Brown, Pierce - Red Rising (Red Rising Trilogy #1) - Informal Buddy Read; December 8, 2014; REVISIT ; Start June 1, 2018

[kat (wanderfulbooks)]

@Steven: Golden Son is coming out this January.

[Steven]

I know... I have a Netgalley!

[kat (wanderfulbooks)]

OMG! You got approved? Lucky you! I have to wait for freaking January. oh the agony.

[Steven]

Aww that sucks! At least it's almost January!!!

[Stacie]

Steven wrote: "I know... I have a Netgalley!"

Me too me too!

[Kelly]

Part 3: Chapter 29-33
(view spoiler)[
Craziness. I can't believe they have a quota on how many of the kids can die. I suppose that's probably the only way you could force some of them to become so brutal. Most of the kids didn't seem too bad.

Cassius seems a bit nuts at this point. I'm not sure how he seemed sane before. Obviously, not a nice thing about his brother but to be mad at the person rather than the system seems wrong.

I'm wondering if the medbots are going to get Darrow out of this or if he somehow survives on his own. He seems to have a lot of lives.
(hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Part 4 - end
(view spoiler)[
Wow, so much happened. I do agree that he's way cocky but he acts the way an 18 year old would, especially one who's just been put through that.

I'm glad Mustang was on his side, though now they're kinda siblings which is odd. I wonder if they'll marry in an arranged type marriage. I wouldn't want to be living next to Jackal though.

I think Cassius is going to cause lots of problems in the next book, he's much more unstable than I thought.
(hide spoiler)]

Going to give this one a 5 stars. Definitely played out a bit like Hunger Games but with enough unique elements that it didn't feel like it was a duplicate.

[Steven]

Glad you liked it Kelly. It was definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. :)

[Kelly]

Steven wrote: "Glad you liked it Kelly. It was definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. :)"

It had a lot of nice plot lines that twisted together well.

[Steven]

Is anyone else reading Golden Son and want the mods to set up a discussion thread???

[Stacie]

Steven wrote: "Is anyone else reading Golden Son and want the mods to set up a discussion thread???"

I can!

[Steven]

Awesome! I'm already in the 40% range, but once we have a thread I can mark some thoughts under spoilers :)

[Stacie]

Steven wrote: "Awesome! I'm already in the 40% range, but once we have a thread I can mark some thoughts under spoilers :)"

I haven't started yet but I will after I finish the next 2 books I'm reading. By the weekend for sure.

[Steven]

Take your time! (no really, you're on a different team than me, so take your time! bahahahaha)

[Kelly]

I'll read it once I get it from the library.

[Stacie]

Steven wrote: "Take your time! (no really, you're on a different team than me, so take your time! bahahahaha)"

:P Maybe I won't join you at all so you don't get your BR points. YEAH! SO THERE!

[Steven]

I was only teasing!

[Stacie]

Steven wrote: "I was only teasing!"

Me too me too!

[Michelle]

I just finished Part 1. Is anyone still around to chat with me? I'm having a hard time getting into it so far.
(view spoiler)[I was surprised that they killed Eo. I wonder what she said to her sister on the platform? My first thought was she was pregnant but why would that matter? And I doubt she would sacrifice herself like she did if she was pregnant.
(hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

I'm not feeling it yet, but maybe be it picks up in Part 2? I'll post my thoughts as I go and we can discuss!

[RachelvlehcaR]

I started reading this book two days ago.

I'm only 60% of the way through it. Michelle I have to say that it's a different style in the books I normally read but I have both some very interesting parts in the stories and also some boring parts of it.

I was into it at first then it fizzled, then popped back up and catch my attention, then dropped again. I realized I needed a break from it to kind of digest some of it.

Also, people have told me they see a lot of Hunger Games in it. I really didn't see a huge connection in that in the beginning. Not at all.

Part 2 did catch my attention a lot more. Some of the stuff they witnessed.

[Shannon]

Michelle wrote: "I just finished Part 1. Is anyone still around to chat with me? I'm having a hard time getting into it ..."

Just finished Part 1 as well. I thought the same as you about what Eo said on the platform. I'm actually enjoying it. I'm interested to see where it's going to go from here.

[Shannon]

Well dang didn't see that coming!

[Shannon]

Part 2

Rachel was right, it really did grab your attention.

(view spoiler)[I was surprised that they were living under a fully formed city. Guess I shouldn't have been. But I had been imagining something more in tune with The Hunger Games -- a society apart. So the "on-top-of", surprised me. I also wasn't expecting the complete transformation of his body into a Gold. Kudos to the author for surprising me multiple times! (hide spoiler)]

I have to say, I'm really liking it so far. Now that he's (view spoiler)[killed Julian (hide spoiler)], what's next?

[Shannon]

Part 3

It was quite dark & disturbing. I've wondered from the (view spoiler)[start of the institute how Darrow would be able to continue on his mission without befriending others there. Really can't believe that the Proctors allowed the brutality & the rapes. It had a real "Lord of Flies" vibe going on for a while.

So.... Titus.... Was he a Red?

Cassius has discovered Darrow killed Julian...

The Jackal (I know that shouldn't make me think of Bruce Willis every time I read it)...

(hide spoiler)]

[Shannon]

Finished

(view spoiler)[Wow! This was solid read for me. Really really enjoyed it. There were times it kinda felt like a blend of Percy Jackson meets the Hunger Games -- with all the god names and the competition. I was glad Mustang wound up being on his side , although you have to question why she never told him.

