Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish, if you want to know more about it, you can just click on the name! This week was almost like a freebie, seen as you could talk about basically anything you like. Here’s the official theme:
Ten Reasons I Love X — could be a certain book, character, author, your indie bookstore, a fandom, a tv show, reading, a hobby, a genre. Honestly anything you want to gush about.
So, everyone knows that I adore the Red Rising books! Seriously, if you don’t – WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING THESE PAST MONTHS!? In the unlikely case you truly haven’t heard about it, this is the post that will definitely prove my admiration for it.
1. Pierce Brown
Let’s face it – without this incredible man we just wouldn’t have the books. He is funny and smart and quite frankly also really good looking. He is one of those rare authors who can get your attention on social media and make you want to read his books because of his charisma without you knowing what the books are really about. It’s the added bonus that Red Rising is this amazing series.
2. A Flawed but Perfect Hero
I know that statement is very contradictory, but Darrow’s character depth is just beyond anything I’ve experienced. He makes mistakes, he is flawed, but at the same time he is the kind of leader you would follow to the end of the universe and give your life for. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes at all, yet he manages to inspire people in the best ways.
3. Amazing Side Characters
It’s definitely not just Darrow who is great! I could just make a list of names of all the characters I will cherish or despise forever, but I won’t because it would be majorly long. Just know that they are as developed as the main character. That they have motivation and cause for their actions, even if they sometimes feel like knifes in the back.
4. Twists and Turns
I’ve already sort of lead up to this point. Don’t try to anticipate what’s going to happen in these books, because in 9/10 cases you won’t be able to guess it for sure. It makes the story so great, because Pierce takes you in one direction and then simply reeks chaos. It’s what makes this such an exhilarating read.
5. Great World-Building
I remember there being a lot of information on the world in the first book, sometimes a bit too much, but it will sink in eventually and it’s such an intricate world. It has its own slang and language, without overdoing it or making it annoying. Also, I love the names!
6. All the References
Are you into Greek, Roman or Northern mythology? Do you like historic references? This is most definitely the book for you! But even if you don’t have any idea about that kind of stuff, it will make sense within the context of the books.
7. Social Criticism
And it is done in the most entertaining and enlightening way possible!
8. Blurs the Lines
Who is good, who is evil? Is this a YA or an adult book? Do I trust this person or not? (Oh, there are SO many trust issues!) You can’t really choose a side or at least a lot of the time people don’t turn out to be who you thought they would be.
9. A Bit of Everything
There may not be everything in equal parts, but it sure is all in there. It will make you feel all the feels, because it’s a tale about revenge, justice, honor, family, love and everything in between.
10. It’s Not Over Yet
You know those stories where the hero accomplishes his task and you just wonder how the world is going to go on now? Worry not, Pierce Brown is currently working on a follow up series (Iron Gold) that will explore exactly that issue. Aside from that, they are also working on a movie adaptation of Red Rising and they are taking their time and working with Pierce to do that exactly right. I will consider this as a good sign.
What’s a book that made you feel all these things? Which topic did you choose for your TTT?
This just really makes me want to pick up Red Rising, which is lying on my shelf! 😉
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Wohooo! DO IT! (but stick to it a little. I actually needed a couple chapters to get into it!)
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ooooh. i believe they are great because of your words. 🙂
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Awe, thanks!
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you’re welcome! 😀
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OMG. Is that Pierce Brown? I never looked him up before and haven’t read Red Rising but DAMN. You’re right in saying that he’s good-looking!
I think I’m going to pick this trilogy up eventually – I’ve heard so many good things about it. Better read everything before the movies come out. 🙂
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That is Pierce indeed. He is a gorgeous human being and I am not surprised buzzfeed declared him the hottest YA author hahaha
I actually didn’t think I would like those books at all and they weren’t my typical read, but somehow I ended up really liking it. Just maybe give it a couple of chapters 😉
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I did not know Buzzfeed did that but they’d be SO RIGHT. Haven’t seen any author as handsome as him. 😛
I’ll try it out! I tried picking it up some months back but never got past the first few pages, haha.
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I totally get it. I actually didn’t get into it until a couple chapters later. I was so hesitant and dubious in the beginning hahaha
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I’m on the same OMG state as Reg, ahah WOW I had no idea he looked like that, he’s quite good looking you’re right 😛 I keep hearing you, and so many people raving about how great that series is, I really need to read it sometime ! 🙂
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He is so gorgeous, I stalk his instagram on a regular basis … I am just smitten with him hahaha
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HE HAS INSTAGRAM? There goes all my free time….
