History YMMV / RedRising

* LGBTFanbase:
** The series as a strong one helped by the fact that several supporting characters are canonically gay or bisexual, and that the series treats this as normal.

* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** [[LargeHam Pax au Telemanus]], whose hammy nature and [[spoiler: tragic death]] made him a fan-favorite despite him being solely in the first book.
** Sevro is the ultimate example of this trope in the series, arguably considered by the fans to be as popular, if not more so, than the main character. This is likely owed to his BarbarianHero nature and lovably violent personality.

* MagnificentBastard: [[UnscrupulousHero Fitchner au Barca]] is secretly the mysterious Ares, leader of the [[LaResistance Sons of Ares]]. Once the runt of his family, Fitchner becomes a military leader among the high-class Gold society. Having fallen in love with a Red who was murdered by Golds, and left with only his half-blooded son, Fitchner declares war on the [[TheEmpire the Society]], founding the Sons of Ares, trying to help the lower classes, and being entirely willing to cut moral losses and commit terrorist acts. Taking up numerous apprentices and choosing [[MagneticHero Darrow of Lykos]] to be his successor, Fitchner continues to deceive and manipulate his way through the Society, ruthless and brutal yet nonetheless helping his charges make their own ways through. Making his way into being the bodyguard of the Sovereign, Octavia au Lune, Fitchner only reveals his deception to save Darrow's life at the last moment, before being killed due to one of the Sons betraying him to the Golds. While a ruthless individual, Fitchner's machinations eventually allow for the destruction of the Society and the liberation of the lower classes.

* SciFiGhetto: An odd example. On one hand, both ''Red Rising'' and ''Golden Son'' [[SubvertedTrope were adored by sci-fi and mainstream critics]], with many putting them on "Best of" lists at year's end and proclaiming them to be the next ''Literature/TheHungerGames''. Sadly, the public seems to have tired of [[Literature/TheHungerGames dystopian]] [[Literature/TheMazeRunner sci-fi]] [[Literature/LegendTrilogy starring teenage protagonists]] somewhat, as evidenced by relatively disappointing sales.

* FandomNickname: Howlers.

* GrowTheBeard: While fans generally enjoy Red Rising, it's not especially groundbreaking as far as YA sci-fi novels go. Golden Son is where most agree the series found it's footing with greatly improved worldbuilding, story and character work.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Many of the minor characters. Thanks to constantly shifting alliances, a number of them like [[NatureHero Sevro]], the Howlers, and [[LargeHam Pax]] get time to shine.
** Sevro is the ultimate example of this trope in the series, arguably considered by the fans to be as popular, if not more so, than the main character.

** While Tactus' brother Tharsus only has a few lines at the end of ''Morning Star'', fans on Reddit are split on whether his questions about Darrow's friendship with Tactus were [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain a derogatory remark about Tactus being bisexual]], or, given what has already been described of how Tactus' family treated him, if Tharsus was implying that Tactus had been raped by his brothers. The amount of IncestSubtext between Tharsus and their older brother Appolonius in ''Iron Gold'' only adds fuel to the fire.

*** The same can be asked of Tactus, who is confirmed as bisexual and briefly flirted with Darrow in the first book. Not to mention the fact that the scene in ''Golden Son'' where he and Darrow reconcile before [[spoiler: his RedemptionEqualsDeath moment]] feels almost like the Make Up of a BreakUpMakeUpScenario.

* HoYay:
** The scene where Darrow and Tactus reconcile before the latter's [[spoiler: RedemptionEqualsDeath]] moment can come across as as the second half of a BreakUpMakeUpScenario. Were it not for the fact that WordOfGod confirms Darrow isn't attracted to men, ([[WordOfGay unlike Tactus]]), it would be seen as ship tease.
* {{Jerkass}}: [[spoiler: Really Roque? You get told that Darrow may be a Red (from the people who were trying to kill you before - yeah trust them over your brother), but you betray him to people who tried to kill you moments before, and known traitors like the freaking Jackal!? Without even at least having a little chat with Darrow?]]
* JerkAssWoobie:
** Tactus au Rath. He's a FunctionalAddict who cheerfully insults everyone around him, spends all his free time in strip clubs, and will gladly throw his friends under the bus to boost his own standing. He also has a whole mess of deep-seeded insecurities fueled by years of ParentalAbuse, along with emotional bullying (and [[AmbiguousSituation implied sexual abuse]]) from his brothers, and ultimately wants to be with his friends. And when he finally does choose his friends, he suffers a case of [[spoiler: RedemptionEqualsDeath]].

