Golden Son (2 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation]

Red Rising Saga Dramatic Adaptations #2, Part 2

by Pierce Brown, Stewart Crank (Reader)

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Red Rising hit the ground running and wasted no time becoming a sensation. Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom.

Adapted from the novel and produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music!

As a Red, Darrow grew up working the mines deep beneath the surface of Mars, enduring backbreaking labor while dreaming of the better future he was building for his descendants. But the Society he faithfully served was built on lies. Darrow’s kind have been betrayed and denied by their elitist masters, the Golds—and their only path to liberation is revolution. And so Darrow sacrifices himself in the name of the greater good for which Eo, his true love and inspiration, laid down her own life. He becomes a Gold, infiltrating their privileged realm so that he can destroy it from within.

A lamb among wolves in a cruel world, Darrow finds friendship, respect, and even love—but also the wrath of powerful rivals. To wage and win the war that will change humankind’s destiny, Darrow must confront the treachery arrayed against him, overcome his all-too-human desire for retribution—and strive not for violent revolt but a hopeful rebirth. Though the road ahead is fraught with danger and deceit, Darrow must choose to follow Eo’s principles of love and justice to free his people.

He must live for more.

Genres: Audiobook, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopia, Science Fiction Fantasy

9 pages, Audiobook

Published October 2, 2023

About the author

Hello. I'm Pierce Brown, the author of the Red Rising Saga, a NYT #1 bestseller.
I figured I'd write you myself than have corporate copy pasted below my totally natural author photo.

In my books you'll find stories of men and women finding their inner strength when all seems lost. You'll also find me exploring themes of love, violence, hope, and power--what it means, why people seek it, and how they hold onto it.




IG @piercebrownofficial
Twitter @pierce_brown

Reviews

[CHIP · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I'll ever listen to a casting as good as this. Whoever was responsible for picking Darrow, Sevro, and Jackal's voices deserve an insane raise.

[Amin Matin · Rating 4 out of 5]

از میان خارها تا دورترین ستاره‌ها، همیشه به‌یادماندنی‌ترین تجربه‌ام باقی می‌مانی

[witchy_book_babe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible. The Voice Actor's brought me to my knees with this one...

I love this world so much, even though it brings with it so. much. pain.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

WTF WAS THAT ENDING?!?!?!? Im gagged and cannot even fathom what I just read! I’m fully convinced that Pierce Brown is the King of writing unexpected betrayals. Truly my jaw is on the floor!

The first book in this series was good and hooks you but damn this second book EATS!!!!!!

[Lorien Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really complicated story! But so good!! Straight on to book 3 to find out what happens next!

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

august 2025: third time through (this year 😅😅😅) and still UTTERLY DESTROYED (and utterly riveted) BY THIS ENDING

”And thus go liars…with a bloodydamn kiss.” 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

THIS CLIFFHANGER WILL NEVER RELEASE ITS CHOKEHOLD ON ME!!!! IT IS THE GOAT!! EVERY OTHER BOOK, JUST TRY TO COME FOR IT!! YOU WILL NEVER ACHIEVE ITS CLIFFHANGER STATUS!!! YOU WILL DESTROY READERS THE SAME WAY ONLY IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS!!

sorry still riding the adrenaline high 😅

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Red Rising was brutal, Golden Son was a full-speed, blood-soaked emotional disaster 😭 Pierce Brown really said “oh, you liked pain?” and doubled down. Everything I loved from the first book — the scheming, the betrayals, the desperation — just… bigger. Louder. Meaner.

The politics? Messy.
The action? Relentless.
The heartbreak? Unforgivable.

And Darrow? My guy is out here trying to change the universe while barely holding himself together, and I felt every single second of it.

And okay… I thought I loved this book the first time I read it, but listening to the graphic audio version? Holy sh*t. It’s like a full-on movie in your ears. The voices, the sound effects, the chaos — everything hits harder. 10/10 worth the emotional damage.

Still recovering. Still obsessed. Still not over that ending. 😭🔥

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of adaptation, may contain spoilers.

