✨ My Unpopular Thoughts on a Fan Favorite✨
In my November 2025 Reading Wrap Up, I shared the somewhat controversial opinion that I did not enjoy Golden Son by Pierce Brown. Given how wildly loved this series is, I wanted to expand on that with a full review that explores what worked for me, what didn’t, and why I ultimately landed on the rating I did.
I know this is a beloved series with a very loyal fanbase. My goal is not to convince anyone that they are wrong for loving it. I simply want to offer another perspective for readers who may share similar preferences or who are unsure whether this series is for them.
Please note that this review contains spoilers.
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Golden Son by Pierce Brown (2015)
Dystopian, Science Fiction
Golden Son is the second book in the Red Rising Saga, with book seven scheduled for release in 2026. After turning the last page, I can confidently say that this series simply is not for me. I know that opinion goes against the tide, especially considering the book holds a 4.49 rating on Goodreads. Still, it is worth unpacking how I arrived there.
A Quick Look Back at Red Rising
Before getting into Golden Son, a bit of context is useful. I rated Red Rising three stars and, in hindsight, probably should have ended my journey there. Many readers insisted the series improves dramatically after book one. My experience was the opposite.
Red Rising felt like a darker blend of The Hunger Games and Ender’s Game, which wasn’t inherently bad, but the comparisons made it feel less original to me. Ironically, the part I enjoyed most was the beginning on Mars. Darrow’s life as a Helldiver in the oppressed Red class was fascinating, and I wanted far more of that layered worldbuilding. The series shifts quickly into a competitive war game that takes up most of the book, and the rich world beneath it remained underexplored.
What I Hoped For Going Into Golden Son
My biggest hope was for the world to expand. I wanted political depth, exploration of other planets, cultural nuance, and a better sense of how this society actually functions. The good news is that Golden Son opens up the scope. The bad news is that it races through that expanded world so quickly that very little has time to breathe.
For readers unfamiliar with the series, Golden Son continues Darrow’s dangerous infiltration of the Golds, the ruling class in a brutally stratified society. He walks a razor thin line between his secret identity as a Red and his rising influence among the Golds, all while trying to advance a rebellion from within. The book is filled with battles, alliances that shift by the minute, political maneuvering, and stakes that escalate constantly.
There is absolutely a compelling story here. It just did not come together for me in the ways I had hoped.
What Worked
The overarching plot is engaging
The larger storyline is interesting and full of potential. I gravitate toward plot driven books, and this one certainly prioritizes plot. That is a major reason my final rating was as high as it was.
The pacing is nonstop
If you love fast paced reads with explosive action scenes, this book has that in abundance. There are battles, near escapes, shocking betrayals, and twists that arrive so quickly you barely have time to process them.
There is a glimpse of a deeper world beneath all the chaos
I truly believe there is a rich and expansive world in this universe. The technology is fascinating, and glimpses of different planets and systems suggest a larger canvas the series might explore in future installments. If later books slow down long enough to let the world come fully into focus, I can see why readers become deeply invested.
What Didn’t Work
It took me a while to identify why Golden Son wasn’t working for me. The plot is promising, the stakes are high, and the world has so much potential. Eventually I realized that the core issue was a disconnect with Pierce Brown’s writing style combined with a lack of character development that I found difficult to overlook.
Darrow felt surprisingly flat
Darrow is meant to be a conflicted, complex character shaped by tragedy and fueled by purpose. Instead, I often found him difficult to connect with. He gives powerful speeches about justice and fighting for the oppressed, yet often makes choices that contradict those convictions. Instead, many of Darrow’s major victories rely on last second rescues, abrupt reversals, or plans he apparently set in motion off page with little or no foreshadowing. These moments happen often enough that his success starts to feel convenient rather than earned. As a result, the stakes lose their weight because it becomes difficult to believe that Darrow could ever truly fail.
The supporting cast felt underdeveloped
I never got a sense of who most of the secondary characters truly were. I believe they follow Darrow because they see him as inspiring or extraordinary, but that rarely translated on the page for me. Their motivations often seemed thin or unclear, and many choices felt driven by plot momentum rather than meaningful character growth. For a story filled with so many alliances, betrayals, and shifting loyalties, I wanted to see more of the emotional reasoning behind these choices.
For my reading preferences, this created emotional distance that no amount of action could bridge.
Character and Relationship Notes
Big Spoilers Ahead
Skip this section if you want to avoid spoilers.
