully

[Branden Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad that we are able to go back and learn more about Fitchner's story. This dramatized audio adaptation is fast-paced and gorydamn glorious. It was also great to spend a little time back in The Institute. We may have already had the bare bones of the story, but doing a deeper dive into the birth of Sevro and the origin of Ares was a worthy addition to the Red Rising universe.

I have hidden this review due to spoilers, but you certainly should not check this out until at least after you finish Golden Son. It would be best to visit this story after Light Bringer so that you can fully appreciate all of the subtle the tie-ins to the larger story.

[Mārcis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prequel brings up many familiar concepts of the complex society in which Red Rising is set. The voice acting is superb, as usual from GraphicAudio. You feel immersed in this short story and as though you are literally in the mind of Fitchner. For fans of Red Rising, this is an amazing listen, offering detailed insights into what shaped him into the man we knew now.

[Joe Terrell]

Red Rising: Sons of Ares collects the first six issues of the Son of Ares graphic novel series, a prequel to Pierce Brown's Red Rising series. Set 20 years before the start of the original trilogy, Red Rising: Sons of Ares follows a young Fitchner au Barca (father of Sevro) as he makes his way through the Institute, falls in love with a Red, and becomes entangled with an insurrectionist group that will become the Sons of Ares.

I've always been interested in this prequel series, but not enough to purchase the physical graphic novel. Thankfully, my library has access to the Graphic Audio dramatization — which is amazing. Featuring a full voice cast, original sound effects, and music, the Graphic Audio adaptation of Red Rising: Sons of Ares was a gripping and immersive listen. I can't really rate my experience with the graphic novel (so no comments on the art style), but I can't think of a better way for a fan of the Red Rising series to experience this prequel than through the Graphic Audio dramatization (which was only about 3.5 hours long).

As far as the story goes, it's pretty much what I expected. However, it is interesting to see how the Society functioned before Darrow's lowcolor rebellion. There are two more "volumes" of the Sons of Ares prequel series available — Wrath and Forbidden Song — and, thankfully, my library has access to the Graphic Audio dramatizations of each.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Warning: do not read the comic books or listen to this adaptation unless you have read the first three books of the Red Rising saga first..) I read the comics years ago. I liked the story but disliked the art because I thought it was sloppy. I really liked this dramatized adaptation. For the most part the dialogue is the same but the adaptation really expanded the story with more details I would follow along or go back and check how it compared to the comic books.

The production was top notch. Great voice work from the full cast. I loved Bryn's voice and got emotional the end, which didn't happen with the comic books.

And what a great addition to have an hour long interview with Pierce Brown at the end.

My only criticism is that I thought that instead of it being a continuous 4 hour story it should have been broken up by 6 chapters. And the chapters could be titled what the different issues were titled.

4 out of 5 Peerless Scars.

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been trying to decide if I liked the dramatization of this graphic novel. It was violent, vicious, and rather confusing for the uninitiated. Turns out this is the prequel to the series and you shouldn't read or listen to it first. The audio book was adapted from the Dynamite Comics series by Graphic Audio http://www.graphicaudio.net. I usually like their productions but I couldn't keep track of the characters.

There's a forbidden love story tangled into the tale of assassination, murder, and abuse. The love story is between the Gold Fitchner (who's of the highest caste) and Bryn a Red, of the lowest caste. Turns out not only can't they fall in love, marry, or have sex with one another, but they are genetically incompatible. I'll let you figure out the plot.

For a review of the audio performance see AudioFile Magazine http://www.audiofilemagazine.com

[Robin Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Audible has stepped up their game. This one is really like a movie in your mind. This is Fitchner’s origin/backstory. He’s not a major character in Red Rising (the first one - he is major in the sequels/series as it goes on), but he’s the star of this series. It’s brutal and graphic. But as much as it is intense, it is a forbidden love story at the core. How dare the highest color (gold) fall for the lowest color (red)? And not only fall in love, but get married? *gasp* the drama is intense and it’s super hard to press pause. Bryn may take the cake as my favorite character- although, it’s hard to replace Pax in my heart.

[virany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 6 issue series fleshes out the backstory of the titular Sons of Ares, the fringe group orchestrating the chain-breaking rebellion that plays out in Pierce Brown's Red Rising series. The concise graphic novel doesn't have nearly enough of my favorite thing about the books, Pierce's sweeping prose, but the chance to learn more about these characters and this world, combined with artist Eli Powell's knack for battle scenes, kept me riveted. A must for all Howlers -- as fans of the series are known -- who can't get enough of the author's worldbuilding and epic storytelling.

[Michelle (Bamamele.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Graphic Audio for this is fantastic! Full cast with sound effects! This gives us Fichner’s backstory plus the seeds of the beginning of the Sons of Aries. If you’ve read the books (at least through Morning Star, which I recommend), you know it’s not a super happy story. But it still packs a punch!
Definitely recommend! Plus it’s got a great interview with Pierce Brown at the end!

[Avinash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it might be a good entry point for RED RISING but after finishing the novel series and loving that so much this felt a bit underwhelming. If a see it as a standalone graphic novel it was pretty good. You can enjoy this if you're both red rising and graphic novel fan. Not mandatory for series fans though. 7 out of 10.

[Zully Luly · Rating 4 out of 5]

El elenco de actores y los efectos de sonido dan realce a la trama y hacen que la experiencia de escuchar este audiolibro sea como estar en el cine.

Me gustó conocer el pasado de Fitchner y saber cómo inició su causa. Su drama familiar me hizo comprender y apreciar más al personaje.

[Raluca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it to be a really good adaptation and it's wonderful to get to know how the sons started. Funnily it took me this many years to realize that Sons of Ares is SOA (as in Sons of Anarchy, a show I much enjoyed and with some parallels to Brown's story no doubt)

[Mo Raymeee · Rating 3 out of 5]

listened to this in graphic audio format and it was really enjoyable! had a great time diving back into the world and see Fitchners origin story!

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good.