Golden Son

Pierce Brown's relentlessly entertaining debut channels the excitement of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.

RED RISING is what The Hunger Games should have been.

With all of the tension of The Hunger Games and heady dose of savagery that lives somewhere in the space between The Lord of the Flies and ancient Greek mythology that revels in the violent deeds of the deities of old, RED RISING is compulsively readable and exceedingly entertaining. The blend of familiar and unfailingly effective machinations that clash with the stark new reality Brown has created make this tale a must for both fans of classic sci-fi and fervent followers of new school dystopian epics.

Pierce offers a Hollywood-ready story with plenty of action and thrills

Incredible Sci-Fi Cross Between 'Hunger Games' And 'Enders Game' Pulls It Off

It has hints of Harry Potter and Hunger Games, but it is its own animal. And it is not YA. The writing is excellent and the story is better. This is one terrific fantasy book, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

RED RISING wouldn't exist without the countless classics it takes its cues from, but this great debut builds a formidable fortress upon their familiar foundations, making such interesting alterations along the way that its piecemeal parts are essentially rendered unrecognisable. Like mankind has in the past, Pierce Brown reaches for the stars, and mostly hits that monumental mark.

The heart-stopping excitement of the Hunger Games meets the pulse-pounding majesty and complexity of Game of Thrones, all wrapped up in the visionary beauty and melancholy of Blade Runner... A shot of adrenalin for your imagination.