Darrow led an uprising and smashed the hierarchy that had held the worlds in its thrall. Now, ten years later, he is discovering the difficulties of maintaining rule and stamping out the last of the old regime.
More than anything else, Darrow is sick of war. Yet, unrest dogs his every step.
“I remember when you told me I was a good man who’d have to do bad things,” I say. “Your stomach go soft? Or have you spent so much time with politicians that you’ve forgotten what the enemy looks like?” pg 21.
The government Darrow and his allies have crafted out of the former rebellion is divided in how to proceed. The enemy is entrenched on the planets nearest the sun… and also the planets furthest from it.
“Like you, I wish for nothing more than peace. I wish for a world where the machine of war does not swallow our young. … Our enemies have held dominion over us for too long. First as slaves, then adversaries. And what stability, what harmony can we bring to the worlds we have freed while they continue to define us?” pg 89.
Pierce Brown has crafted a satisfying return to his dystopian world with characters readers loved from his first three books.
We also get to meet a few new ones like a wily thief who gets in over his head and a kind, young Red who discovers The Reaper’s new world isn’t anything like it was portrayed on the holos.
There’s sweeping speeches and heart-pounding battle scenes. Brown’s newest book is incredibly entertaining.
I have two regrets though.
The first is I read the other books so long ago, I forgot many of the small details. If I had it to do over again, I’d re-read the first trilogy before hopping into this one.
“It is our duty to embrace the scars our choices give us, to embrace and remember our mistakes, else we live believing our own myth.”pg 316.
The second is Brown hasn’t written his next book yet and he ends on, what seems to be for him, a signature cliffhanger.
I refused to read the first three books until the trilogy was complete because I really don’t like waiting for the next entry in a series.
“The key to learning, to power, to having the final say in everything, is observation. By all means, be a storm inside, but save your movement and wind till you know your purpose.” pg 355.
It’s a nod to Brown’s genius that I purchased this new title from the book store. I’m a library patron through and through, but this is one that is worth owning.
Here’s hoping Brown writes really fast.
Highly recommended for science fiction and dystopian fans. Start with Red Rising.
Thanks for reading!
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