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MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5
Format: Graphic Audio
BOOK DESCRIPTION
V1: From the world of the best-selling YA series Red Rising comes a story of love and loss and rage! In the future, when mankind has spread across the stars, the hierarchy of man is dictated by the color of one’s caste. The Golds rule all, but what will happen when one falls for a lowly Red? See how a forbidden love will set the course of events for the future and lead to the formation of the formidable Sons of Ares!
V2: Fitchner’s quest for revenge continues as he and the other Sons of Ares seek out the Golds who have wronged his family. But actions come with repercussions and an elaborate game of cat and mouse is on. A battle of Gold versus Gold erupts further into more than acts of vengeance and becomes the seeds of a revolution.
V3: In Forbidden Song, Ares may not always be in control. But he has a plan — and it’s a doozy. FORBIDDEN SONG is one part Ocean’s 11, one part Les Miserable, and it sets the fuse for the Rising that Darrow will inherit.
MY REVIEW
When I first tore through the Red Rising series, I skipped Sons of Ares due to the lackluster art in the graphic novels, though I’ve heard volume 3’s art is improved dramatically. But while listening to the stellar GraphicAudio during my “re-read” of the series, I discovered that audible had the Sons of Ares bundle on sale for $3.25. Once I finished Morning Star, I decided it was time to see what this graphic novel’s story was all about… and it bloodydamn didn’t disappoint.
Sons of Ares focuses on Fitchner au Barca and his rise from a rejected Gold to Ares. I loved Fitchner in the original trilogy, so it was nice to see the events that sparked the rebellion against the oppressive hierarchy of the Gold Society. The best part is getting to see some familiar faces from the main series as they start their journey to what they’ll become, and their budding relationships like the one Fitchner has with Quicksilver. Not to mention new faces like the mother of the goblin known as Sevro, Bryn of Cryssos, and finding out why she’s not around.
Each volume unveils a piece of the rebellion’s intricate roots, from forbidden love to betrayals that turn friends into foes. Flashbacks to Fitchner’s childhood, marked by rejection and resilience, illuminate his drive, weaving themes of love, sacrifice, and defiance against a brutal system. The story masterfully reveals the covert alliances, conspiracies, and sacrifices that lay the groundwork for Red Rising‘s uprising, making every political maneuver and quiet betrayal feel like a pulse in the saga’s heart.
The Graphic Audio performance, as always, is so immersive with the vivid sound effects that amplify the story’s intensity, bringing Brown’s signature action and emotion to life with razor sword fights & ship battles even more thrilling. That said, Richard Rohan’s narration as Fitchner felt off at times, while his delivery is reminiscent of Liam Neeson, he sometimes made it too obvious that he’s reading lines without the back-and-forth flow of real dialogue of other characters. Despite this, I do think Sons of Ares and this graphic audio is a fantastic addition and will have all Red Rising fans excited.
Wolfmantula.com 