When I first read Golden Son, I thought it was great. I thought it was worth the slog of Red Rising. Golden Son I often see as the fan favorite of the original trilogy, whereas mine was always Morning Star. This version really raises the bar for Morning Star.

I’m still not used to, and am unlikely to ever be used to, Adrius/Jackal sounding much older than he is. But the main cast is perfection. Aja, Mustang, Viktra, Ragnar, Sevro, Darrow I could go on. These all have brought these characters to life in a way I didn’t realize I needed.

I don’t know where or how to nominate any of these wonderful voice actors for an award but I would really love to. ESPECIALLY Mustang’s. Her confrontation with Darrow at the end didn’t make me cry when I listened to the original audiobook. But I absolutely did this round. Her pain is palpable. You can hear the pleading. Viktra’s heart wrenching lines at the end really drive home.

Graphic Audio did such a wonderful job, I’ve considered that maybe Golden Son should be my favorite too.

So so excited to move on to Morning Star.

[Carolyn Compas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloodydamn, hype MUCH deserved!!! 👏 My first completed read of 2026 - I didn’t think it’d get better than the first Red Rising book, but I was hooked from start to finish! So many complex emotions, character development, action, and world building. And that ending 🤯 made me audibly gasp ….will be thinking about for a while! 🔥 🔥 🔥

Also I’m still processing but I can’t type too much since I’m already onto the 3rd book 💨 btw, I continue to *stan* dramatized audio, the voices/effects are the besttttt form of escape! 🤩

[Nima Kohandani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a bloodydamn ending! I can’t believe this is the second time I’m reading (well—listening to) this book! Gorydamn, OMG!

For the second time, I enjoyed every single second of it. Huge thanks to GraphicAudio for bringing the story to life so vividly. Their work makes the experience incredibly immersive.

The plan? To dive straight into Book 3—immediately!

I love you, Pierce Brown! 😭 This is a masterpiece and remains one of my all-time favorite series!

[Lara Bone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve come to the conclusion that I like Pierce but Pierce doesn’t like me :|

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am (internally) sobbing at how this ended! Omggggg what a ride! 😭😭😭

[jenelle ｡･:*˚:✧｡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pierce Brown you better number your freaking days 😭😭😭😭😭

[MagentaSparkles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not ok

[Madelyn Baehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I am the Reaper. And death is my shadow.”

[whatashisreading | missing the wing leader · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If Red rises, they have a chance to bind the worlds together.”
😭😭😭😭😭
CAN I GIVE THIS MORE THAN 5 STARS?! this was so so so good oh my god. All day I’ve thought about going home and starting the next book. HOLY HELL. If anyone needs a push to read this series I’m telling you DO IT.

Songs:
Everybody’s watching- the neighborhood

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m left flabbergasted and clutching my pearls.

[Alexandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books would be top tier if there was a little bit more romance. Couldn’t stop listening to the graphic audio- 20 hrs flew by.

[savage_book_review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are definitely hitting their stride with this instalment, to the point where so much has happened I'm struggling to remember it all! Nevertheless, the pacing, plot and character arcs had me almost completely absorbed throughout, with the rollercoaster of emotions leaving me desperate to see what's next!

The complexity and layering of the story is something that really starts to stand out in this instalment. This pulls the reader into Darrow's heart and headspace; wanting desperately to believe in the core goodness of people while still being shaped by his experiences as a red at the hands of Golds, never being 100% sure who to trust, who is loyal to who and what revalations may tip your perceptions on its axis. And while you get the little moments of foreshadowing that come with Darrow's noticing something in the periferary and dismissing it, ultimately the structure maintains its integrity and you get to experience the myriad of twists and turns feeling as he feels, which adds so much to the tension and stakes of the piece. Conversely though, it does mean that you are expected to 'know' all that Darrow does, so if, like me, your focus did slip for a moment in a previous book, or you haven't managed to absorb every facet of the structure of The Society that has been presented to date, there is a lot of leeway for confusion and feeling somewhat lost.

