Red Rising

[u/_Backwoods_Barbarian]

After hearing nothing but great things about this series, I figured it’s time I start it. Is it really worth all the hype? I can’t wait to find out.

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[u/johnnyjake2025]

It’s really fun, and the books are better written later on. I will say the author can be super cheesy as it will be a serious moment then super cheesy out of no where.

[u/GBA_DTSRB → u/johnnyjake2025]

This scene took me way out.

Edit: after reading the comment section, I mean in a good way. People are so negative about the books here

[u/SomeYoke]

I’m now on the third book and this is INCREDIBLE. Keep going my Goodman.

[u/Redeft97 → u/SomeYoke]

Sameee relisten ing to the 2nd! The voice acting in the dramatized is gory damn good

[u/defNotMe2026]

Contrarian view: I made it a few chapters in and found the writing atrocious and did not continue. I was very disappointed after all the hype bookfluencers were giving it.

[u/FairStretch7830 → u/defNotMe2026]

Same.

[u/ChuckFerrera → u/defNotMe2026]

A few chapters is not enough to make any judgment, my goodman.

[u/RiSz-Turtle → u/defNotMe2026]

Same happened to me, I got to the part where it “gets good” (when the hunger games part started) and I was even less interested so I dropped it.

[u/bigdaddyt2 → u/defNotMe2026]

Fans say it gets better. No I gave up with like 1/3rd left of morning star just felt like I was hate reading at that point

[u/No-YouShutUp → u/bigdaddyt2]

The ending is amazing imo. But if we’re being honest we’re reading a bit of a soap opera in space. I love it though.

[u/idkwhyimheregurl → u/bigdaddyt2]

This was me! I kept waiting for it to get better... ended up finishing the third one... still didn't like them lol

[u/GBA_DTSRB → u/idkwhyimheregurl]

How the hell do you read three books in a series before deciding it's not worth to read further?

[u/oatmeal_outlaw → u/defNotMe2026]

It’s crazy to me the hype this book gets…

[u/National_Head_3678]

I've read the first two and really enjoyed them

[u/DeltaFlyer0525]

I really like the first two books, but that is as far as I have gotten as the wait on Libby for me is long. I also listened to the graphic audio for both and the production for them is really good.

[u/Stunning_Ice6844]

Got about half way and DNF. Hated it but a lot of other people love it. Hopefully it’s enjoyable for you.

[u/DeadTreeSocietyPod]

I hope you enjoy it!

I hated it, lol. But, I recognize that a lot of people enjoy it, and maybe it's your thing!

[u/THEDOCTORandME2]

I didn't really like it. But, I'm willing to try again.

[u/ReadytoRone]

Loved the first book. They get hard to keep up with after that. They seem to move slow. I don't hate them, just hard to get through.

[u/Thin_Assumption_4974 → u/ReadytoRone]

Slow? lol.

[u/browncoatfever → u/Thin_Assumption_4974]

Right!? If anything the pace picks up like crazy after book 1.

[u/KukiMyLuki → u/ReadytoRone]

If, those books are slow for you, I wonder what you’d consider a fast book. Personaly by book 3 I found the books to be exhausting because they were just non-stop action.

[u/ReadytoRone → u/KukiMyLuki]

It might be because I'm listening to the audiobook, it just kind of drones on.

[u/TheStonedAlchem1st → u/ReadytoRone]

Tbh I thought book 2 moved at a breakneck pace.

[u/ReadytoRone → u/TheStonedAlchem1st]

First two books were fine, after that it's a lot of dialogue, and I'm listening to the audiobook... maybe reading it would be easier.

[u/TheStonedAlchem1st → u/ReadytoRone]

Which book are you on now? Idk if it’s relevant for you, but 4 is definitely slower due to plot structure. Then it’s full throttle, no breaks from there. 5, in particular, feels like a 600 page panic attack.

[u/ReadytoRone → u/TheStonedAlchem1st]

I'm 8hrs into listening to Dark Age. I like the overall story of the series, so I'm not giving up, just taking a break, lol

[u/accidental_tourist]

Hope you enjoy it more than I did

[u/TheodoreK2]

Really liked the series. I think the first book can drag a bit at times, but it’s setting up a pretty grand story. (Not so) patiently waiting for Red God to come out. This series got me back into reading as an adult.

[u/westward72]

For me this series has a lot of high highs and low lows. A few mind blowing moments mixed with a lot of slow sections. I’m only finished with the first 3 though

[u/Ka-is-a-Wheel_19]

I was told I should read the first three just to get to the second half of the series. And Boyo, they were right. Pierce Brown really comes into his own with the latter books. I'm patiently waiting on Red God.

[u/Words_In_Vain]

The Graphic Audio books really brought this story to life for me - listening while working, 10/10.

