Golden Son by Pierce Brown is a great, great book. I just this moment finished it. I started it the moment finished book one in the series, Red Rising. At first, I was reeled into the story as it picked up right where they last book left off. However, while reading I noticed that this book was much more wordy than the last. I still laughed and was caught with awe and surprise at places in the book, but I did notice a slow down in parts of the book. The pace was not consistent and I think it hurt the story.
I whole-heartily gave Red Rising 5 stars. It earned them. It is by far the best book I’ve read this year. But, Golden Son is different. It still earns 5 stars, just barely. I want to compare it directly to Red Rising, but is that fair? If it was not part of this series it would be a 5 star book easily. But in comparing it to Red Rising it just is not that good.
Anyway, if you haven’t read Red Rising, read that first. This is the second book in the series. Once you’ve read that come back.
Okay, read it? Good. That was fast. You’re a fast reader! Anyway, this book continues to follow Darrow as he rises in the Gold Society. Some major mysteries are unveiled in this telling of his story. But they don’t have a huge build up, its just bang this is Ares, and you’re like WTF, really? That was surprising, and there are more surprises like that in the book. And it ends on a huge cliffhanger, not as good as Red Rising (again), but very good.
I’m going to take a break then read Morning Son. I have it, but I am beginning a book with a book club soon, so it will have to wait. And honestly, it will be good to have a little break from the fiction for a while.