Each and every one of Darrow's relationships in this book hits like a hammer. It's a glorious medley of heart-warming moments that bond two people together in ways that feel unbreakable, interspersed with the agony of relationships crashing and burning, the sting of betrayal and irreconcilable loss. As a man, Darrow seems to become more emotionally mature and aware here, and yet he still seems to retain some elements of naivete that his cohort are all in this for the greater good. I will say though that the repeated depictions of his emotional vulnerability - this 7ft tall Adonis being given the page time to break, cry and feel - are masterfully done, and are a great illustration that emotion does not necessarily make you weak.

I will say that I did find certain 'set pieces' of the book felt a bit rushed, and other moments were perhaps drawn out a little too long, but ultimately these cancel eachother out, so it didn't impact my experience too much. I'm not generally one for enjoying the 'nitty gritty' of a battle scene, but while I can easily picture these moments taking place on a big screen, occasionally it felt like there were too many players in focus, and again I found it quite easy to get lost regarding exactly who was who and why they were important.

As a result, I keep coming back to the dilemma of whether I should continue to listen to the Graphic Audio versions of this series, or switch to eyeball reading. The audio version is, as always, an absolute delight to listen to; the actors are amazing and I'm certain that I would not feel the same amounts of every emotion I've felt if I were reading the physical book - the performances allow me to connect to the characters on a more visceral level and I wouldn't want to lose that. But equally I think the story would probably be easier to follow and digest in the form of the written word.

Ultimately though, the book is tantalising in its unpredictability, and the ending is one hell of an emotional clusterf*ck. I'm taking a couple of days to try and psyche myself up for the turmoil I'm sure is due to follow before I start tge next instalment, but I am completely sold on the premise and will absolutely be seeing this series through to a conclusion.

[Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no amount of soothing that can help my broken heart. That ending gutted me and left me for dead, just like some of the best characters in this story. Some of my favorites gone, their fates sealed and my soul QUAKES with sadness.

I get it, it's a fantasy book, none of this is real but the emotional damage and connection I have to these characters is so real. I'm in shambles.

Here's a play by play, this was both the best and the worst story of my life. Everything in this part of the book stressed me out. My anxiety through the roof, every single character just so much at stake and so much to worry about.

It's so overwhelming to think of how far Darrow and all the characters have come since the first book. Literally SO MUCH to swallow. Fantasy books do not play, but add in the dystopia factors of this world?? Cut me into pieces it would hurt less than the pain of the impeccable worldbuilding in this book.

I am in pure distress even after finishing this book a few hours ago. So empty inside. Character flaws go so fucking hard in this book, like are these real people?? They're so complex and dynamic and some are so sinister, vile, and wicked. There are kind, foolish, and loving people as well but wow. I have never felt so betrayed in a book in so long.

That ending was not what I deserved. I feel like so much could have gone wrong and it was far worse than I could've ever imagined.

A standing ovation to Pierce Brown for making me feel this sickened. I could sometimes tell where this story was going and I hated to see it go where I knew it would. So much sadness, pain, and loss.

When things are going well in a fantasy book, but there's still 3 chapters left until the ending? Yeah be scared. I know I was, rightfully so.

Anyways in line with the full cast performance of this audiobook: once again such a brilliant experience hearing this as a graphic audiobook. I love hearing the returning voice actors from the first book come back. Some of the notable monologues i loved included Tactus' speech to Darrow. Darrow's many monologues throughout the unrest and the little snide comments of Sevro.

Also, may I just add. Loyalty is so hard to find and the way this book would build this false hope in my heart just to tear it to shreds. I'm in actual pain thinking of this. I need a palette cleanser book, but at the rate I'm going? I'm just gonna have to pick up the next book.

Ad astra per aspera, from hardships to the stars. I wish you safe passage through the veil, every hope I had for Darrow's fight. So much stress.

Read this book and let's mourn what could've been together.

