“I’m SCARED!” Iron Gold Red Rising Book 4 | Deep Themes, Deep Thoughts, and Recap

Well...we finished Iron Gold. This is the part in the show notes where we typically include a quippy little one liner from one of our most favorite Red Rising characters or moments. And whoever gets the inside joke, gets it. Then we laugh (😂😂), or throw up the rock n’ roll hands (🤘🤘) and get excited to be a Howler (🐺🐺). We hate to break it to you, but we fear those days are over for now…

It’s ten years after the epic ending of Morning Star when Iron Gold begins. Everyone is older and wiser, and the consequences of dismantling a centuries-old genetically engineered hierarchy are hitting hard. For the first time in the Red Rising Universe, we get a multi-POV from the perspectives of a high-ranking member of the new Republic, an orphaned heir to a powerful house, a Red living in a refugee camp, and an outlaw and prior member of the Sons. How has this war changed everyone’s lives? 

We kicked off Sci-Fi Summer with a full-length episode introducing the genre and setting the scene for a closer analysis of science fiction. Next, we covered the original trilogy in detail and have officially rated every book a resounding five stars. This series is indeed “God tier,” but that just means everything hits harder, the blows do more damage, and the tears are many. We have to be honest, at this point Brown has us living in fear. 

Today we’re diving into book four: Iron Gold, the beginning of the second major plot arc. What happens when the old systems are torn down? Is revolution really as black and white as we thought? How are those from all different walks of life affected by the actions of a powerful few? And is the potential gain worth all the tragic loss? We can only examine the implications of real or imagined technology and science on society thoroughly, critically, and responsibly through an intersectional lens. Is Pierce Brown doing this responsibly while also keeping us entertained? 

We bring you our spoiler free reviews, “Five Sentence Summary” and all our faves and least faves, but also discuss sci-fi themes, differences and similarities to fantasy, the romance, genre miscategorization, lore and fun facts, quotes, character growth and relatability, and most importantly… themes. And lastly, we’ll be asking ourselves if it was necessary to bring us back to Darrow’s story, and if this series would have been better if it ended at book three. 

Next week we’ll continue our coverage with Dark Age, so we’re getting our Cryometers™ out now. You should too. 

Red Rising Character Art mentioned: @redmurphy.art on IG

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