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

[Tahmina]

Eldarwen wrote: "Tahmina wrote: "Its interesting how much Darrow realizes their strategy on controlling the population. [spoiler removed]"

I think that they're born into it. So either you're born as a low red and ..."

ok (view spoiler)[ So I am going to assume that high reds just have no communication with the low reds because Darrow was pretty surprised that there was high reds. And so if they aren't seeing one another than I guess they don't really know. Though the high reds probably do but don't want to lose being above ground .... is my guess

I didn't think of that. Very true. Especially if they ban one kind of dance then they probably will ban art too. Though I am probably overthinking this but artists tend to convey the what they see in the world around them (good and bad) so maybe that's why they make sure there are no artists.

Also think its interesting that the forbidden dance and the dance that the Golds see almost as sacred is almost the same thing. (hide spoiler)]

Genetics!! Yes that actually makes sense. (view spoiler)[Apparently someone else thought that their skin color was also the color of their class system. And I don't blame the person for getting confused. Especially when everything is described through the lens of the color they belong to. (hide spoiler)]

[Eldarwen]

Right? (view spoiler)[It struck me as very odd (but then probably it isn't all that odd) that both dances were so similar. I think in general this series is set up in a way to make people realise that even though they're all different, they really aren't all that different.

It makes me wonder what else is very similar between various races - or if it's just the Gold and the Red that will be focused on. (hide spoiler)]

[Tahmina]

yes (view spoiler)[ Its probably going to be between the two. Just to compare and contrast the 'hardships' each group goes through. But from what I am seeing it is also to show you the humanity of each.

Reds have to fight for their lives and tend not to hide their likes or dislikes from each other. But they don't go around killing each other. They might not like each other at times but they don't kill. While Golds will be upset with you over something that they see as a slight but there is no threat to their lives. Its through the institute and their feelings getting hurt that someone might die. So I think he gives the Reds way more humanity than anyone else in this novel.

I'm at the part where he just killed Julian sooooo sad. I forgot about him until he met him on the bus and I was like ughhhhhh (hide spoiler)]

[Eldarwen]

(view spoiler)[Sad part indeed! But I was also horrified by how brutally Darrow kills him instead of making it quick. I found that particularly disturbing. (hide spoiler)]

What do you make of Darrow so far?

[Tahmina]

Eldarwen wrote: "[spoilers removed]

What do you make of Darrow so far?"

(view spoiler)[Yes and because he had never done it before or been trained like the rest of them in killing I think he just made it so much worse for himself. It was just sad that they were both just trying to not kill but I don't see how that would have worked. If one of them said ok you win. I don't think they would have let it stand! Someone would have gotten punished for it, (hide spoiler)]

Darrow (view spoiler)[ I like him so far and I think the way he thinks is interesting. I see a lot of people though he was made to be perfect and too wise for his age but I don't see that. I mean if you live a life like he did, you tend me to different and more grown up at 16. We measure people with what we see in the world. And we (Most people living in western societies) tend to have fairly uneventful lives. We don't have have to literally fight for our lives everyday. So I just can't understand that argument. I mean Alexander the Great ruled a kingdom at 16. So it could happen.

Personally, I like him. I like that he is decent and smart. I like that he makes mistakes and acknowledges it and I like that he sometimes is unmotivated and just wants to go back to simply life. Even if it means being enslaved because then you didn't know all this stuff. But he still moves forward. I think most of us would do that. I think most of us would make horrible decisions and then learn from them. I find him very relate-able besides being athletic and a good dancer, which I don't comprehend (haha)

He also seems to be very initiative about understanding how to play these people because he has been at the low end of class system. That is what gives him an edge and understanding that none of the others can get. You can't learn it. (hide spoiler)]

[Tahmina]

Talia wrote: "Through chapter 26 [spoilers removed]"

I though this was so funny. Especially when everything is chaotic and your thought is i need a cook!!

[Tahmina]

Brooklyn wrote: "I was finishing up another book so I’m back to this book more. I think it’s gonna pick up now that he’s at the Institute.

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah so far the institute is crazy. But I can see why people felt this was like hunger games

[Tahmina]

@Megan Msg 194:

(view spoiler)[I think he goes passive, to aggressive to kind and back again because he can't decide what is best to do. If you really think about it he's here because he needs to destroy their society. But the more people he meets the more he realizes that not all are brutal and not all evil. And he likes people so I am guessing that's hard for him to reconcile with as well. So I can sort of us understand him going from one to other. When you forget your mission and have fun you tend to enjoy yourself and then when he remembers then he starts to act mean ... in my opinion (hide spoiler)]

[Tahmina]

@Elize Msg 192 (view spoiler)[ You know I loved the battle scenes because I always thought he had pretty much lost and then bam he was like five steps ahead before, during and after. But also the way he describes the fighting just is so action packed. I think they are trying to turn this into a movie and I just can't wait to see the battle scenes if they keep it true to the book it will so interesting to watch (hide spoiler)]

@ Eldarwen (view spoiler)[ Yeah I can see where the way he killed Julian dies is hard to swallow but I think I would be more upset that he hid it from me since they were calling each other brother. He had no choice in killing the brother but he did have a choice in keeping the secret. He probably should have told him from the beginning but he definitely should have told him at some point. I just don't think it really would have helped.

