This is one of those series that I believe will become classic literature. I’m about 2/3 through book 6 and will probably reread series - or listen to the graphic audio - before book 7. So well written with so many things to think about during so much war and politics while characters and their relationships develop - and come back - as well as the world around them. Book 4 read relatively slow, but I knew why while reading it. You’ll understand when you get to it. It’s needed for the growth of the series. It’ll be interesting to see how far this goes for Mars, the Core, the Rim, and see if it goes further. There’s a foundation set for more, and Darrow’s story is incredible.

I'm curious but very hesitant to read any of her books again as I've read Dowry of Blood and Hated it with every fiber of my being (except the atmosphere). The only thing that pushed me through it was hoping Van Helsing would appear and kill all the vampires.

I feel like I find every book channel when they make a Red Rising video.

I just listened to this audiobook recently and it was incredible! I can't believe it took me so long to hear about it!

Omg. Yes. I felt the same way. The characterization was on point and I loved how the prose are sparingly purple. I was just caught up in them.

The book is great. Just a correction Darrow is speaking with an Irish accent.

Mark Lawrence is probably my favorite fantasy genre author. He is amazing in character building with a lot of depth. In a dystopian world, you should expect a dark and complex character such Jorg to emerge. The world is not black and white by any stretch of imagination we should definitely should not expect a archetypes hero in a dark fantasy genre, other it makes a boring book.

The audiobook version of the book is superb. The voice actor is phenomenal switching between characters.

Great review, this book was my intro to the genre and series. The characters were fantastic. I loved the dynamic between Darrow and Cascious. The author is great at varying pace and shattering expectations. He didn't draw out every subplot, some were played out in surprising ways. One of my favorite scenes when the proctor gave Darrow his ring knife-a personal effect from the outside, and then later when he used it.

Red Rising is GOAT

Me too! I’m late to the party. I just started Red Rising last month and just finished Morning Star today. I’m obsessed now.

Have you read Red Rising? LMK your favorite part(s) bc I am now obsessed!

Question to all the ladies commenting - if you could rewrite the ending of the book what would you change it? How would it end for you?

Spoilers!! * * * * * * * * In the end she chose her daughter. As a mom myself, I can totally understand her decision. Her relationship with Hayes was destroying her daughter and Solene chose to protect her daughter by ending it with Hayes. I'm crying days after reading this book, it touched my heart. As you mentioned some of the themes in your review - patriarchy. Isabelle's dad moved on and married a younger woman, had a new baby - no consideration on how this will impact his daughter. Yet he expects Solene to sacrifice her happiness and love for the sake of their daughter. That's what society also expected of her. It's so unfair. Great book, I just wish it didn't end so abruptly.

just ordered it! I don’t know why I love email office related stuff but I do! adore the cover :) ✉️

I read this book this past week and it's been just as good as I expected since I heard about it! I loved this characters so much! And I agree with you, the book is way more about their relationships with each other than the fantasy plot. If you have any other recommendations of fantasy books with polyamorous relationships/throuple I would love to know! Or other genres would be fine too. This book looks stunning!! Unfortunately they aren't shipping it to my country yet :(

💡

Which one was best-Butcher & Blackbird or Leather and Lark??

I just picked this up from the library the other day. Can't wait to get into it.

Many thanks for the thoughtful review - and always great to hear some love for the Impossible Times books.

Loved your review almost as much as I loved the book. I have not been a Leigh Bardugo fan; I tried Ninth House, but only read the first few chapters; I only watched the first episode of "Shadow & Bone." When I learned that this book would be set in Madrid, just after 1588, I had to read it! I have been an hispanophile most of my life. In your review you expressed many of the feelings the book evoked in me. Thank you!

This book is so good! Jolene is so relatable

⛈️ I watched this in prep for jumping back into the world with book two, Rule of the Aurora King, many months after reading Trial of the Sun Queen and it was the perfect reminder video to prep me for the world again! Thank you for including spoilers and warnings for them! Happy to have found your channel :)

What happens to Madoc??

So pretty!

I loved nevernight but I didn't like how he ended the book. There were no loses and it was happy ending for most characters. I hope he doesn't do the same with this series.

