Red Rising (Part 2 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation]

Red Rising Saga Dramatic Adaptations #1, Part 2

by Pierce Brown

Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he toils willingly, trusting that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.

But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and lush wilds spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.

Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society’s ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies... even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.

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

8 pages, Audiobook

First published May 8, 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

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shittttttt.

Wow what a book. Part 2 was nonstop action start to finish!
And that ending 😭😭😭😭😭😭

On to book 2!!!!!

Also, a full cast audio is always a treat 😍

[Becci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This half of the book was like 4.25 stars. The production was still incredible and without giving away too many spoilers, there were plenty of twists, turns and traitors to keep things interesting.

The battle sequences just got a bit too monotonous and predictable to merit 5 stars like the first half. I did not enjoy that ending one bit either, it felt hollow. I think it's the worst decision Darrow has ever made and I was Team Rage God all the way.

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Rising Part 2: War, Strategy, and Survival at the Institute



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💚💙💛
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍🌍
Character development: 🤓😟🤯😎
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Graphic Audio – Full Cast Narration

Characters and Plot Dynamics

Picking up with a far harsher edge than the end of Part 1, Red Rising (Part 2 of 2) plunges listeners into the brutal proving grounds of the Institute, where Darrow must continue his dangerous mission—rising through the ranks of the ruling class to dismantle it from within.

Darrow, once a lowly Red Hell-Diver, is now living among the Golds—the most powerful caste in this color-coded society. Forced to suppress his true identity, he must think, fight, and lead like them, all while holding onto the humanity shaped by his past. His journey is no longer just about survival—it’s about transformation and calculated rebellion.

This installment introduces—or further develops—a wide cast of complex characters, including Mustang, whose intelligence and moral compass challenge Darrow in unexpected ways, and Sevro, whose savage unpredictability masks fierce loyalty. Opposing them are figures like Titus, whose rise to power reveals the darker side of ambition.

Titus, once in a position of strength, becomes increasingly tyrannical. Drunk on power, he rules through fear—beating enslaved captives and using them as bait in a calculated effort to draw Darrow’s tribe out from behind their defenses. His cruelty forces Darrow to confront a chilling truth: even those who rise from oppression can become the very monsters they once hated.

As alliances shift and strategies evolve, the Institute becomes a battlefield not just of physical strength, but of intellect, manipulation, and psychological warfare. Darrow must navigate betrayals, forge uneasy alliances, and make impossible choices that test his leadership and his morality. The deeper he embeds himself in Gold society, the more dangerous—and necessary—his deception becomes.

This second half delivers on the promise of the first, expanding the scope while intensifying the stakes, culminating in a gripping and hard-earned evolution of Darrow’s character.

Highlights:

• Complex character development: Darrow’s growth is compelling and layered, as he balances his Red origins with the ruthless expectations of Gold society.
• Morally gray conflicts: Characters like Titus highlight how power corrupts, adding depth and nuance to the narrative.
• Strategic tension: The Institute setting allows for constant intrigue—alliances, betrayals, and mind games keep the story unpredictable.
• Expanded world-building: The color-based caste system is explored in greater detail, making the societal structure feel even more immersive and chilling.
• Emotional payoff: Relationships deepen, and the consequences of earlier events resonate strongly.

Limitations:

• Relentless intensity: The darker tone and constant conflict may feel exhausting for some listeners.
• Large cast of characters: Keeping track of shifting alliances and motivations can occasionally be challenging.
• Pacing fluctuations: Some strategic sections slow the momentum slightly, though they ultimately serve the larger narrative.

Narration & Audio Production

Once again, the GraphicAudio adaptation proves why it’s known as a “movie in your mind.” The production quality is exceptional, elevating an already powerful story into a fully immersive experience.

The full cast—featuring Stewart Crank, John Kielty, Richard Rohan, Stephanie Németh-Parker, Jenna Sharpe, Kay Eluvian, Jon Vertullo, Ian Russell, Andrew James Spooner, Alejandro Ruiz, Andrew Colford, Bradley Foster Smith, Christopher Williams, Chris Stinson, Christopher Walker, Colleen Delany, Elizabeth Jernigan, Eric Messner, Ian Putnam, James Konicek, and more—delivers standout performances across the board.

Each voice actor brings distinct personality and emotional depth to their roles, making it easy to differentiate characters even in high-intensity scenes. The sound design continues to shine, with immersive background noises, dynamic action effects, and a cinematic score that enhances tension and emotion without overwhelming the dialogue.

From clashing armies to quiet, strategic conversations, every moment feels alive and immediate

Final Opinion

Red Rising (Part 2 of 2) – GraphicAudio Edition is a powerful and satisfying continuation that builds on everything Part 1 set in motion. I loved the plot, the intricate world-building, the rich character development, and especially the phenomenal narration that brought it all to life.

What makes this story truly stand out is its originality—the color-based caste system on Mars is both fascinating and horrifying, and Darrow’s mission to dismantle it from within the highest caste adds a brilliant layer of tension and complexity. Watching him navigate this dangerous double life is as thrilling as it is emotionally charged.

