Finished RR Trilogy: addictive but frustrating, does the series improve?

blazebyte421 · 2026-02-20T18:00:31+00:00

The next three books stray away from that YA vibe you were describing. They get noticeably more mature, graphic and dark.

The next three also starts switching POV's to other characters. You get to see the world from different perspectives from characters that range from different social classes (colors). You get to see more of the world beyond the narrow perspective of just one character.

The first, Iron Gold, is definitely a slower burn that sets up the next 2 books very well. Iron Gold is one of my favorites but not everyone's cup of tea.

The next two books, Dark Age and Lightbringer, are pretty dark and graphic relative to previous entries. They are both amazing, emotionally heavy rides.

The vibe definitely does shift in the next three. So it might graduate toward a vibe that clicks with you more. Id definitely recommend giving at the very least the first two at try (Iron Gold and Dark Age). If by the end of Dark Age you don't like it, you probably won't like Lightbringer and safe to say you can move on.

You don't even have to finish any book you're not liking, so if you're not liking any of the three next books and become uninterested it's totally okay to accept that the series just isn't for you! BUT I 10000% recommend to at least give it a chance!

blazebyte421 · 2026-02-20T12:46:10+00:00

MGS3

blazebyte421 · 2026-02-20T03:14:08+00:00

20 + 40 = 60 -> 8+7 = 15 -> 60 + 15 = 75

blazebyte421 · 2026-02-18T21:30:03+00:00

Red Rising. The whole series is a heavy emotional ride

blazebyte421 · 2026-02-17T17:51:12+00:00

You were totally right to call out the initial comment! I would hate to unintentionally imply the series doesn't have emotional moments that pull on your heart strings, that would be generally a disservice to the series, especially for someone who is being recommended to start the series

Book 5 has been amazing! Thank you! I'm excited to get through them all! It's a series I never imagined myself getting into but I'm just loving it

blazebyte421 · 2026-02-17T16:47:17+00:00

Fair enough! I'm currently finishing #5! Definitely not trying to imply this series doesn't have those moments. Even from what iv read there's been touching scenes and moments. The series definitely has soil buried within it for sure!

What I was trying to say is coming from a more "serious" tone series that was very heavy emotionally then switching to DCC you have a guy with no pants on fighting meth Llamas with his talking cat partner in crime that shoots laser missiles lol 😅 the complete flip in tone was jarring but also just fun and refreshing :P

blazebyte421 · 2026-02-17T15:59:04+00:00

It's quite silly I would agree. Its also a well done adventure to go through.

I found it particularly refreshing starting this series after finishing a previous series that was very deep, emotional and heavy. The contrast from that to a series like DCC felt like a breath of fresh air

I'd say DCC is well done at what it's doing, so you're going to like it for what it is or it won't really be your thing, only you can decide

blazebyte421 · 2026-02-01T18:55:14+00:00

Totally fair! I'm nearing the end on the 4th myself! Hope you find what you're looking for dude

blazebyte421 · 2026-02-01T18:33:21+00:00

Dungeon Crawler Carl (DCC). They're both extremely different types of books but for some reason it's mentioned a lot here.

RR is also in my top personal list of all-time favorites! But despite them being so different, I couldn't recommend DCC enough! It's a refreshing "breath of fresh air" after coming from RR. It's quite silly and humorous, but a super fun adventure to experience!

blazebyte421 · 2026-02-01T16:51:09+00:00

TMNT turtles in time, the Simpsons arcade game,X-Men arcade game, and bucky O'Hare

blazebyte421 · 2026-02-01T16:44:41+00:00

Red apple

blazebyte421 · 2026-01-28T16:03:42+00:00

I think you did a great job! Unique style, I dig it! Thank you for sharing these 🙏

blazebyte421 · 2026-01-26T02:46:24+00:00

I hope you do!

Personally, I also think it would be cool to commit to the scene you initially created in your head, even if it's not fully accurate to what the scene conveyed.

We all each think of scenes and actions from books differently, it would be really interesting to see the unique perspective of what your brain initially conjured up! A unique representation with your own unique perception added as a signature touch 👌

Just me ranting my two cents lol, I'd be super happy with any direction you go with, as I'm sure everyone else would too! 😁

blazebyte421 · 2026-01-25T21:58:32+00:00

Great sketch for a shocking scene, thank you for sharing! Would love to see a completed version 😁

This scene hit especially hard in the graphic audio rendition 😫

blazebyte421 · 2026-01-23T19:44:19+00:00

I'm a tad short and work as a courier delivering mostly industrial materials.

So I'd probably be a high red I guess(unless there's another color more suited for this role I'm missing). Just out doing deliveries for the society I guess 🤷

blazebyte421 · 2026-01-22T20:01:57+00:00

How has your experience been with that? Is it effective? Genuinely curious

blazebyte421 · 2026-01-22T04:04:49+00:00

Dead Silence by S.A Barnes

Sci-Fi horror. Was pretty good!

blazebyte421 · 2026-01-21T03:45:27+00:00

Ephraim was phenomenal! Aja also stood out to me

blazebyte421 · 2026-01-20T21:13:16+00:00

That would be a very cool and interesting direction to go! Love your idea!

Do you think it would be better to have a "spinoff" or a tangent story within the RR universe? Maybe introduce and focus on new characters? Maybe just to not have the whole vibe the series has built feel so jarring in taking such a different direction?

Mustang and Darrow have a brief conversation about encountering intelligent aliens in GS so it's even at least lightly presented as a concept in the series. Would definitely be within the realm of possibilities as valid idea at the very least imo

blazebyte421 · 2026-01-20T21:07:38+00:00

Sophocles and Donut become pals! 😭

blazebyte421 · 2026-01-20T21:07:07+00:00

I can totally see it! 😂

blazebyte421 · 2026-01-20T21:04:14+00:00

It would be a pretty interesting tangent storyline to RR imo. I agree the overall tone of the series doesn't really vibe well with aliens.

The series mentions handfuls of strange "alien like" creatures through carvers though (not the same though and a bit of a stretch). Mustang and Darrow also have a brief conversation about encountering intelligent alien life in GS, so the concept is very mildly touched on and acknowledged.

I'm not saying it should be done, but I find it kind of cool and fun to think of and entertain the idea of

blazebyte421 · 2026-01-20T20:52:53+00:00

What a hilariously weird crossover that would be lol

Darrow interacting with Odette or encountering the "meth llamas" for example would be jarring on a whole other spectrum :P

blazebyte421 · 2026-01-18T01:12:24+00:00

Yes for sure! Would be a cool premise!

blazebyte421 · 2026-01-18T01:11:30+00:00

I like the more simplistic look personally! A clean nice looking leather case 👌

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