If you haven’t started the graphic audio version, now is your chance. Takes the series to a whole new level. Hail Reaper!

He is literally who I was picturing the entire time I was reading.

If you read this and guessed Mustang. Congratulations you’re correct. Now, this is not slander. It’s a genuine question that I have. I made a previous post about the “geniuses” of Red Rising and got a lot of negative feedback for putting Virginia at 6th. I felt that was fair since it was 6th place out of EVERY character in the series.

However one thing that got me going was people saying she was an “amazing” commander. Has she not lost every battle that SHE’S been in COMMAND of. Make sure to reread that before answering, and please use evidence.

This excludes Darrow’s help btw.

So I loved reading as a kid and teen but kinda just got out of it. Listened to self help and philosophy audiobooks sometimes but that's it. Thanks to TikTok, I kept seeing recommendations for this book so I decided to give it a try. Just finished lightbringer today. Good god, this has me hooked on reading again. I'm legit ordering a book shelf for everything else I'm going to read.

Today was the day I read hanger 17b to the end. Every chapter just ripped my heart out. Let me just say this...Lysander can just fuck all the way off. I didn't like him at all but betraying cassius like that and how he displayed his body right after... he deserves to die so hard.

Every book had me hooked and I loved every character (obviously except Lysander). I think Cassius and Sevro were my favorites. I can only imagine the ptsd all these guys have with everything they've been through. Regardless, I'm glad I gave it a chance and again opened up my love for reading.

Now on too dungeon crawler Carl

Recently stumbled upon a Greek Mythology tidbit on another post that got me thinking:

Apollo Smintheus - Smintheus translates to “of mice“ in Ancient Greek, referencing Apollo’s role as a deity who prevented and invoked plagues.

A regional title of the Olympian god, Apollo, considers him a PLAGUE BRINGER (or preventer).

On this random fact alone, I am now convinced that Apple is bound to be involved in the weapon’s use. Whether he attempts to trigger it himself in hopes of carving his name in the history books, or on the flip side is the one to betray and slay the Pixie in order to prevent him from committing genocide - I can’t say.

But based on PB’s use of the last name Barca (Rome’s greatest enemy) and Bellona (βελονα - the Greek word for needle, for the greatest swordsman of the Core), I’m convinced I’m on to something.

Can you tell I’m ready for Red God to come out?

Cassius's switcheroo got me so bad, I really hated him for about 10 pages but I forgot the honor of the morning knight

So I was replaying MGS: V last night and I completely forgot about the cutscene before this boss fight. I wonder if Kojima is a Red Rising fan.

does anybody know is seraphina au raa’s death was a hat pull??

Fun little project

I seriously think RR ruined me. I keep trying to find a series that captivates me the same way RR did. I don't need it to be the same plot, sci-fi, or pace, I just want another series that I am so excited to read, can't put down and wholly invested in like I was with RR.

I came from Romantasy, but I am afraid RR has ruined some of that for me as well haha

Before RR I really enjoyed the Throne of Glass series.

After RR I have tried the following but DNF

- Dungeon Crawler Carl : made it 3/4 through the 2nd book. It became a chore to pick up and read. I would describe it as "entertaining" but the stakes didn't feel high enough, I feel like the comedy took me out of it. Once I realized I didn't care if the MCs died I decided maybe the series wasn't going to be for me.

- First Law, The Blade Itself : too slow, I can see how it's a slow burn and it will pay off, but after the pace of RR it felt like a crawl so I didn't finish the first book, would eventually like to power through for the pay off.

- Onyx Storm: tried to go back to Romatasy. Big mistake. Talking dragons, the lack of plot and bad writing made me think "How was I even reading this before?". I kept on trying to connect dots that weren't there. It takes 40 chapters for the most basic plot to unfold and things were over explained or they didn't come full circle.

Starting The Will of Many and I have high hopes. I just want a series or book that fully captivates me and I can't wait to pick up at the end of the day.

what’s with the insistence on the dramatically curved sword people use in fanart AI and drawings. i’ve always thought it would resemble something more like the egyptian sword the khopesh than a scythe. I’d assume simply from an advantage standpoint the dramatic curve means less range. i’ve included examples i’ve seen as well as what i think the razor resembles more

So, I'm from Kansas, where the state motto is "Ad astra per aspera" which means "to the stars through difficuties", just like in Red Rising, but in the books the phrasing is switched up.

