Golden Son

Golden Son
	First edition cover
Author	Pierce Brown
Audio read by	Tim Gerard Reynolds
Language	English
Genre	Science fiction
Publisher	Del Rey Books (US)
Publication date	January 6, 2015
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardcover); E-book ; Audiobook ;
Pages	464
ISBN	0-345-53981-8
Preceded by	Red Rising
Followed by	Morning Star

Last updated November 30, 2024

Golden Son is a 2015 science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown; it is the second in his Red Rising trilogy.

Plot summary

Darrow, Roque, Tactus, Victra, and Leto are House Augustus lancers. Lorn secretly trains Darrow in swordsmanship. Cassius and Fitchner are Olympic Knights. Virginia infiltrates Sovereign Octavia's court and seduces Cassius. Adrius enters the communications business, and the Augustus Politico, Pliny, schemes against Darrow and Adrius, favouring Leto.

Two years after winning the Institute, 20-year-old Darrow finishes second in the fleet-commanding Academy, losing to Karnus due to Octavia and the Proctors' interference. House Bellona's victory makes Nero prepare to disown Darrow, who House Bellona wants dead for killing Julian. Victra delivers Darrow to Adrius on Luna, who proposes protection and an alliance, which Darrow accepts.

Sons of Ares member Evey, a slave Darrow freed from Mickey, attempts to kill Adrius. Darrow saves Adrius. Darrow meets Sons member Harmony, who enslaved Mickey. She says Dancer was killed and reveals that Darrow's wife Eo was pregnant when hanged. Crushed, Darrow agrees to bomb the ruling Gold families' Summit. Roque says he will purchase Darrow to protect him, but Darrow drugs Roque to save him from the bomb.

At the Summit, Darrow abandons the bombing plan after seeing Virginia accompanying Cassius. To spark a Gold civil war, Darrow challenges, duels, and defeats Cassius. Octavia tells Darrow to stop, contrary to the dueling law. Virginia stops Darrow from executing Cassius; House Bellona attacks, and a mass swordfight erupts as grudges are settled. Virginia saves Darrow; Karnus kills Leto with Adrius's assistance. Fitchner stuns Nero and Adrius. Darrow meets Octavia, who questions if Nero is Ares. Octavia's plan for killing Nero and his entourage at the Summit is exposed, shocking Virginia.

Sevro, the Howlers, and Quinn freed Darrow at Virginia's arrangement. Virginia and Sevro kidnap Octavia's grandson, Lysander. Aja grievously wounds Quinn; Adrius announces her death, devastating Roque and Sevro. Tactus defects, returning Lysander. Darrow and Sevro storm the enemy flagship Vanguard, capturing it after Darrow enlists the Vanguard’s other Colours to defeat enemy Golds and appoints the Blue Orion as ship captain. Stained Obsidian Ragnar rebels and pledges himself to Darrow. House Augustus escapes Luna. Sevro confronts Darrow, who admits to being a Red. Sevro reveals Ares and (still alive) Dancer sent him to help Darrow. Ares says Harmony betrayed them.

The Society’s forces capture Mars. Darrow visits Europa to forcefully recruit Lorn. Anticipating an ambush, Darrow defeats the forces of Aja and House Bellona. Tactus takes Lorn's grandchildren hostage, surrendering when Darrow forgives him. Lorn executes Tactus and reluctantly allies with Darrow. Darrow lets Aja escape, tracking her rejoining Octavia on Mars; this alienates Roque. Darrow emancipates Ragnar.

Pliny betrays Nero and Adrius to Octavia, who has Fitchner and Cassius capture them when they attack Ganymede. Darrow's forces storm Pliny's ship, freeing Adrius. Darrow humiliates Pliny. The Golds who served Pliny kill him.

Darrow's forces invade Bellona-controlled Mars with an Iron Rain broadcast by the Sons, Adrius, and House Augustus. Victra persuades her mother, Agrippina, to defect, allying with Nero. After Howler Harpy is killed, Darrow stops Sevro from killing a Brown girl, who detonates an EMP, sinking Darrow's armoured Howlers in a river, killing Weed and Rotback. Darrow and Ragnar save the others. Darrow gives Ragnar a razor and a leadership position, shocking Thistle.

Darrow storms Octavia's ship alone, killing Karnus. Aja defeats Darrow. Fitchner rescues Darrow, revealing to Darrow his identity: Ares. Octavia's ship escapes; Adrius liberates Nero. Darrow's forces prevail; many Bellona, including Imperator Tiberius, are killed; Roque wins in space.

Post-battle, Darrow sleeps with Virginia. Darrow, Sevro, and the Sons free Harmony, Evey, and Mickey from Adrius's capture. Fitchner reveals his wife, Bryn, was a Red, killed for birthing a half-Gold, Sevro.

Darrow brings Virginia to Lykos and admits to being Eo's Red husband. Darrow reunites with his mother. Virginia realises Darrow's intended revolution will kill millions. Darrow and Ragnar tell her to kill them if she opposes. Virginia leaves. Nero decides Darrow will marry Virginia.

Roque betrays and sedates Darrow at a victory feast, mocking him for being Red. Adrius and Lilath kill Lorn. Antonia incapacitates Victra and kills Agrippina. Nero is captured; Adrius admits to paying Karnus to kill Nero's favorite child, Claudius. Nero disowns Adrius, who executes Nero despite Aja's protests. Seeing Fitchner's decapitated head, Darrow despairs.

