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Red Rising

By: Pierce Brown
Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
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Publisher's Summary

Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children. But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet.

Darrow - and Reds like him - are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class. Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity's overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society's ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies...even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.

©2013 Pierce Brown (P)2014 Recorded Books

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What listeners say about Red Rising

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Pure Perfection

I have had the pleasure of reading some very good books lately. But it has been a long time since a story utterly enveloped like Red Rising did. I found myself completely drawn into the story as the world around me evaporated just like in the scene from the Never-ending Story (that shows my age).

So what is it about this book that elevated it above all the other excellent books I have read recently. For me it was the completeness of the book. From the character development to the world it was set in. The author winds the narrative through it all and as he does the world becomes more and more real.

Red Rising tells a tale that's very essence is as old as time. It is how this tale is delivered that makes this book stand out in the crowd. Halfway through the read I was already planning how I could get my hand on the next book in the series. I have not done this for a long time and that indicated to me just how fantastic a read it was. The narraor adds another level to this book as well delivering one the best audible experiences I have had to date.

So my hat goes off to Pierce Brown for this truly masterful piece of writing. I recommend this book to all that are interested in being thoroughly entertained.

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30 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable with some quibbles

I found the story well told and interesting. I found the character grew as the story developed. There was something close to real emotion in the book at times. Though the book has its flaws it worked for me and I will read (well listen) the next book ASAP.

However it is a little annoying how one character person can be so great, so brilliant. It is a common trait in fantasy for a character to be so excellent and essentially make decisions with such unerring accuracy that they can come up with the goods despite any set backs. A little less perfection may have made it a bit more realistic. I think he could put more into the secondary characters who some times seem a bit slim (though generally okay).

Gareth

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17 people found this helpful

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Bloody Damn Amazing

I nearly lost patience with the bleak beginnings, but so glad I didn't.

Where Dune meets Lord of the Flies on Mars.

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7 people found this helpful

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Prime Gold

I didn't think I was going to get along with this book at first but I soon got absorbed into the story and ended up thoroughly enjoying it.

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6 people found this helpful

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Wowsers! Amazing!

I loved this book. The story, the characters, the performance. Couldn't recommend it more. A fantastic start to a brilliant trilogy .... It's Game Of Thrones / Hunger Games / in space

10/10

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4 people found this helpful

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Hunger Games on Mars

The narrator of this novel was great! It was a pleasure to listen to him, his delivery was fantastic.


Now, as for the plot: It really wasn't anything ground-breaking, but it was an easy read and had great pacing.

The protagonist is a Mary Sue with little personality, but the dynamic he had with other characters was entertaining enough.
Pretty much all story elements have been explored in several well known novels and franchises before, but they came together pretty nicely in the end.
In some parts, the world building was a little lacklustre in my opinion, I would have liked to see more concepts explained and explored.
As such, plot holes and logical inconsistencies were ample, but I'm not sure if that's due to author oversight or exploration of these plot holes in later books of the franchise.

So, if you're after something easy, yet suspenseful, Red Rising is a great choice - just don't think too hard about it.

(Also, don't read this book if you're sensitive to blood / gore / brutality. Red Rising doesn't necessarily go overboard, but it doesn't exactly hold back either)

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4 people found this helpful

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A modern day Illiad

For lovers of the greats, look no further.
Once you start you won't want to put it down.

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3 people found this helpful

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A better hunger games

give this a shot if you liked Hunger Games. i didnt like HG but really enjoyed this.

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3 people found this helpful

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Hard to "put down"

Given it's an audio book hard to "put down" doesn't sound quite right! Definitely clever to offer the first book free. Interesting story and characters you actually care about who have some depth to them .I've bought the next in the series already

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2 people found this helpful

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Sci-fi Hunger games

very quickly grips you and doesnt let go until the last word. highly recommend it.

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