Much hyped. Much disappointed. I was hoping for compelling dystopian sci-fi and what I got was a mix of the Hunger Games with John Wick. Young adults running around like savages playing king of the castle on Mars. Sure there was more to it and my description is narrow, but that doesn’t make it inaccurate. Poor character development and a wandering plot that would have benefitted from the characters engaging in a contest with actual rules (ala the previously mentioned Hunger Games). Book 2 in this multi-book series is supposed to top this one, but there’s not enough evidence to suggest it will agree with me any better. I’m hoping Brown grows as a writer as the series continues and that the books live up to Red Rising’s mostly glowing reputation.