I agree with Kelly, I think Cassius is going to cause lots of trouble in the next book. He did seem kinda crazed at the end.

I know he's on a mission and it will drastically help his cause (as well as be the perfect set-up for lots of conflicts in the second book), but I really wanted him to pick the Red Knight instead of the ArchGovernor. Foolish thought!

I didn't see Severo's parentage coming. That was a surprise. I'm wondering what parts the rest of Darrow's band of merry men are going to play in the sequels. (hide spoiler)]

Totally on board for book 2

[Steven]

Shannon, you're going to love book two. It takes the stakes from book and puts them on an even grander scale!

[Cynthia]

Shannon wrote: "Part 3

It was quite dark & disturbing. ..."

(view spoiler)[ I thought about all the 'Jackal' movies...The Day of the Jackal, Carlos the Jackal, The Jackal. It was a good moniker to give him.

The Lord of the Flies is an apt description. It's like a futuristic version of it. I know there are a lot of people that get a strong Hunger Games vibe, but I am more reminded of The Lord of the Flies. HG may have opened up that market niche, but there are many books more like HG than this one. (hide spoiler)]

[Cynthia]

Shannon wrote: "Finished

Wow! This was solid read for me. Really really enjoyed it. ..."

(view spoiler)[
I still don't fully trust Mustang. Neither side knew all of what she was up to, which makes me believe the only side she's fully on is her own.

And Cassius is scary crazy. (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon]

Cynthia wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Finished

Wow! This was solid read for me. Really really enjoyed it. ..." ..."


I don't either. (view spoiler)[Although it will be devastating if he opens up to her only to have her betray him in the end. It just seems hinky that she didn't mention the entire time who she really was. I think she's playing a long game. (hide spoiler)]

[Steven]

Some of your points are covered in book two, Kristin ;)

[Steven]

Book two is drastically different but insanely good. Raises the stakes to a whole new level.

The issue of yours that is covered very openly is the one (view spoiler)[involving his family (hide spoiler)].

Just in case you wanted to know before you read. (it's not details, just says which point of yours was covered).

[Michelle]

Just got to Part 3. I've got several other BRs going on, so it's taking me a while to get through this.
(view spoiler)[I am definitely liking it more from Part 2. Darrow is growing on me. I liked hearing about how they got him ready to impersonate a Gold and infiltrate them. The color classes are interesting, and I am looking forward to hearing more about the Houses (reminded me a little of Harry Potter / Percy Jackson). Back to reading!
(hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

Finally getting into the story! Starting chapter 25.
(view spoiler)[I am enjoying the competitive aspect of the houses. We are getting a better insight into Darrow, and the different personalities and the strategic maneuvering are sucking me in.
(hide spoiler)]
Glad I stuck with it!

[RachelvlehcaR]

Shannon wrote: "Part 3

It was quite dark & disturbing. I've wondered from the start of the institute how Darrow would be able to continue on his mission without befriending others there. Really can't believe th..."

(view spoiler)[I know! The rapes and violence was just shocking. I didn't see it coming. It happens thought out too. They are just so harsh to them. (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

Shannon wrote: "Finished"

(view spoiler)[ I know. Wasn't it good. I see where everyone says that it's Hunger Games but I like your take on Percy Jackson meets Hunger Games. I really see more of a connection with A Princess of Mars. I mean there are big differences but a lot of the same ideas, it's like Percy Jackson and Princess of Mars and Hunger Games. (hide spoiler)]

I too will read the second book. I'm still on the waiting list but it was at 150 and now I'm on 11. so that is good. I should be getting it soon.

[RachelvlehcaR]

Michelle wrote: "Just got to Part 3."

Oh, I didn't even put that connection in there. Good one (view spoiler)[ Harry Potter with the houses. (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

I just got Golden Son. Haven't started it yet though :)

Did you read Hunger Games? Did you think that it mapped to that a bit or was it just generic dystopian type genre for you?

I almost wonder if there's a bit of Nazi influence in it too (view spoiler)[with the pruning of the less qualified golds to create the superior stock. (hide spoiler)]

The first page (well prior to the first page really) of the next book has this big chart on all the different colors and their relative placement in the hierarchy. It's interesting to think back to this book because we're introduced to a lot more of the professional areas like engineers and doctors and such. I'm curious if we get more into that in the second one.

[Laura]

Hoping to get to this one soon!

[Joi]

Does anyone want to read this book with me?

[Leelynn]

I would like to join :) I will probably be reading it a little later though if anyone wants to join.

[Laura]

Joi wrote: "Does anyone want to read this book with me?"

Joi , Leelynn and I are starting Wednesday ( Tuesday her time)

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Rebooting this thread to start a new buddy read of the series in January/February 2016

[Rakesh]

Thank you. I will be joining this

[Steven]

Yes, I need to reread these so I can be ready for book three!!!

[Drishti]

I'm in!! The synopsis sounds really good. Hoping the book is that good, too.

[Srividya]

Am in as well. I think I should read this series, it's been pending for a long time now!! :D

[Sarah]

I'm in too. I have the books but haven't gotten around to them yet, I've heard great things!

[Drishti]

Great! The more the merrier.

Anybody has any date in mind?

[Chris]

I'm wanting to read this one, too. Are we reading in Jan.?