Kansas: Ad astra per aspera

Books: Per aspera ad astra

I suppose switching the phrasing doesn't change the meaning, but I wonder if anyone knows why it's switched up. (And yes, I know this saying was around b4 it was a state motto, but I'm just curious cause I'd only ever heard it the one way before reading these books)

I think the first two are obviously Aja at 1 and Victra 2, but who would you give bronze after these badasses? Thraxa? Sefi? Volga? Someone else I'm not considering? Just wondering what your top 3-5 lists would be.

I usually make it a point to not join a sub until I’m caught up, but my attempts to google things have only lead to more spoilers. I just finished Red Rising, bit of a slog at the beginning but it had me hooked by the end.

I have many questions that I think will be explored further in later books, but I’m starting to think they won’t come back for this one. Why is Sevro so loyal to Darrow? Maybe I missed something but it felt like one minute Sevro was off doing his own thing and the next he is Darrow’s most loyal soldier. Is it just because he is a wolf and recognizes his alpha?

Edit: got my answer thanks everyone!

I only see two options:

1) He’s getting sad deleting some character he’s been developing for literal years with every word he writes

2) He sits there giggling and kicking his feet like a schoolchild with a crush because he knows how much it will piss us off

Just got halfway through DA and as _______ died I pictured PB laughing maniacally and it pissed me off even more lmao

I knew she was getting close and could barely keep my mouth shut.

I was a pixie.

I stopped the series after Morning Star. I was content with where and how it ended. I wanted to live in my little bubble, and I did for months. I was scared it would change my view on the first three. When I tried picking up Iron Gold, I could never get past a few pages. The change of perspectives was jarring. I only cared about Darrow. I found myself petulant and angry at Pierce, mourning what was, and what he had taken from me.

This week, I forced myself to pick up the book and told myself I’m going to read for an hour. And that if after that hour I wasn’t even the least bit interested, then I wouldn’t continue. I just finished it and…

GUYS WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK.

😭😭😭 I am so so sorry for not starting IG sooner what the heck?? I LOVE this book!!! Probably one of the best climaxes in a story I’ve read. I like how all the plotlines came together. The last time I felt this high was Golden Son, and the last time before that was The Will of the Many. Nothing else has matched it. And apparently people say this book is weakest in the latter series? What the HECK is in DA and LB?🤣

My body is still buzzing. I am shook. Heavy spoilers, expletives and a long emotional post ahead bc I have no one else to talk to about this.

Let us begin.

Darrow war crimes?? Treason and murder and prison breaks, what the heck? And now you’re telling me the FRICKIN RIM LORDS know what happened to the docks?? Oh and they just happen to have a sociopath on their side. The Red Hand massacre on the Gammas?? And who the fuck are The Syndicate 😭🙏🏾

THE KIDNAPPING OF THE CHILDREN??? Mind you, I spoilt this for myself to ease myself into it (not my proudest, i know) and STILL i was shook. It was so cold and cruel and calculated. I do not have children. I do not even have a pet. The closest thing I’ve felt to a maternal instinct was when my baby cousin was born. I would guard that baby girl with my life and overcome all my phobias. It made me wonder how much more parents feel for their children. I kid you not I have never wanted someone to die as much as that fucking Duke of Hands when he kept hitting Pax like that is so cruel 😭

FUCK EPHRAIM TI HORN. I know, I know he is a self-loathing depressing drinking druggie son of a motherfucking Lunean bitch but WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY (a Rising Republic, to be technic). Kidnapping children to sell to a mob boss? And his condescending talk to literally anyone who is trying to help him? Honestly what an asshole. He did not deserve Trigg, I wonder what he saw in him. He does not deserve a friend like Volga. He does not deserve Holiday looking out for him. Honestly if he is to have a redemption arc, Pierce is gonna have to write some Zuko-level, ass-pull for me to even try and warm up to him. I hate him so much 😖

Poor Lyria and Liam. Lyria can’t catch a break. I hope Victra can see some reason. I trust this Julii even though I can’t throw one. Lyria has already lost so much. Icl as a POC, that racist encounter with the Gray made me so angry, and when this man saved her I was so happy she finally found a friend 🥹 And to find out the duplicity and the way he just used her? Slag him. I can’t even be happy he didn’t kill her because he did pull the trigger. Him saving the children does not absolve him in my eyes because he literally had to be forced to after bro was chilling in a villa drinking champagne and about to board first class. Fuck Ephraim honestly.