* MemeticMutation:
** Wanking off in the bushes.

* CounterpartComparison:
** Fans have noticed similarities between The Jackal and [[Literature/EndersGame Peter Wiggin]]. Pierce Brown confirmed in a reddit AMA that this was intentional, as Peter was one of his sources of inspiration for the Jackal.
** The Golds' DeadlyDecadentCourt has also drawn frequent comparisons to Series/GameOfThrones, with the Augustus/Bellona rivalry being compared to the feud between the Lannisters and Tyrells. Especially since Lannister and Augustus have the same house sigil.
*** The Olympic Knights are essentially a Sci-Fi version of the Kingsguard, and the Obsidian bear a number of similarities to the Unsullied.

** While Tactus' brother Tharsus only has a few lines at the end of ''Morning Star'', fans on Reddit are split on whether his questions about Darrow's friendship with Tactus ("Did you piddle my baby brother? Is that why he was so besoted? Well, you're hardly the first to plow that field if you catch my drift.") were [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain a derogatory remark about Tactus being bisexual]], or, given what has already been described of how Tactus' family treated him, if Tharsus was implying that [[VillainousIncest he had done some]] [[RapeAsBackstory of that plowing himself]]. The amount of IncestSubtext between Tharsus and their older brother Appolonius in Iron Gold only adds fuel to the fire.

** While Tactus' brother Tharsus only has a few lines at the end of ''Morning Star'', fans on Reddit are split on whether his questions about Darrow's friendship with Tactus ("Did you piddle my baby brother? Is that why he was so besoted? Well, you're hardly the first to plow that field if you catch my drift.") were [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain a derogatory remark about Tactus being bisexual]], or, given what has already been described of how Tactus' family treated him, if Tharsus was implying that [[VillainousIncest he had done some]] [[RapeAsBackstory of that plowing himself]].

* SciFiGhetto: An odd example. On one hand, both ''Red Rising'' and ''Golden Son'' [[SubvertedTrope were adored by sci-fi and mainstream critics]], with many putting them on "Best of" lists at year's end and proclaiming them to be the next ''Literature/TheHungerGames''. Sadly, the public seems to have tired of [[Literature/TheHungerGames dystopian]] [[Literature/MazeRunner sci-fi]] [[Literature/LegendTrilogy starring teenage protagonists]] somewhat, as evidenced by relatively disappointing sales.

*** The same can be asked of Tactus, who is confirmed as bisexual and briefly flirted with Darrow in the first book. Not to mention the fact that the scene in ''Golden Son'' where he and Darrow reconcile before his [[spoiler: RedemptionEqualsDeath moment]] feels almost like the Make Up of a BreakUpMakeUpScenario.

** The Golds' DeadlyDecadentCourt has also drawn frequent comparisons to [[Series/GameOfThrones]], with the Augustus/Bellona rivalry being compared to the feud between the Lannisters and Tyrells. Especially since Lannister and Augustus have the same house sigil.

** While Tactus' brother Tharsus only has a few lines at the end of ''Morning Star'', fans on Reddit are split on whether his questions about Darrow's friendship with Tactus ("Did you piddle my baby brother? Is that why he was so besoted? Well, you're hardly the first to plow that field if you catch my drift.") were [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain a derogatory remark about Tactus being bisexual]], or, given what has already been described of how Tactus' family treats him, if Tharsus was implying that [[VillainousIncest he had done some]] [[RapeAsBackstory of that plowing himself]].

** The series as a strong one helped by the fact that several supporting characters are canonically gay or bisexual.

* CompleteMonster: The Jackal is an utterly unrepentant sadistic sociopath. [[spoiler: He [[ImAHumanitarian eats people,]] [[HeroKiller is responsible for the deaths of several major characters,]] [[SelfMadeOrphan killed his own father,]] [[CainAndAble arranged his own brother's murder,]] tortures his servants into unquestioning obedience, and [[AndIMustScream locked Darrow in a box for a year]].]]

* LGBT Fanbase:

** Pierce's reveal that Tactus is Bisexual turns his already tragic death into a retroactive case of BuryYourGays

** Tactus au Rath. He's a FunctionalAddict who cheerfully insults everyone around him, spends all his free time in strip clubs, and will gladly throw his friends under the bus to boost his own standing. He also has a whole mess of deep-seeded insecurities fueled by years of ParentalAbuse and emotional bullying from his brothers, and ultimately wants to be with his friends. And when he finally does choose his friends, he suffers a case of [[spoiler: RedemptionEqualsDeath]]