I’ve heard that when an author gets stuck, they should just make life harder for their protagonist. Pierce Brown has taken that to heart with Red Rising. Life just gets harder and harder, worse and worse for his main character. And when he’s on top, he gets his hamstrings slashed, knees broken, and teeth kicked in. And I can’t wait to read the series again.

Aldous Huxley started this idea of a regimented class-based society with each class having their own distinct colors. Pierce Brown took that idea to new heights, and new depths. In the Red Rising series, the lowest of the low classes rises up to break the wheel system and put something better in place. 

The books are nail-biting, on-the-edge-of-your-seat intense. At every turn, things get harder and worse for the protagonist. It’s difficult to be exuberant about this without giving away too much,  I’ll say this, when shit goes wrong—and it will nearly every step of the way—you’ll be drawn in to the story even more. And when things go right, you’ll be suspicious, waiting for the proverbial “other shoe” to drop—and it will, only it will be not what you’re expecting, and will be far worse. 

In other words, read the series but be prepared for a crazy, wild ride.