Review by: Samantha M. Siciliano
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WARNING: THIS REVIEW HAS MASSIVE SPOILERS!
Quick Summary:
Golden Son is the sequel to Red Rising. Just like the first, it is set in the future where humanity has colonized the Milky Way, and a harsh caste system rules the galaxy. This sci-fi, dystopian story follows Darrow, a Red turned Gold, who continues to navigate the politics and wars of the Gold-run world, all while trying to change the society that has done nothing but oppress and destroy so many colors and families over time. Darrow must rely on his friends and Golds to try to navigate the war against the Sovereign, Bellonas, and all of those aligned with both. Will he be successful? Will he be able to trust his friends? Will the Sons of Ares prevail in starting to make the systematic change they wish to see?
The Review:
Listening to the audiobook, narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds, was, again, spectacular! What a treat!
***
“Rise so high, in mud you lie.”- Karnus Bellona
This quote perfectly captures the turbulent ups and downs throughout the entirety of the book. The rise and fall of individual leaders, the shifting alliances, the relentless challenges of their world echo Karnus’ words.
***
Golden Son is so dysfunctional, and I am 100% here for it! This book is the definition of a page turner- packed with abrupt twists, sharp turns, and prose that’s as striking as it is beautiful. I found myself staying up way past my bedtime, desperate to see what would happen next in this high-stakes, interplanetary world. The character development is phenomenal (I will swoon for great character development). Watching these characters adapt to the harsh realities of their universe- scratching and clawing their way to the top or simply trying to survive- was captivating. Some were executed, some endured torture, and some friendships were lost along the way. Yet, through it all, the loyalty to Darrow remained intense and unwavering from some of his friends. The plot twists are perfectly timed, keeping my mind racing like Charlie from It’s Always Sunny with his red yarn conspiracy board.
I have to take a moment to applaud Pierce Brown. I loved Red Rising, but with Golden Son, it felt like he leveled up as a writer. The prose was sharp and immersive, with every scene described in a way that feels both unique and perfectly suited to this impressive universe. The world-building is massive- where the first book kept things relatively contained, Golden Son expands exponentially. It’s as if we started with Darrow as a small ant in the mines, only to watch the world he must conquer grow larger and more complex after the Institute.
This book was giving Game of Thrones vibes, with its several unpredictable twists and the constant threat of betrayal. Seriously, the only character I feel is safe is Darrow, and that’s because this is a first-person point of view. Everyone else is fair game, and I know I shouldn’t get attached- but I can’t help it. Roque’s quote, “Friendships take minutes to make, moments to break, years to repair,” fits well here. For me, it’s more like: it takes minutes to love a character, moments to question that choice, and years to recover when they die.
The character banter in Golden Son is pitch-perfect- witty, sharp, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, like the quote “Not you, you’re creepy.” Wise and wisecracking, there were many moments where characters’ strengths were demonstrated with strategic, knowing minds, while the wisecracks were spaced throughout the book smoothly and made me actually laugh out loud. Each character fit seamlessly into the narrative, like a nice puzzle piece. The female characters, in particular, stand out as powerful forces not to be trifled with. They are not only strong and independent, but also fiercely strategic, clever, and sometimes silly. Each of their presences drives some of the story’s pivotal moments and successes, shaping the outcome of battles and alliances on both sides of the conflict.
I LOVED Sevro in Red Rising, but holy hell do I love him even more in Golden Son. This Goblin is hands down my absolute favorite character- brilliant, foul-mouthed, and ready with a clever comeback. His loyalty to Darrow is unwavering, and their friendship is what all friend goals should look like in any universe. Sevro’s comic relief is a breath of fresh air amid the tension and chaos of the Milky Way Galaxy.
Some of my favorite quotes of his are:
Sevro: I hate space.
Darrow: You hate everything.
Sevro: Smooth as gravel, dipshit.
Sevro: Next time I see you, I’m going to bite you.
Ragnar is also another indispensable right-hand man of Darrow’s. As a Stained, he evolves from a tool of the Golds into a character with agency- capable of independent thought, fierce loyalty, and wielding a weapon he was banished from using because of his race. Through Ragnar’s eyes, we witness the devastating pain, control, and manipulation the Golds have inflicted upon the Obsidians, and it was absolutely heartbreaking. I am genuinely excited to see where his path goes in the next book.
While the Telemanus family relationship isn’t talked about as much as others, their loyalty to The Reaper is unwavering as well, rooted in the tight relationship he had with Pax. It was entertaining to see where Pax picked up his quirky mannerisms, and the family's dynamic adds a lighter touch to the high-stakes atmosphere. My favorite moment must be Daxo’s hilarious observation about his father: “He says gnomes steal earwax from him at night. Mother thinks he’s been hit too many times on the head.” I laughed hard at this!
“Meet a man, you know him. Meet a woman, she knows you.” I also think it applies to people of Earth as well. Women are the lifeblood of society. That quote lingered with me, especially as I watched Darrow interact with Mustang. Time and time again, she proved its truth- her intuition and strategic mind made her the foreshadow queen, a real-life chess player navigating the war between her family and the Sovereign’s. Mustang consistently had Darrow’s best interests at heart, warning him about dangers he couldn’t- or wouldn’t- see. She brought his attention to certain relationships plenty of times, and he refused to heed the warning, costing him dearly.