Mustang
Mustang is framed as Darrow’s great love, yet their relationship feels oddly hollow and underdeveloped. When Darrow decides to reveal he is a Red disguised as a Gold, he chooses to do it through a prerecorded Holocube instead of speaking to Mustang directly. The reveal itself happens entirely off page. There is no urgent need for distance. He literally hands her the cube and walks inside his mother’s home. This is one of the most important emotional turning points in their relationship, yet the reader does not get to experience the confession or Mustang’s immediate reaction. Instead, we are told afterward how she responds. The choice to move such a significant moment off the page felt like a missed opportunity for emotional depth, especially considering how much time the book spends on action driven scenes.
The odd part is that he revealed his identity to Sevro and Ragnar already, both through far more meaningful interactions. Mustang deserved that level of honesty. Instead, her emotional arc gets buried under another tense standoff.
The next chapter opens with Darrow assuming Mustang has left after watching the recording, which only highlights how distant and disconnected the entire exchange was. He even reflects on how cowardly it was to let the recording speak for him. The reveal could have been a moment of vulnerability and genuine connection, yet the emotional core of it happens entirely outside the narrative. Instead, Mustang confronts him at gunpoint, turning what could have been an intimate and human moment into another dramatic scene designed to escalate tension rather than deepen their relationship.
Sevro
Sevro is one of the more memorable characters in the series. He is the oddball with dark humor, sharp instincts, and chaotic energy that stands out in every scene. His unpredictability should make him feel layered and interesting, and sometimes it does. There are moments where his blunt honesty or strange loyalty gives a glimpse of real depth, however, many of Sevro’s scenes feel rushed or underdeveloped. Darrow repeatedly describes how strong their bond is, but the story often skips over the conversations or quieter interactions that would allow the reader to feel that connection. Instead, we jump straight to the aftermath, where we are simply told how close they are or how much Sevro has changed.
His humor also swings wildly between funny, uncomfortable, and confusing. I understand that his jokes are intentionally abrasive, and I usually enjoy dark humor, but some of his attempts at levity feel misplaced in ways that undercut the emotional weight of the scene. Earlier moments offered the right kind of chaotic charm, but others felt inserted more for shock than character development.
Victra
Victra’s sudden romantic interest in Darrow is introduced quietly and briefly, which only made it feel more out of left field. We aren’t given clear background or buildup to explain where these feelings came from or why they matter to her character arc. Without that context, her sudden interest reads more like a plot detour than a meaningful development. Maybe it becomes more significant in later books, but within Golden Son it felt abrupt and somewhat unnecessary.
✨ Final Thoughts ✨
I know I am in the minority with this one. Golden Son and the entire Red Rising series clearly resonates with many readers. The plot has enormous potential and the action is undeniably engaging. For readers who prioritize pace and high stakes, this book will absolutely deliver.
For me, the lack of character depth and the chaotic pacing made it difficult to connect emotionally. Still, I am glad I tried it, and I am always curious to hear where readers’ experiences differ. If you pick up Golden Son, I would love to know what you thought.
Rating: 3 / 5 ✨
✨ Looking Ahead ✨
December is here and I am excited for the final reading month of the year. You can take a peek at my December 2025 TBR, although as a mood reader, what I intend to read and what I actually read are rarely the same thing.
If you enjoyed this review and my November 2025 Reading Wrap Up, consider subscribing to get new posts delivered straight to your inbox.
~Kerri
🌌Reading Under the Northern Lights – Completely Arbitrary, Mood-Dependent Rating System 🌌
✨ 1 Star – “Banished to the Shadow Realm”
If this book rose from the grave, I’d grab a shovel. It didn’t work for me at all, and I would not recommend it.
✨✨ 2 Stars – “The Potion Came Out Lumpy”
Not terrible, but far from magical. Some parts had potential, yet mostly I wanted it to end. Others might enjoy it, but it didn’t land for me.
✨✨✨ 3 Stars – “Respectable Quest Companion”
Reliable and readable. Got me from Point A to Point B alive. Solid, enjoyable, but not remarkable. I would likely recommend it.
✨✨✨✨ 4 Stars – “Worthy of a Bard’s Ballad”
Adventure! Emotion! A sprinkle of terror! Strong, fun, and memorable. Definitely worth recommending.
✨✨✨✨✨5 Stars – “Crowned Ruler of the TBR Kingdom” Legendary. I would haunt people with this book. Absolutely loved it, highly recommend, and would re-read without hesitation.
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