Golden Son is a 2015 science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown; it is the second in his Red Rising trilogy.
The sequel to 2014's Red Rising, Golden Son continues to follow lowborn Darrow's plan to destroy the Society from within.
It debuted at #6 on The New York Times Best Seller list and won the 2015 Goodreads Choice Award for Science Fiction.
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.
Sons of Ares member Evey, a slave Darrow freed from Mickey, attempts to kill Adrius.
Virginia stops Darrow from executing Cassius; House Bellona attacks, and a mass swordfight erupts as grudges are settled.
Aja grievously wounds Quinn; Adrius announces her death, devastating Roque and Sevro.
Darrow lets Aja escape, tracking her rejoining Octavia on Mars; this alienates Roque.
Pliny betrays Nero and Adrius to Octavia, who has Fitchner and Cassius capture them when they attack Ganymede.
Darrow's forces invade Bellona-controlled Mars with an Iron Rain broadcast by the Sons, Adrius, and House Augustus.
Darrow's forces prevail; many Bellona, including Imperator Tiberius, are killed; Roque wins in space.
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.
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 ...