Kjaro’s Reviews > Red Rising > Status Update

Also the Institute just reads like one of those ultra-cringey alpha-male camps where MEN learn how to do MAN-THINGS like HUNTING and RULING and POLITICS. And the protagonist doesn't succeed because he's acting different from the rest, but because he's just better at those disciplines than they are. Which is ONLY the case because he's the fucking Ship of Theseus become man.

Full spoiler, but I don't care:

How is there any sort of commentary on a class system when the protagonist, who's supposed to break it, has to be externally modified in every conceivable way in order to prove that his class is not lesser than the ruling one?
There's so many references to him retaining abilities that are innate to his former life, but they don't make sense when his brain and muscles are not the same.

So... if the red tribes are this oppressed people, scraping by with bare necessities, why do 16-year olds sound like philosophers at least twice their age?
So many things already don't quite add up...

Developing a pet peeve with future-stuff just being two words mashed together to convey their meaning.
duroArmor, headTalk, horizonTram, all of them feel as though they try to invoke the same brand-image an iPod does. But in reality, I'm just left wondering if there are no competent marketing people in the future.