Red Rising: Sons of Ares #1 by Pierce Brown ~ Review

Title: Red Rising: Sons of Ares #1
Author: Pierce Brown
Genre: Graphic Novel, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Length: 32 pages
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: May 10, 2017
Source: Purchased
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

From the world of the best-selling YA series Red Rising comes a story of love and loss and rage!
In the future, when mankind has spread across the stars, the hierarchy of man is dictated by the color of one's caste. The Golds rule all, but what will happen when one falls for a lowly Red? See how a forbidden love will set the course of events for the future and lead to the formation of the formidable Sons of Ares!
Written by author Pierce Brown (The Red Rising Trilogy) and Rik Hoskin (Heroes of Skyrealm, Brandon Sanderson's White Sand), with art by Eli Powell (Yakuza Demon Killers, The 13th Artifact), comes the in-continuity story of revolution and Red Rising!

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This was not what I was expecting at all. I'm not a big comic reader but the idea behind this really drew me in. I had to read through it a couple times before I figured out how the story was being told. It was done quite well, but at the same time there didn't seem to be a whole lot there. It's part one of six, so I'm hoping there's a lot more beef in the upcoming editions.

For big fans of the Red Rising world (which I am), it was a little look into how the Sons of Ares started. You get this story from reading the books, but it's told in retrospect, whereas the comic tells it in more detail as it occurs. I'll keep going so I can see how it all plays out, but I'm not sure how I feel about this overall yet.

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More from Red Rising

Morning Star #3

Morning Star by Pierce Brown ~ Review

Title: Morning Star (Red Rising #3)
Author: Pierce Brown
Length: 524 Pages
Publisher: Del Ray
Release Date: February 9, 2016
Source: Self-Purchased
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Darrow would have lived in peace, but his enemies brought him war. The Gold overlords demanded his obedience, hanged his wife, and enslaved his people. But Darrow is determined to fight back. Risking everything to transform himself and breach Gold society, Darrow has battled to survive the cutthroat rivalries that breed Society's mightiest warriors, climbed the ranks, and waited patiently to unleash the revolution that will tear the hierarchy apart from within.

Finally, the time has come.

But devotion to honor and hunger for vengeance run deep on both sides. Darrow and his comrades-in-arms face powerful enemies without scruple or mercy. Among them are some Darrow once considered friends. To win, Darrow will need to inspire those shackled in darkness to break their chains, unmake the world their cruel masters have built, and claim a destiny too long denied - and too glorious to surrender.

A very exciting conclusion to the Red Rising Trilogy - with lots of surprises. I wasn't sure how Pierce Brown was going to find a way out of the ending to Golden Son, but find a way he did. Darrow is back and so are the Sons, but neither of them is the same. Things are quickly escalating out of control and plans need to be made to finish this fight.

But what a fight it is. Stretching from the far reaches of occupied space, Earth, the moons, and on board the ships - the fighting is everywhere. Some of these battles are quite complex with multiple layers of attack - so make sure you pay attention. Every move is important. Every word has meaning. Every person has their fate (and I didn't like all of them). Darrow ingenuity and way of thinking will be very important and could either win or lose the war for them.

The ending was a bit of a surprise. While I had some suspicions it may head in a similar direction, it took quite an about-face at the last minute and left me quite surprised at the maturity of a small boy. I was sad to see the saga end - I have grown to love all the characters and will miss hearing of their adventures and schemes. But the ending was very satisfying as well.

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Red Rising

Red Rising #1

Golden Son #2