TW: main character death

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golden Son, the second installment in Pierce Brown's Red Rising trilogy, delivers a clear and compelling narrative that builds upon the foundation of the first book with sharp focus and high emotional stakes. The Audible edition, narrated brilliantly by Tim Gerard Reynolds, brings the vivid world and intense character dynamics to life with clarity and energy.

What stands out most is how well-structured and concise the story is. Despite its complex political intrigue and fast-paced action, the plot never feels bloated or confusing. Brown maintains tight storytelling throughout, guiding listeners through shocking betrayals, strategic alliances, and moments of introspection that deepen our understanding of Darrow and his struggle.

While Golden Son functions as a powerful climax in its own right, it also serves as a satisfying bridge to the larger saga. It ties up key arcs from the trilogy while leaving just enough unresolved to spark excitement for what's to come. By the end, I found myself eager to dive into the future books, curious to see how the loose threads will unravel.

Overall, Golden Son is a masterful continuation of the series—clear, concise, and emotionally gripping. It’s a must-listen for fans of epic sci-fi with heart and ambition.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

AUDIBLE by Graphic Audio 🎧 6/5 ⭐️
Superseded my expectations, absolutely incredible. The pacing is ferocious, the emotional impact is punchy and gave me pause—I found myself thinking about this book throughout my day.

The main character’s journey and development, in this sequel, was wonderfully captured—the way he wrestles with his inner self about vengeance/justice, friendships/alliances, leadership/freedom was masterfully done.

Pierce Brown not only sheds light onto class struggles, identity, loyalty, betrayal, the human condition, meritocracy, and political tensions but also takes the time to craft wonderfully complex and endearing side characters—which serve to shape Darrow into the man he becomes and the choices he makes/doesn’t make.

Once again, Pierce Brown’s prose and writing didn’t feel bloated or sluggish. I can’t wait to reread this book in the near future.

All in all, a stellar sequel. Amazing new side characters were introduced. The plot twists were more than I expected and all gut punching. The betrayals and schemes were *chefs kiss*. I will be thinking about this book for many months to come.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golden Son took us a while to finish—not because it lacked excitement, but because we wanted to savor every moment! My partner David and I listened to the Graphic Audio version, which brought the story vividly to life with a full cast of voice actors, immersive sound effects, and cinematic music. It turned each car ride into a gripping experience, where we found ourselves sitting in silence, completely absorbed, hearts pounding as the plot twisted and turned.

The fast-paced action, intense character arcs, and layered political intrigue kept us on edge, and Darrow—flawed, ambitious, and fiercely determined—is a protagonist you can't help but root for. His journey from the lowest tier of society to the upper echelons of power is full of risk, betrayal, and wild, brilliant plans that somehow keep succeeding against all odds.

This series came highly recommended by friends and fellow book lovers alike, and now I understand why. If you haven’t read the Red Rising trilogy yet, I highly recommend it—especially in Graphic Audio format. We’ve only got one book left, and I’m already feeling the bittersweet anticipation of seeing Darrow’s story come to a close.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️ Bloody damn, what the hell was that? I'm not ok. That ending?? I’m going to need therapy.

I absolutely loved this book. The writing is flawless, the story is brutal, brilliant, and utterly heart-wrenching. It’s a masterpiece, plain and simple. There’s so much pain, rebellion, sacrifice, and truth packed in here—just everything.

I’m purposefully not going into plot details because this series deserves to be experienced spoiler-free. But I will say this: Darrow may be my favorite book character of all time, and I don’t say that lightly.

Also, the graphic audio is next-level. Every single cast member deserves an Oscar. And whoever had the genius idea to cast Stewart Crank as Darrow—just know I would lay down my life for you. The man is brilliant.

If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would. Infinity stars. Galaxy stars. Red Rising owns my entire soul now.

I need a drink and maybe a support group before I dive into Morning Star… but make no mistake—I will be diving in. I can’t stop. I won’t stop.
Pierce Brown, you have officially changed the paradigm.

"Mortals who plan die a thousand times. We who obey die but once."