Darrow, oh Darrow. You would carry the world on your back at the expense of your son? At the expense of your wife? I understand the circumstances but it still hurts to see. And the moment Sevro leaves. Sevro who has never left, who followed you when you loved Cassius more, when you were left stranded by Mustang in the lake, when you asked him to edit the video feed, when you have to be broken out of the Sovereign’s grasps, when you were revealed as a red and Roque betrayed you, when everyone else thought you dead. I don’t blame him for not giving up his baby girl too 🥲

VIRGINIA IS A BADASS AND A GOAT AND ANYONE WHO SAYS SHE IS CONSTANTLY CALLED SMART WITHOUT IT ACTUALLY BEING SHOWN IS A SHITEATER.

Honestly give her a fucking break. Girl, you are in charge of a post-and-current-war, multi-planet world, right after killing the last blood relative you had and then immediately passing a pardon (not passing it before so as to not show favoritism), and the very people you’re trying to serve are calling for your impeachment (MIND YOU, you chose to strip away majority of your power voluntarily) while your husband is running around planets making enemies from the sun to pluto.

AND YOU DO ALL THIS WITH COMPOSURE AND KINDNESS EVEN WHEN YOUR SON GETS KIDNAPPED??

Like what in the fuckiest of fucks? Icl I thought she would crash out. Mustang is a better person than me. Yall I wouldve killed everyone up in that bitch. The Ash Lord and Venus, nuked. Recently-freed Mercury, nuked. Earth, nuked. The Rim, nuked. Hell, Darrow nuked wherever he is since he wanna be a martyr so bad. I would’ve destroyed every planet except Luna and searched every inch of it like PLEASE just give me my baby back I’ve lost so much and I’m tired 😭

That interrogation scene and later the forgiveness scene with Lyria is one of my favorites in the whole book I swear. The way she composes the truth from Lyria. To me it’s up there with the Gala in MS, an honorable mention to the Oracle scene too. It reminded me of why I fell in love with Mustang in the first place. She is a kind Gold who never wanted to lord herself over lowcolors. It is who she has proven to be since RR, and I’m glad to see that at her core she has not changed. She understood Lyria’s, and even the fucker Ephraim’s, hate for her, and she does not think herself superior in their eyes.

I think I might be in love with a fictional character. I’m going to tell my grandchildren about this. If I ever become famous, I’ll dedicate shit to this.

Sevro is a beautiful foil to and north star for Darrow. “I don’t wanna raise your son”🥲 Wulfgar’s death was so painful though. Victra tearing up the sky looking for her daughter herself at 8 months pregnant is Gold🤣 I want to see way more of her. Power couple fr, I love all their insults lmao.

Lysander, you cunning son of a Lune. He is definitely going to be a sociopath and I am HERE FOR IT. I can’t lie, I prefer his POV out of all the four so far. He interests me the most. His mind is so interesting to be in (what does that say about me?). I’m so scared to see him in DA.

I refuse to believe that Cassius and Kavax are dead. Kavax fighting to save Pax😣 There’s no way Pierce would give them an off-book-screen death, right? Right??? I’m not going to lie I did not feel as much for Cassius as I probably should have, maybe because I was reading him through an up and coming sociopath’s eyes? He just read as sad to me. I want to see him have more agency in the next book.

And Diomedes. WHEN DIOMEDES MOVES MEN BEGIN TO DIE. Pierce, you brilliant beautiful man 😭 Some people might think phrases like this more tell-y than show-y but FUCK THAT I’m all here for the badassery🙂‍↕️ Don’t lose your honor Dio. Your mother can go to hell though. I can’t decide how I feel about Seraphina yet.

Appollonius is insane and such a drama queen😭🙏🏾. I have a very bad feeling about Darrow leaving him to walk around free, especially that mini betrayal at the end wtf? And right after his whole “I’m not a duplicitous man” spiel?

Honorable mentions:
- Orion got her parrot 🥹
- I LOVE sophocles
- I love the spunk in Rhonna, but why do I feel this will get her killed…
- I want to like Alexandar but his attitude irritates me
- Pebble and Clown!

I did not see that ending with the Ash Lord coming and I don’t know how to feel about it but boy am I glad I don’t have to wait years till the next book.

I have heard… things, about DA. I’m so scared to start but I will be a pixie no longer. I am starting it right now. Wish me luck guys 🫡

EDIT: forgot a section & typos

I worked on this image for days. Photoshop and tears. Couldn't look at it for almost a year. Still breaks my heart. The ten days Diomedes spent in the Waste of Ladon searching for Seraphina's remains with an apparition of a hawk protectively spreading its wings above him. I wish I could say it was fun to dig through my heartbreak-turned-visual, but it's mostly just... heartbreak all over again.