Author: Jennifer Russel
Okay, I’m SUPER biased on this one because it’s written by my incredible mother, and the main premise of the book is her providing parenting advice under the guise of passing down how she raised us to me and my siblings. Reading this book was fascinating because it was like reading a cooking recipe that explained exactly why I am the way I am (for better or worse LOL). It’s a rare thing for parents to sit down with their kids once they become adults and explain their parenting decisions, but that’s what I got with this book. I also happen to think that she’s got some great wisdom to share 1) because her kids turned out awesome 😎 2) because she’s got a PhD in psychology, specifically focused on adolescents and 3) because she’s spent her entire career working with underprivileged youth as a case worker, psychologist, and clinic director. If you’re looking for some great tips on raising kids, look no further!
Author: Pierce Brown
The final installment of the first Red Rising did not disappoint at all. Picking up right where the monumental cliffhanger in Golden Son ended, Morning Star boldly ties together all the threads of the Red uprising, while bringing closure to many of the interpersonal ties that Brown cultivates throughout his books. It explores what it means to build and not simply conquer, it deals with pain and grief, with honor and duty, and with betrayal and loss. I LOVED Morning Star; to me, this was the best of the series thus far. Landing a trilogy can be very difficult, but I thought it was done exceptionally.
Author: Pierce Brown
The second installation of the Red Rising Saga, Golden Son picks up two years after Red Rising ends. In the sequel, the stakes feel larger, the scale grander, the emotions deeper. It’s hard to say more without spoiling some of Red Rising, so bear with me if this review is light on plot details. Golden Son has more sweeping battles and sets than Red Rising, compared to the first book being more about intellect and mind games. However, after some thought, I would rank Golden Son slightly higher than Red Rising, but just barely. I really enjoyed this and read it in about three days. Once again, at times the pacing can seem strangely off, as Brown spends chapters on a few hours but then races ahead at other points. The end is a huge cliffhanger, so I will be looking forward to picking up in #3, Morning Star.
Author: Paul Kalanithi
WOW. This memoir was INCREDIBLE. For context, Kalanithi was a Stanford neurosurgeon who received a terminal cancer diagnosis and decided to pursue his passion for writing in his last days. He beautifully brings the reader into the humanity and pathos of medicine, into the mind of the brilliant doctors who don’t have jobs, but rather a calling to serve. I mostly read this over two separate flights and during both of them, I was fully ugly crying in my seat. The writing is beautiful, how Kalanithi viewed life and death was beautiful, and his and doctors’ worldwide devotion to helping people is profoundly beautiful. It wasn’t a long book because his time was unfortunately cut short before he could fully finish (the book was published posthumously) but it’s incredibly moving and I can’t recommend this one enough. Read this book.
Author: Pierce Brown
Clang, clang, clang. That’s the sound of Pierce Brown bringing Red Rising back to its original trilogy heights. I’ll admit, I didn’t realize the sequel trilogy was in fact a tetralogy, and so was expecting a conclusion at the end of Light Bringer, but instead, the pieces are in place for a climactic final chapter. I loved the emotional arch that the characters we have grown to love over the six-book series bend towards; true growth amongst heartbreak and loss. The battles are very grounded individualistic, rather than grand and sprawling like in other installments. The backstabs and twists are unexpected. The tone is a welcome breath of air from the grim darkness that was Dark Age. Finally, there is one character in particular who I absolutely despise and cannot wait for their time to come. Can’t give anything else away for fear of spoilers, but oh man, was his villain arc well written… This is Red Rising at its finest. I now wait with bated breath for Red God and hope that the internet is correct in that it will be released by the end of the year. We will be there.
Author: Pierce Brown