Characters

Darrow, a Red remade into a Gold named "Darrow au Andromedus" to infiltrate and destroy the Society. Nicknamed "The Reaper" at the institute, he is a lancer of House Augustus.
Virginia au Augustus, nicknamed "Mustang", daughter of Nero au Augustus and twin sister of Adrius.
Adrius au Augustus, Virginia's sociopathic twin brother, called "The Jackal".
Nero au Augustus, the ArchGovernor of Mars and father of Virginia and Adrius.
Victra au Julii, lancer of House Augustus, half sister to Antonia au Severus.
Roque au Fabii, lancer of House Augustus.
Tactus au Rath, lancer of House Augustus.
Kavax au Telemanus, father of Daxo and the late Pax.
Daxo au Telemanus, son of Kavax and Pax's brother.
Cassius au Bellona, lancer of House Bellona, brother of Karnus.
Karnus au Bellona, lancer of House Bellona, brother of Cassius.
Octavia au Lune, the Sovereign of the Society.
Lysander au Lune, grandson and heir of the Sovereign and grandson of Lorn au Arcos.
Aja au Grimmus, the Sovereign's Protean Knight.
Lorn au Arcos, the former Rage Knight.
Fitchner au Barca, former Proctor of Mars at the institute, father of Sevro.
Sevro au Barca, leader of the Howlers, son of Fitchner.
Antonia au Severus-Julii, Darrow's ruthless longtime enemy and Victra's half sister.
Pliny au Velocitor, Nero's chief of staff.
Dancer, Red lieutenant in the Sons of Ares.
Harmony, Dancer's Red lieutenant.
Mickey, a Violet carver who remade Darrow as a Gold.
Evey, a Pink former slave of Mickey.

Reception

Golden Son debuted at #6 on The New York Times Best Seller list,^[1] and won the 2015 Goodreads Choice Award for Science Fiction.^[2] Marc Snetiker of Entertainment Weekly gave the novel an A, calling it "gripping" and noting that "Darrow au Andromedus will break your heart."^[3] He added:

With Golden Son, Brown avoids the sophomore slump, charging the novel with the kind of dystopia-toppling action you'd expect in a trilogy ender, not a middle volume. On virtually every level, this is a sequel that hates sequels—a perfect fit for a hero who already defies the tropes ... This isn't a retread of the first book's winning formula; Brown opts to surprise instead of satisfy, which is why certain delicious curveballs will blast readers out of orbit.^[3]

Publishers Weekly called the novel "twisty" and noted that hero Darrow "is forced to manipulate both friend and foe, a burden described vividly and to great effect ... Dramatic battles with a real sense of loss, and a final chapter that slams into both Darrow and the reader, make this the rare middle book that loses almost no momentum as it sets up the final installment."^[4]

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<i>Red Rising</i> 2014 dystopian novel by Pierce Brown

Red Rising is a 2014 dystopian science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown. It is the first book and eponym of the series. The novel, set in the future on Mars, follows lowborn miner Darrow as he infiltrates the ranks of the elite Golds.

Pierce Brown is an American science fiction author who writes the Red Rising series, consisting of Red Rising (2014), Golden Son (2015), Morning Star (2016), Iron Gold (2018), Dark Age (2019), and Light Bringer (2023). He also has written a six-issue prequel comic book series, Red Rising: Sons of Ares, that was published in 2017.

<i>Morning Star</i> (Brown novel) 2016 science fiction novel by Pierce Brown

Morning Star is a 2016 science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown; it is the third in his Red Rising trilogy. Morning Star picks up as the lowborn Darrow escapes capture and resumes his campaign against the tyrannical Sovereign of the Society. Pragmatic as ever, he begins to amass the resources and allies he needs to defeat the forces of the Sovereign.

<i>Iron Gold</i> 2018 novel by Pierce Brown

Iron Gold is a 2018 science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown; it is the first of a tetralogy which continues the story of his Red Rising trilogy (2014–2016). Iron Gold takes place ten years after the events of Morning Star (2016), with Darrow "The Reaper" of Lykos and Virginia "Mustang" au Augustus leading the new Solar Republic. It is followed by Dark Age (2019).

<i>Dark Age</i> (novel) 2019 novel by Pierce Brown

Dark Age is a 2019 science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown; it is the second book of a tetralogy which continues the story of his Red Rising trilogy (2014–2016). Dark Age takes place immediately after the events of Iron Gold (2018), as the remaining Society forces aim to take back Mercury from the Solar Republic. A sequel, Light Bringer, was released on July 25, 2023.

<i>Light Bringer</i> (novel) 2023 science fiction novel by Pierce Brown

Light Bringer is a 2023 science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown; it is the third book of a tetralogy which continues the story of his Red Rising trilogy (2014–2016). Light Bringer takes place after the events of Dark Age (2019), as the survivors from Mercury make their way to Mars and the Solar Republic.

References

↑ "Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction". The New York Times . January 25, 2015. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
↑ "Best Science Fiction 2015". Goodreads. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
1 2 Snetiker, Marc (December 30, 2014). "Golden Son (2015)". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
↑ "Golden Son by Pierce Brown". Publishers Weekly . 2015. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.

External links

Official website
Alexander, Niall (January 5, 2015). "Here Be Lions: Golden Son by Pierce Brown". Tor.com . Retrieved February 2, 2015.
Huntley, Kristine (2015). Review: Golden Son by Pierce Brown . Retrieved February 6, 2015– via Booklist.
"Review: Golden Son by Pierce Brown". Kirkus Reviews . 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
Liang, Adrian (August 2, 2015). "Q&A with Red Rising and Golden Son Author Pierce Brown". Omnivoracious. Retrieved August 11, 2015.

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[1] "Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction". The New York Times . January 25, 2015. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.

[2] "Best Science Fiction 2015". Goodreads. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.

[EW_Golden-3] 1 2 Snetiker, Marc (December 30, 2014). "Golden Son (2015)". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.

[PW_Golden_Son-4] "Golden Son by Pierce Brown". Publishers Weekly . 2015. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.

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