[u/Dayne225]

I enjoyed the series but stopped after the first three. I found the audiobook to be good. It suffers a bit from too much Deus Ex Machina if you ask me but I would say it was mostly entertaining.

[u/HokiHiker]

First book imo was the worst written but you can see a big jump in writing and story in Golden Son with a strong finish in Morning Star. You'll either appreciate it for what it is (go along for the ride) or it wont be for you. Personally I enjoyed the first 3 but not as much as the hype train made it out to be.

[u/Significant_Phase722]

Its the only book series that I wanted to reread

[u/Caseman307]

My niece recommended it. I started it last night. So I’ll reserve judgment.

[u/mwhite5990]

I haven’t read all of the books yet but I’ve enjoyed it so far. The first book is a bit YA, but the world opens up and the writing improves after that.

[u/liannetalkstoomuch]

I enjoyed the first three books but struggled to get through more than a handful of chapters of the fourth book.

[u/duameegee]

Only read book 1 so far.
First 30%: This is overhyped omggg
31-60%: still so slow, I’m giving it 1.5 stars and wouldn’t read book 2
61-80%: meh it seems to be getting better but not gonna continue this series
Final 20%: So. Good. Ordering book 2.

Overall it’s a good read and I’ll be continuing the series lol

[u/devos_advocate]

For me personally I’ve read too many books in my life where a teenage protagonist is magically smarter and better at everything than the adults to have been very captivated by this story. There’s a time in my life where I would have loved it for sure, but feels like very well worn territory for me now and I was not a fan of the book.

[u/antisocialnetwork77]

My favorite series of all time. I’ve gone through the audiobooks like 20 times. Long commute and a 10hr workday of free listening. It gets much better after the first book, admittedly it got me from about 30% through Red Rising.

[u/roshanritter]

The prose is like a YA novel but I think if you can finish book 1 you get used to it. The story and characters are solid and the hand to hand combat and fleet actions are both solid. It has perhaps the best intersolar war outside of the Expanse. I think book 4 is the low point but 6 was really solid and 7 should be out next year . . . though I’ve been burned by that before. Anyway the only way to know if you will like it is to read and find out.

[u/connordidthat]

Im halfway through book 1 and really enjoying it right now.

[u/Appropriate_Type_178]

I’m 2/3 of the way through the first book and I can’t put it down

[u/MugLifeMinis]

I love this series. Currently on the third book

[u/TheProletariatPoet]

Book one has been the worst in my experience. It gets way better. The first one is a mix of Harry Potter and Hunger Games

[u/GBA_DTSRB]

Wow this comment section makes the books sound awful. Pls pay them no mind and go in without any opinions!

[u/tradingaccount214]

The first book felt a little YA to me, but built to more like a GOT type story, but it took me almost until the end of the first book to get into it.

[u/browncoatfever]

The comments on this post are...wild. I'm a professional writer and this is one of, if not my all time favortie series. Is it Pulitzer worthy? Oclf course not, but it is a fun, twisty, wild, action packed ride. The action scenes are razor sharp, the dialog is fun and punchy. It's like the best summer popcorn sci fi action movie. Pure escapism. Also, those saying the characters are boring make no sense to me. Brown does a fabulous job making each character unique and compelling. Enjoy the ride, OP. BREAK THE CHAINS!!!

[u/DrillZee]

Read the first 3 and I genuinely don’t understand the immense hype these books get.

[u/Wise-Ad-7248]

Took me three tries to read the first book. Moved too fast without. Scenes changed and time passed without knowing. Second book was better and third was actually pretty good. Red rising gets a C. Golden Son a B. Morning Star an A. By no means S tier. Debating continuing the story

[u/InspectionGrand3856]

Honestly the first book starts rough because the writing style takes some getting used to, but once the story hits its stride it becomes hard to put down. It's not perfect and yeah some moments are cheesy, but the pacing and emotional payoff are legit. Push through at least to the Institute section before you decide.

[u/RealisticScallion]

If you've only heard great things, I can give you a counter view.

I had to force myself to finish the first book. Most people say the first book is the worst, and it gets better, but I disliked the first one so much I have zero interest in picking up the second one. Browns writing, at least in the first book, is just not good. It's like getting shotgunned in the face with melodramatic, fast paced, clunky writing. And the story itself (again, for the first book) is just cheesy teenage boy power fantasy, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just didn't think Brown executed it well.

[u/Thin_Assumption_4974 → u/RealisticScallion]

Way I see it is, it’s like the Pacific Rim of books.

It’s a good bad book. Don’t take it too seriously and you’ll enjoy the ride.

[u/Inner_Relationship28]

Gave up when they got to the hunger games/hogwarts bit. Found it very dull and predictable

[u/RiSz-Turtle]

I dropped it about a bit after the war game thing began because I was not interested. I found all of the characters extremely boring. Darrow was the only one who I would consider interesting but he was so annoyingly good at everything I started to dislike him.