Iron Gold is a shift in the Red Rising series. There is a significant time jump, new POVs, and different government. Considering how much I struggled with the first three books, I found Iron Gold to be a far less irritating experience.
Book Information
Publisher: Del Rey
First Published: Jan 16 2018
Format: ebook
Source: Library
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Red Rising Saga #4
That’s not to say I still don’t find Darrow annoying as heck. His was my least favourite POV throughout the book. In my Morning Star review, I accused him of being impulsive, but he’s headstrong and stubborn in Iron Gold. There’s only one right way to do things, and it’s Darrow’s way, damn the consequences. While he’s less angsty overall, Darrow still portrays himself as a martyr, having sacrificed his relationship with his wife and son to achieve things for the greater good.
Iron Gold doesn’t rush from one plot point to the next; instead, it takes a more deliberate approach. I was grateful to have more context for the actions that were taken, and it made the outcomes more meaningful for me. The pacing was off, though. While there were big dramatic events, most of the story plodded along, and I only felt the tension occasionally.
I enjoyed the new points of view. Lyria gave a great perspective on how the outcome of the rising had affected lower colours and highlighted the issues freed reds faced. Ephraim needs therapy, and his capers are absolutely unbelievable. Lysander au Lune makes a reappearance as well. His storyline highlights his character development, and he has to learn a lot of hard lessons.
Overall, I enjoyed Iron Gold more than the first three. I still didn’t love it, but I was able to connect with the characters in a more significant way. I have my fingers crossed that Dark Age and Light Bringer have better pacing and that I get to feel the tension more. I really hope that all the edge-of-my-seat feelings aren’t packed into Light Bringer in a rushed and haphazard fashion like Morning Star.