And I see what you are saying about the proctors. It seems a bit much that he was able to so easily kill Apollo. Though in my head at the time I was thinking finally. And yes when he held fictner captive, I kept thinking why isn't anyone looking for him. How does this even make sense. But i guess not. (hide spoiler)]

Darrow (view spoiler)[ I think he made the right choice in going with the governor. He can't possibly have two of the most powerful families hate him. Is it was good he aligned with Augustus since there is no way Bellona would have taken him. And I have a little more faith in him haha. I am hoping he stays true to his mission.

And yes he does super shitty things but I think you see him grow and understand a new way of ruling that might help his people and the sons of Ares. But I do see your point. I think I felt so bad for him throughout the novel that I tended to just overlook the faults. I was so happy when he was finally getting over Eo. Though not completely but at least he is finally moving on.

And a lot did feel familiar to me as well. I think it was a bit Harry Potter, LOTR, Hunger Games and then a little sprinkling of some old Greek myths or songs. (hide spoiler)]

[Eldarwen]

As for Darrow towards the end, (view spoiler)[ you know, I'm pretty sure he'll stay true to his mission, but his mission. I'm not sure he's going to stay true to what Dancer wants him to do, at least not entirely. There will be a personal agenda involved more than anything. Where those two overlap, great for Dancer, but otherwise... (hide spoiler)]

[Tahmina]

Eldarwen wrote: "As for Darrow towards the end, [spoilers removed]"

Yes!! I agree. And I hope he does because all of the people around him seem to have their own agenda

[Donna]

Chapters 1-12
(view spoiler)[
World building - It is certainly an odd world. Darrow's whole life is a lie. He thought he was making a difference in the world, making Mars livable for others. I was stunned to realize that there was an entire city above ground for hundreds of years while they were underground. Mars is already livable and they don't have a clue.

Darrow - At the beginning, I thought he was a bit reckless and cocky. Then he was kinda let down after not winning the Laurel. All of a sudden, he was the opposite. He didn't want to rock the boat. He just wanted to protect his family and live his life.

Sons of Ares - There mission seems to be a hard one to achieve. 97 people failed before they approached him. Why do they still think this plan may work? Seems to me that the failure rate is pretty high. Why not come up with a new plan?

Red to Gold - The whole process seems dangerous and he is definitely different than he was before. I am interested to see how this all goes down. Will he be successful?

(hide spoiler)]

[Eldarwen]

Sons of Ares - (view spoiler)[I didn't even realise there were so many failures before. Must have skipped my mind or my mind was drifting off when reading that passage. But that is a lot and it seems futile to still keep going. Then again... hope dies last? Maybe it's hope and an odd sense of stubbornness that keeps them going? (hide spoiler)]

[Donna]

Chapters 13-end
(view spoiler)[
Julian - I was really sad when they forced Julian and Darrow to fight to the death. I really liked him.

School - well, it is definitely more of a hand-on-learning approach. I really didn't expect them to set up each house and have them try to conquer the other ones.

Cassius - I really liked him when he was friends with Darrow. I think it broke him when he found out that his friend killed his brother. I think he knew deep down that Darrow didn't have a choice but he just couldn't get past the anger and loss he felt. Now he lost his brother and his best friend.

Titus - I did not like his actions at all. If they had left him live, he would have continued that behavior. He was determined to be horrible no matter what.

Sevro - He was an odd character. At the beginning, I really didn't know what to think of him. However, he truly shined later as he was loyal to a fault. He was determined to stick with Darrow.

Mustang - For a moment there I really did think she had betrayed him. I guess she doesn't like her brother much. I was glad that she was loyal to Darrow.

Proctors - It should not have been a surprise that the proctors were all bought off. They seem kind of power hungry and they certainly enjoy their little game. Even if it is rigged.

Darrow - I love that he learned from his mistakes and tried to do better the next time around. I felt bad for him & Cassius both. I wish they had been able to get past it but they just weren't. I was surprised that he accepted Augustus' proposal. I am hoping that he will be true to himself and not Augustus or the Sons of Ares. He learned thru this experience that not all Golds are evil. How is he gonna reconcile the goals of the Sons of Ares with what he has learned?
(hide spoiler)]

I will definitely be adding book 2 to my tbr.