This audiobook doesn’t just tell a story—it immerses you in a revolution. Bold, unpredictable, and deeply engaging, it’s an unforgettable listening experience and a must for fans of dystopian fiction done right.

Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Pinterest|BookBub

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb. I'm going to have to power through the rest of them now.

[Kemery Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hardly fair to compare this to Tim Gerard Reynolds' absolutely phenomenal narration. That being said, this is mostly great. While a few voices are off, Darrow, Mustang, Nero, Fitchner, etc are pretty awesome and unique.

Sevro, Jackal, Cassius, Pax are only serviceable. As this is the first time listening to an "abridged" version of this book, the already clipped nature of the story is even more present. Now I need to go back and make sure I still adore the complete project because this one felt far far faster than it should be.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, this book definitely surprised me!

At first I was worried this book was going to be a little too YA for what I wanted especially given how young the main character is. There is a bit of a coming of age component and there are definitely times where the main character feels young, as he is, but there are A LOT of dark/adult themes in the book. I personally enjoyed that, I think it made the book more emotional and just set a very serious/high stakes tone for the book. There are also quite a few YA fantasy tropes and as I mentioned in my review of part one this book is VERY hunger game-esque but I have heard the rest of the series diverges quite a bit which I am looking forward to. I’ve also heard it gets even less YA after this first book. One thing that I think could be divisive about this book is that it is very graphic/violent. Some of it I think was a little bit for shock factor but I do think many of the scenes drive the story/the socio-political narrative.

I will say I think the best thing about this first book in the series is that it is action packed and fast paced. I mean there is ALWAYS something happening. There is a lot of fighting, plotting, scheming, and general badassery. The author does a great job building tension and suspense. There are some twist and turns, some of them are definitely predictable but a few surprised me!

I do hope that the next book gets back into the major conflict in the world, we were introduced to it and the set up but then the storyline focused on an event that was isolated from the rest of the world so I am looking forward to getting back into the broader world. I also hope we get to know some of the side characters introduced in this book more! There were some good character relationships developed in this book but a lot of the conversation between characters was plotting or planning and a lot of the bonding was just trauma bonding lol so I’m hoping we get more character background and motivation in the next books! I also don’t feel like I am super attached to the MC yet, I’m not totally sold on him. He makes some stupid decisions though I guess what can you expect from a kid thrown into this kind of situation but I still was definitely rooting for him and his gang of unhinged friends 🤣

I don’t think this book has a ton of subtlety or nuance but damn was it exciting, action packed, and entertaining. I’ve heard the rest of the series described as a Game of thrones-ish space epic so I am here for it 🤣 now I have to decide if I am going to put a hold on or buy a physical copy of the second book because the graphic audio has a 20 week hold on Libby 😅

[witchy_book_babe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal casting, great sound effects as well, that brought so many beautiful scenes to life! Highly recommend!

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second half of this book was just nonstop brutality, politics, war. Not sure if was mg vibe. Overall most of this book I was easily confused- Time seemed to pass oddly and it was suddenly an entire year gone? 2 years gone? But what a weird “school”!? I like Darrow, but he’s a psycho. I like Mustang too. Not sure how this whole Series will pan out. But it was entertaining enough for me to keep wanting to read more! I can’t imagine not doing the graphic audio it brought it to life so much.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

someone just told me they saw a teenager finish reading this (physical book) on the bus and afterwards clutch it to her chest and just, same. Same, girl, same.

[Mai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this! My first time to listen to a dramatized audiobook and I loved it

[Sarah Moser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehhhhh. It’s giving if the hunger games was worse and katniss was a h*rney man teen who loved himself. There was so much action that it landed flat. It was like too much of a good thing so it felt boring and was confusing. Like yeah I know theirs 500 people in this game but do I need to know all of them? My favorite part of the book was the beginning where he realized all the tea and then after that I was like ehhhhh. The only thing that kept me going was the audiobook. If I had to read this without the audiobook I fear it would not be read. LMAO
I will continue the series but…yeah I may need to take a wee break and then watch a video so I remember what I read because I am already forgotten what the hell just happened :)

[Shalaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO DAMN GOOD. I'm addicted, the writing is amazing, so many good scenes, I felt all the feels, got goosies, had to pause and calm myself, just loved! I havn't felt this way about a book in awhile, it's gonna send me into a big ol slump. The dramatized audio is tits! The only thing I didn't like about it is they're supposed to be teenagers and a couple of the voice actors were way to old sounding. This is NOT YA. I'm moving right onto the next book!

[Elsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a minute to finally finish, listening to this book. Part one literally shatters your heart within a few hours. After a monumental part and part one the book steadies out. It’s not too fast or too slow just steady. Part two, though it really picks up and you have to really pay attention to it. That’s why it took me so long to finish this book. Overall, I’m excited to finish the first trilogy. I’ve heard great things about it.

[Abbie Holdren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this !! Love the graphic audio I will be continuing with those for the rest of this series!

[Lucie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slay

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like if you love sci-fi and the Hunger Games then you'll love this. I love both and this was great. I finished both parts of the dramatized version of book one in 2 days!

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fully understand the hype. This was incredible!

[Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay… I expected more. I’ll try to see if the next book in the series goes anywhere.

[Bill Philibin · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.75 Stars)

This story is good, but I just don't know if I like the Graphic Audio production. I think for the next book in the series I am just going to read the audiobook version and not the graphic audio version.

This is similar (in feel) to The Hunger Games, but in space... although the "in space" part is more of a backdrop and not integral to the story (at all). It is also very similar to the Ender Wiggins saga, but mostly in the books that deal with Battle School, and not necessarily when Ender is an adult. Although, to be fair, even though I listened to the graphic audio in two parts, it is just one book in the series, so it could change the way the Ender Saga did.

My impression currently is that this is a very simplistic, predictable story... with impossibly (and unnecessarily) complicated/convoluted plot twists and situational elements thrown in to make it seem more clever than it is. But maybe that is an effect of the Graphic Audio Production? That's why I am switching to the Audiobook for the next book in the series.

I've had this series compared to The Expanse, and I just don't see the comparison. The disconnect for me is that the characters: In The expanse, the characters seem so real... This book seems to make all the characters into stereotypes, or videogame archetypes... or maybe bad anime from the 1970's.

[J. P. Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time I’ve listened to an audiobook and I signed up for a library card specifically for this dramatized adaptation. I wasn’t expecting to go through this book again so soon after finishing the series but Pierce Brown has written something special. I listened exclusively while driving or riding my bike and it was a thrill to be listening while riding. I wasn’t in love with all of the voice actors but my favorite was PAX AU TELEMANUS!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Action packed but also not really the genre for me

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

◇ Oppressed people

◇ War college

◇ Heartbreak

◇ Allies

I cannot actually put into words how much I love this book. This is my third reread and getting to experience it on graphic audio was a treat. The sound effects, Darrow’s voice, hearing the struggles they go through… right in the feels.

Darrow is a young man who has daring, but no fight within him, it simmers but he doesn’t let it rage - but when he does, oh what beautiful chaos he reigns.

Sevro is the kind of friend everyone needs, blunt, crude, and extremely loyal. I loved getting to hear his voice and to hear the Howlers cry.

The academy was harsh and brutal and I don’t know how Darrow didn’t cower, he faced challenge after challenge and never quit. His strength, his courage, it’s something that I’ll always look back on.

I will never stop recommending this book.

And the graphic audio is bloodydamn amazing!!

Favourite quotes: “I am the spark that will set the worlds afire. I am the hammer that cracks the chains.”

“I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war.”

'I killed their pack leader,' Sevro says when I ask why the wolves follow him. He looks me up and down and flashes me an impish grin from beneath the wolf pelt. 'Don't worry, I wouldn't fit in your skin.'

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 59%. I never DNF books. And I was shocked at how much I hated it because of how highly it's rated on Goodreads. I just couldn't listen to this. The dramatization is great, it's the book itself that I couldn't stand.

Apart from the terrible storytelling, the worldbuilding that made little sense, and an unremarkable protagonist who I simply don't care about, this book mentioned and depicted rape far too often. There are far more creative ways to show that people want to have power over others than simply having the men rape the women so often. I would definitely not recommend Red Rising to a survivor of SA. I understand the original book was published 11 years ago, but there really should be a trigger warning at the beginning.

Note: I did not come across any particularly graphic depictions of rape, the problem was the frequency at which it occurred and the fact that it drove a number of the key events in the story. There are so many other ways in which the story could have progressed and the dynamics between characters could have been depicted.

[David Naroznowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had a lot of driving to do recently so I flew through the second half of this. Honestly, even more amazing than my first time reading this book. I initially hated the voice actor for Darrow, but he’s grown on me so much. And I absolutely adore the voice actor for Mustang. Her accent is like butter! Definitely a different way to embrace books, but I am really enjoying this graphic audio series.

[Janie Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Rising (Graphic Audio) — Part 2 Review

The second half was significantly better than the first, and I can finally understand the hype a bit more. If you love live-action movies, this reads exactly like an action film. It was fast-paced, intense, with vivid battle scenes and sudden plot twists you don’t see coming.

I really enjoyed my experience with part two, especially the strategic plans that weren’t revealed until they were already in motion. That payoff made all the difference for me.

[Judith McNicol-Meakin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part 2 of the graphic audio. Much faster paced than the first half. I loved the full cast narrating all the characters. Couldn’t rate it higher as I felt like it dragged a little in the middle. Excited for the next one!

[Loreli Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

PAX💔💔💔💔💔so many besties in this book i loved it but pax dying really was so gut wrenching i miss him sm 😭😭 mustang is bestie darrow is bestie sevro is super bestie

[Haley Belmont · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating, more mature spin on the game-to-the-death rebellion story. Every character was nuanced and beautifully written. The graphic audio brought it to life perfectly. Amazing 👌

[Megan Bros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty solid start to the series! I’m a bit confused about the houses and world-building, but I’m chalking that up to being a first-book issue. Exciting for the rest!

[Kali Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS THE SHIT I HAVE BEEN CRAVING!!!! What an amazing first book. Hunger game vibes with high stakes and a raging MMC out for revenge against the upper class. Love it