Okay, I cannot overlook the true villain of the book, Adrius. From the start, we all knew that he was a snake, but holy fuck, he is as lethal and unpredictable as an Inland Taipan. There is nothing semi-chill at all; he’s a different beast entirely. Mustang warned not to trust him, and every time I wondered when he’d finally turn on Darrow. Eventually, her warning became his reality: He not only betrayed Darrow, he shattered Darrow’s world. Adrius orchestrated devastation for much of his life- killing his older brother, consuming other Golds at the Institute, and murdering his father. Every move was calculated, every betrayal meticulously planned. The EVIL and genius that this (I would say man, but is he?) demon harbors are so deep and terrifying. As Mustang put it, “He sees us all as sacks of meat and bone.”
From the very first page, Golden Son launches into a relentless series of adrenaline-fueled moments that kept me hooked late into the night. The tension and excitement never let up, making it a genuine challenge to set the book aside and get some sleep—a problem I was more than happy to have. The only thing I struggled with was the ship battles. I couldn’t seem to visualize the schematics in my head. My husband pointed out that I could always Google them since there are diagrams. Well, shit… And here I am complaining that they should have been in the book! I think that for a story so rich in detail and world-building, some starship blueprints would have been a cool touch!
In the chapter where Darrow was at the Citadel banquet, surrounded by the powerful families loyal to the Sovereign Octavia au Lune, he makes a bold move, essentially saying fuck politics, and starting a full-blown blood feud with the Bellonas- and it was *chef’s kiss.* I mean, if you want to start a war, go to war with your liege’s enemy/ competition. You not only start a war, but you get his backing support if played well! One quote from this confrontation stands out and mocks Cassius’ lack of commitment to his Knight role: “While you ate, I trained. While you drank, I trained. While you sought pleasure, I trained from the weeks after the Institute to the days before the Academy.” Absolute MIC DROP. Having trained with Lorn, Darrow was prepared to face Cassius on equal footing. Without that training, he would have used Cassius’ fighting style from his Institute days- and likely would have lost.
It was a great second book. Many sequels struggle to match the impact of the first book, but Golden Son truly pulls its own punches. The prose is beautiful, the character development is on point, and the world-building expands far beyond what we saw in Red Rising. I especially loved seeing how different races flourished under Darrow’s leadership. He recognized and harnessed the unique strengths of each race: Ragnar the Obsidian stands out as a formidable fighter and protector, Orion the Blue wasn’t the obvious choice among her peers to command the ship, but proved herself by outperforming many others, and then there was the multi-color uprising during Darrow’s attack on board the Pax. Learning the backstories of these characters and hearing the distinct voices of each race- some slow, some deep, some monotone- added richness.
One of the most powerful moments in Golden Son was when Darrow returned to see his mother. That chapter hit me hard- it was so earnest and heartfelt that I couldn’t help but tear up. I wished he’d had more time with her. I was so pleased that his former community had a major feast of foods and drinks that were new to them. For a little while, they experienced a reprieve from their daily struggle to survive in the lies of Golds. The most gut-wrenching part was when Darrow’s mother looked at him, completely golden, standing in her home, and recognized her Red boy, HER Darrow. He was so afraid that he would lose himself, and his mom saw through it all. That moment resonated deeply with me. I’ve made changes in my own life, and my mom doesn’t recognize who I’ve become. I would give anything for her to look at my growth, my sacrifices, and still see me.
The deaths of Victra and Lorn crushed me. Victra felt like a true friend to Darrow right up to the end, mischievous and flirty, but always loyal and never a threat. Her final words, “I didn’t know, Darrow. I didn’t know,” still echo in my mind. Watching Lorn die through Darrow’s eyes was devastating. Lorn, a mentor, a father figure, slowly dying, knowing that his grandchildren may meet that same fate. While reading, I wasn’t immediately overwhelmed with sadness. The weight of their loss hit me after I finished the book. I found myself lying awake, reflecting on their deaths. “Death begets death begets death,” as wise Lorn had said. Also, I am incredibly relieved that Sevro, Mustang, and Ragnar were nowhere near the celebration! It seems like they are Darrow’s only hope.
Then there was the reveal of Fitchner’s death- a moment that completely blindsided me. I always enjoyed his conniving ways but never suspected he was THE Ares. Holy fuck did my jaw drop. But when he revealed that, a pit formed in my stomach because I was thinking, “he is going to be slain in this book, isn’t he?” Former Proctor, Rage Knight for the Sovereign, AND legendary Ares? His scheming and leadership ran deeper than I ever imagined. And now that I am thinking about it, the quote “If you’re a fox, play the hare. If you’re a hare, play the fox,” comes into play. He wasn’t the most aggressive proctor, and when I found out he was Rage Knight, I thought to myself, “Damn, was he playing the hare all this time? It’s incredible to think about how Fitchner was protecting Darrow from the very beginning, guiding him and providing the advice and tools needed to survive in both books. him trying to protect Darrow from the beginning. I am not sure, but I feel like Fitchner and Darrow were betrayed when Adrius was torturing his captured foes and trying to extract information from them. Also, what was in the box Darrow gave to Adrius?!
This book was a constant anxiety attack. I laughed. I cried, I was angry, I almost threw the book. Emotions were high, and I was NOT okay (especially with the last chapter). Golden Son has set up the third book in such a shocking way. After finishing Golden Son, I stayed up for at least an extra hour thinking about what the bloodydamn hell is going to happen in the next book. This book shall receive a 4.9/5. I highly recommend you READ THE FRACKING BOOK!
Up Next: What Musn’t Be Told: A Mitchell- Lacrosse Novel by Seven Nelson