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You can just click on the photo of him in the post and it will direct you to his insta 😉
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Ohhh thank you 😛
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I’ve never read this series, but this list has definitely convinced me to add it to my TBR ASAP!
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Wohoooo! 😀
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Pierce Brown always has me swooning haha but I yet have to read this trilogy. I NEED to get to it soon!
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There’s no rush, but whenever you get to it, I am here to gush with you 😀 (just give it a couple chapters maybe. I needed those to get into it)
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Okay, I’ll definitely keep that in mind for when I start reading it ! 😊
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I am going to be reading Golden Son soon. So excited to continue this series!!
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YAS! It’s going to be a wild ride!!!!
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YES!!! EVERYTHING YOU’VE SAID .<
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I really, REALLY need to read this series. Have the first book but just haven’t given it the time. 😦
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Yes, please read it 😀 (and give it a couple of chapters)
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In my guest post on world-building, I used the Red Rising books as a great example of world-building. It’s so well thought-out, I thought people could use it as a teacher of sorts in how to build fantastic worlds.
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It IS a great example!
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And speaking of Red Rising, I figured out the one flaw that series has.
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Oh, it’s definitely not flawless hahaha
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Yeah, but there’s only one major flaw I can think of. Care to guess what that is?
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I hate the guessing game, so no hahaha
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It’s Mustang! She’s too perfect, she has no flaws whatsoever! And that makes it hard to make a strong connection with her like with Darrow.
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She was not perfect! She did not react perfect when she found out about Darrow and she kept secrets and she was emotionally distant at times.
I’d rather say there was too much strategising and war talk sometimes hahaha
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Still, I would’ve liked for her to struggle a bit more at times. She seemed too much in control at times, and her reaction when she found out the truth about Darrow was actually pretty reasonable to me. It’s how I might react if I were in her position.
You know, I may have to do a blog post on this sometime.
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It’s a bit difficult to do a blogpost on something like that without spoiling the story though … just saying.
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I’m good at what I do. 😉
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I wasn’t a massive fan of Red Rising, but I’m still interested in checking out the sequels. Great list.
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Well, I guess it isn’t for everyone and that’s totally okay too. I loved the series and each book is really different from the one before.
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I haven’t read these, but I’ve heard such great things about them. Your post has me wanting to read them even more!
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YAY! 😀 so happy to hear it!
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These are some brilliant reasons. I really need to read this trilogy soon! Definitely high up on my TBR 🙂
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That makes me really happy to hear!
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Hi! i’ve nominated you for the sunshine blogger award tag! feel free to do it if you want, but you don’t have to. Keep on keeping on 🙂
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Awe thank you! I am terribly behind on tags and awards, but thank you nonetheless.
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Great list! I have Red Rising on my shelf but I haven’t started it yet. I really want to do that soon though, especially now I’m reading this post 🙂
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YAY! Read it! (and maybe give it a couple chapters to get started hahaha it took me a little to really get into it)
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Can you believe I still haven’t read this yet?!! Remember that time when I mentioned I’d be reading this soon? Still hasn’t happened yet and I’m super frustrated.. XD This post just makes me question why haven’t I picked this up?? I really should get onto that lol. Great list Kat! ❤
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Hahaha take your time, you will read it when the time is right 😉
(also, remember to give it some time to really suck you in)
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Noted! I hope the right time is soon. 😆
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Or just star Pierce Brown as himself (or Darrow?) and it’ll be a blockbuster, I’m sure.
Cheers,
Joey via. thoughts and afterthoughts.
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Hahaha I bet there are tons of people who would not oppose that idea!
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I could not agree more with everything you’ve said. You simply cannot go wrong with this series, despite the heart failure that comes with some of those plot twit and cliffhangers haha. I don’t know if I was just seeing things but I’m sure I saw a little Hobbit reference in Golden Sun. I might have to double check on that one though haha. I love the use of Greek and Roman mythology because I feel like it further heightens the brutality of the world. Now I just need to pick up Morning Star, it looks so sad on my tbr shelf. 😛
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Thank you ❤ and you HAVE TO read Morning Star!!! I was in a book hangover while reading it because I didn't want it to end, but I had to know at the same time.
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that’s a good list of reasons 😀
And you’re so right about the author factor. Let’s take Rothfuss – I’ve seen some reviews and youtube movies with him (including the TableTop game), read his intro to someone’s book and I simply adore him even though I haven’t yet read his stories (I do intend to)
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Thank you! I never realised it back in the day, but an author can absolutely make or break a book too. Not just because they are the ones writing them, but if they are really mean people or something, there is much less of a chance that I will want to read their book. Also works vice versa if they are charming and open.
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