I picked this up today from the library and I'm already a quarter of the way in. I'm eating it up like candy. Knowing what the fourth book is called, I found the detail of the rose soap scent at the very beginning to be an interesting piece of foreshadowing. I really like Gabriel so far, definitely gave me Lucien vibes right away LOL.

Love your nails! Will add this book to my ever growing TBR list… 😅

I’m obsessed with this book too rn and am so happy to find videos of people discussing it as passionately as I loved it. I don’t think I’ll ever recover?? I’m usually the type of person who finishes a book and then goes “ok great, next”, but I have been thinking about it nonstop since I finished it last week. So much so that I too reread it and listened to the audiobook. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before. The feelings this book made me feel, the highs and lows, the passion, the lessons on womanhood and valuing yourself, are just so special. LOL I’m just rambling now but I just needed to share my thoughts with someone since idk anyone personally who has read it. If you have any recommendations for books that are on the same level as this please let me know because right now I can’t imagine finding anything soon that will top it

This book broke my heart. I cried for days after reading it.

Up t0 250 pages i hate it Imitates george rr martin Maybe the last parts are the quality garantee

Up to 250 pages i hate it!!!

This is now one of my fave books ever. It is so so beautiful! ❤

I've always wanted to have a kindle and listen to audio books I can never bring myself to it there's nothing that beats a book in your hands my friend raves about kindles he prefers that to a book

ngl it was fun to watch you go in on a book like that. You're usually diplomatic about it when you dislike a book, so that was definitely a fun change of pace 😂📚

Stupid me bought the book that broke the world first, thinking it was an only book only to find out later the book that wouldn't burn came first I had to make a quick dash to waterstones to buy it and glad I did I really enjoyed it and found it hard to put it down

Low key, I was so proud of Valentina at the end. Girlfriend said "You suck, Marius, and I'm not like this anymore, do whatever you want, peace!" Good for you, Valentina. We love a good redemption.

I finished yesterday and I can’t believe Valentina became my favourite character in the end! Especially how she chooses to live her life in the end.

OMG!!!! Well said… they all wanted something… it was a very dark and realistic look at the wanting of a person.. whether it is emotional or materialistic. the ending was making me very sad..😔 until the Very End (Epilogue) 🦂.. I really enjoyed this video

Thank you for your review, I just started it and I agree with the struggle to focus on the story. I find it hard to immerse myself due to the amount of characters and details, and I tend to get lost (especially with English not being my first language but that's another story). It takes more investments but I will get there!

I need a whole book about the Holy Child, she was such a cool character.

OMG! Before Sunset is my all time favorite movie. I also loved Before Midnight (Before Sunrise seemed a bit saccharine for my taste). I highly recommend Swedish tv series Love and Anarchy (Netflix). Also an older woman-younger man thing. The most incredible chemistry I’ve ever seen on screen. Gorgeous actors of the exact ages they play on screen. Nothing is photoshopped and polished the way Hollywood would do it - skin, emotions, story - everything is more real here, since it’s European aesthetic. It’s much better and deeper than the trailer might suggest by the way. The story of a woman coming undone (but with a happy ending). The chemistry and flirtation in the series largely takes places without words - via gazes, glances, secret smiles (it all happens at a work place). So, when I was watching the Idea of you, I almost started to suspect that they got inspired by Love and Anarchy in how they relied a lot on non-verbal ways to convey chemistry (but to a noticeably lesser effect). And I loved how in the series, much like in the first two Before movies, NOT ONE « I love you » is spoken. It’s instead shown via interactions and facial expressions. The Hollywood love for « I love yous » in love stories cheapens things, makes them too in your face in my humble opinion.

Hello, did you find the seven minutes with Hayes?

I enjoyed your review on the familiar this month.

I definitely don't want to make it a habit, but anyone else hate-read??

Same!

Seen the movie twice now and very much loved it. So I’m excited to read the source material. When you mentioned the ‘Before Trilogy’. I went on Amazon and just purchased it immediately. Appreciate your review and looking to forward to the podcast where you discuss about the film. Cheers Sandra :)

i finished it yesterday and i really loved it. just searched up the familiar on youtube and your video came up. Loved your discussion. 🦂