Review: Golden Son by Pierce Brown

Title: Golden Son
Author: Pierce Brown
Series: Red Rising Trilogy #2
Publisher: Del Rey
Publication Date: January 6th, 2015
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

With shades of The Hunger Games, Ender’s Game, and Game of Thrones, debut author Pierce Brown’s genre-defying epic Red Rising hit the ground running and wasted no time becoming a sensation. Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom from the overlords of a brutal elitist future built on lies. Now fully embedded among the Gold ruling class, Darrow continues his work to bring down Society from within. A life-or-death tale of vengeance with an unforgettable hero at its heart, Golden Son guarantees Pierce Brown’s continuing status as one of fiction’s most exciting new voices.

It seems like I waited ages to get my hands on Golden Son. When I read Red Rising last year, I was blown away. I mean, that book.... I have no words. So you would think that I'd rip through Golden Son in a day or two.. Nope. Here is the thing, I need to have a little sit down with Pierce Brown and Del Rey. They just can't be putting out such awesomeness during the Holiday Season. It's Cruel!!

I really wanted to get it read and reviewed before release, but I couldn't bring myself to rush through it. I read it slowly and savored every word. Wow... what a sequel. Usually the second book in a Trilogy isn't as action packed. That is definitely not the case here. While I found the middle to be a little slow, it was only because of all the "war talk, strategy'ish stuff". The crap that goes down before and after more than makes up for it.

What I really loved about Golden Son... were the answered questions. Now I'm going to be vague, because some of you, including Jen, have not read Red Rising yet. So I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. In Red Rising, you never find out who Ares is. It's revealed in Golden Son!!! yup!!! That it is!! And I was shocked.

There are so many shocking moments. One that brought me back to that tragic scene in book one that started it all. Poor Eo and Darrow. And the list just goes on. So many times I put my kindle down, thinking.. "no.. that did not just happen." but it did. Oh yes it did.

Also!! I forgot how violent Pierces writing can be. Holy cow, there are some really messed up scenes..There are deaths. A ton of them.  And the blood, and other bodily fluids, but like I said when I reviewed Red Rising, it's necessary. This is war, and war is not pretty.

I loved Golden Son, and I cannot wait for the final book. That ending. OMG I can't even... so here is a gif.

About the author:


Pierce Brown spent his childhood building forts and setting traps for his cousins in the woods of six states and the deserts of two. Graduating college in 2010, he fancied the idea of continuing his studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a magical bone in his body. So while trying to make it as a writer, he worked as a manager of social media at a startup tech company, toiled as a peon on the Disney lot at ABC Studios, did his time as an NBC page, and gave sleep deprivation a new meaning during his stint as an aide on a U.S. Senate Campaign. Now he lives in Los Angeles, where he scribbles tales of spaceships, wizards, ghouls, and most things old or bizarre. Note to the reader: Always feel free to contact him via his website, twitter, or facebook. He likes people. Except if you're a trollish person. Then he merely puts up with you for the sake of manners and propriety.

Find Pierce:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: awesome, Del Rey, golden son, mars, Pierce Brown, random house, Red Rising, reviews, trilogy, war

{Audiobook} Review: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

Title: The Indigo Spell
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Bloodlines #3
Narrator: Emily Shaffer
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publication Date: Feb 12th, 2013
Source: Purchased Audio
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets--and human lives." In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

Oh my goodness, so far the Indigo Spell has been my favorite. Perhaps the next will trump my feelings on this one, we will see.

Golden Lily leaves us off with some serious tension between Sydney and Adrian. When I say tension, I mean all tension, especially sexual tension. Their chemistry is unbelievable, and I cannot get enough of it.

Adrian is as always, a dream come true. His devotion it Sydney is something I want to package up and deliver to every girl in the world. He’s just… *sigh*. Not perfect, by all means, but he’s perfect for Sydney that’s for sure. Lots of “romance” in this one and that made me oh so happy.

There is a lot of magic going on in this installment. Also, a lot of laughs. All I’m going to say is “The bunny room” That shit was funny. And the plot thickens. The alchemists are possibly up to no good, and I loved all the info that is revealed about all of that.

The ending, oh the ending, I loved it so much. But then… OH no… Something happens, and it’s going to make the following book very interesting! I would have downloaded and started it already, but I’m listening to an audiobook from my library and deadlines.. ya know? If I download it there will be no way I can hold off listening to it.

I am really loving these books. Fans of VA who haven’t read these yet need to get on them! Now! I'm blowing through them

About the author:

Scorpio Richelle Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington where she works on her three series full-time: Georgina Kincaid, Dark Swan, and Vampire Academy.

A life-long reader, Richelle has always loved mythology and folklore. When she can actually tear herself away from books (either reading or writing them), she enjoys bad reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses. She's a self-professed coffee addict and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous.

Find Richelle:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: Audiobook, awesome, bloodlines, richelle mead, the indigo spell, vampire academy, vampires

{Audiobook} Review: Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Title: The Golden Lily
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Bloodlines #2
Narrator: Emily Shaffer
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publication Date: June 12th, 2012
Source: Purchased Audio
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?

I have become obsessed with these books. Much like the Vampire Academy ones, I waited until the first 5 came out, now I will blow through them, and then have to wait for the last. Why! oh why! do I do this to myself? I should I have just waited, but I can’t stop the train now.

I finished Bloodlines and then immediately started Golden Lily. I remember, because I stopped putting always laundry just so I could download it to my phone. Once I was up and ready, I finished my chores. lol

The Golden Lily was so good. My favorite thing by far is her budding relationship with Adrian. *sigh*. I could talk about that all day long. She puts up resistance but he’s a hard one to stay away from.

There is a lot that goes on and it’s full of action. I loved the new elements to the story. Not only does Sydney have to struggle with her growing feelings for Adrian, there are other personal things she needs to come to terms with that completely goes against all she’s ever believed in.

Series books are so hard to review because there is only so much you can say. I will say this, I’ve listened to this one and the following already and they keep getting better!

About the author:

Scorpio Richelle Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington where she works on her three series full-time: Georgina Kincaid, Dark Swan, and Vampire Academy.

A life-long reader, Richelle has always loved mythology and folklore. When she can actually tear herself away from books (either reading or writing them), she enjoys bad reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses. She's a self-professed coffee addict and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous.

Find Richelle:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Read More

Labels: Audiobook, awesome, bloodlines, reviews, richelle mead, the golden lily, vampire academy, vampires