[Whitney Reid Drebot · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️ | 🫑

Thiiiiiiiiis oneeeeeeeee *snaps all around*

I’ve been calling this book “Morning Son” in my Strava captions for weeks because I’ve been listening to it when I run and I can’t keep it straight in my head that this book is “Golden Son” and the next one is “Morning Star” lol embarrassing. But not as embarrassing as the time I turned in a paper about the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” in school but I accidentally titled it “To Kill a Mockingjay” because I was deep into the Hunger Games at the time and it affected my subconscious. Help. Anyways,

Part one of this book was a little slower for me to get into but then it picked up so mega good in part two. I listened to most of this in the car with Josh (he’s on book 4) and it was a treat. As always, the graphic audios slap.

I was literally on the edge of my seat during so much of this. So many crazy things happened especially right at the end.

Darrow and Mustang man… so much many big feels about them.

I’m still having a tiny bit of a hard time keeping track of who is who. But thuroughly enjoying the vibes so it’s fine.

Very excited to listen to book 3.

[Anne Pönkä · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★½ - Actual rating: 4.5 stars (rounded down to 4 stars on Goodreads)

Just like Red Rising, this was also brutal, emotional, and epic, only on a larger scale. The world expands notably, the politics intensify, and the character arcs develop further. This also had more of the kind of classic sci-fi vibes, which the first book didn’t have as much.

But as with Red Rising, in this too some of the story’s epicness was lost to me a bit, because with the audiobook version (GraphicAudio, which is so good overall ✨), some parts were a bit hard to follow through audio, with many characters new and old, with several different nicknames. I try not to let that influence my review too much, since I know I wouldn’t have had that problem if I had read it in a regular format.

There was one point in the book where I lost my interest for a little while, probably because it focused mainly on the politics, which kinda bored me. But the ending did absolutely redeem itself with several moments that had my jaw on the floor!

[jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

i will never understand roque as a character lmao. the end of this book is so depressing. i will never get over how absolutely defeated i feel at the end of this book. i understand the jackal as a character. i do not understand roque and how he abandons his morals to work with the jackal all because of the gold hierarchy. hes supposed to be the poet, the one who is scholarly and brilliant. you would think someone as educated as he would have read about other societies with slaves and seen how they crumbled and understood while people should be free to make choices. idk usually more educated people are more open minded. but roque is so close minded and thinks the society is more important than having morals. idk he just doesnt make sense to me as a character

[Dana 🗡️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pierce Brown, count your days. I’d like to invoice you for therapy.

This book broke me apart and slowly glued me back together and SHATTERED me at the end. I guess just like it did to Darrow 🫠

woof. I was skeptical how this book was going to follow up the first one. I was a little annoyed that Darrow always had a perfect, secret plan that always got him his way…until it didn’t. I don’t know if it was intentional for Pierce Brown to set up a false hope that Darrow would always make it out but OH BOY he made me believe it.

Also i can’t believe I ever thought [redacted] was ever redeemable. Am *I* the naive one?!

[Megan Adamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 pages left my inner monologue was contemplating the expectations I had for this book and how it would be a good 4 star rating because I know there’s so many books to continue this story that will be greater.

THEN THE ENDING CAME and I stopped thinking because WHATDOYOUMEAN!!!

5 stars.

Was it perfect? No. Can I recall an epic story with detail and variety beyond what at times felt like never ending war waging and intergalactic battles? Not really.
But where this story exceeds the rest is how in a world where morals and ethics are questionable at best in a caste system, the humanity and vulnerability of the MMC and side characters is what has my heart and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Smitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4/5 stars. The back half of this book really upped the stakes which I appreciated. Also that ending, hooboy... Fitchner, Lorne, and Augustus murdered, Rouqe betraying Darrow and knowing he's Red, the Jackal finally with his mask off and fully evil, Darrow captured to be experimented on by the Sovereign. Darrow's secret being out sure makes the things seem hopeless, so we'll see how Mustang/Sevro/Ragnar manage to pick up where he left off.