Update Review 4 years later: So I echo a lot of what I said in the original. This time I listened to the audio version. After getting use to the accents I really ended up enjoying the voice work for almost every character. I believe some of the shouting and angry moments could be done a bit better but the rest is great. The story is still well crafted, and while it's a slow build at the start, once they get to the instiution the story picks up big time and you get to see how Pierce begins to perfect his pacing.

I'm super excited to get into book 2 in audio. Golden Son was one of my favorite books ever. But still is still great even with a slower start.


Imagine if you are born into a race and class that is worth less than dog shit. You work, dig, work, dig, that is your entire life. Now imagine one day you are given the ability to become God like. Huge, powerful, smart, fast. The ultimate weapon. You become this only to snake your way into a society to destroy it within. Would you do?

Would you do it if someone you loved died for it?

Darrow is a character filled with anger and rage. He lost far too much to stop now. He fights his way through this "Game" the "Golds" have made. Golds are the high class of this world, the high race, the best in the universe. Darrow plans on destroying them, and he'll do whatever it takes to do it.

Imagine elements of Hunger Games, Battle Royale, Game of Thrones, and most of all Enders Game and mix it all together. Sounds pretty good right? Well that's because it is. Not only is this entertaining, it's smarter than expected. Instead of just survival you must CREATE the new society in this game and it works well, giving you so many twist and turns that'll make you interested throughout.

I can't get in to too much without spoilers but the major positives are -

+Great Characters
+Well throughout society
+Perfect pacing and length
+Well detailed fight scenes
+Build up was worth it

-Little too heavy descriptions at first
-First half is a little slow

Overall you'll probably love this if you love any of the series I named above. Worth the read. Checking out book 2.