I picked up Red Rising because of a friend's recommendation. Actually 2 friends - both him and his wife say it's their favorite book series so far. I'm always jumpy and suspicious about recommendations. I don't like them, and try to avoid them like the plague. I have "high taste" that doesn't fit into modern day concepts of "epicly awesome books". 
 However, Red Rising is, in fact, a good book. 
 I. Like it. 
 It's just another dystopian, totalitarian, YA book with a character that wants to "break the system". But there's more to it that just that. 
 First point I liked is the lack of a childishly idiotic teenage love story. I don't like those, they're stupid, and they raise teens thinking it's OK to be dumb and accept emotional abuse, and it's OK to emotionally abuse someone else because, you know, a new hot guy comes to school. 
 In Red Rising, Darrow's wife is his love, his life, and literally all he lives for. He's a limited person, doesn't want liberation, doesn't entertain wild dreams. He doesn't think about "breaking the chains" because, thankfully, he has his family, and keeping his head down and nose clean keeps them alive. But his wife has dreams, huge dreams, which cost him to lose all he cares for. 
 Darrow never wanted to be a leader or a liberator - it's shoved onto him. And then he just rises from there on out. The story also picks up when Darrow makes bonds and relationships with people he really should hate, because he discovers that there are always 2 sides to a story. 
 The book is also written from an interesting perspective. It really makes you like Darrow. He's blunt. He's sarcastic. And he's not at all pretentious. And despite being 16, you don't get stupid pubescent mood swings and outrages. He is amid war and he is behaving like a young warrior should. 
 The characters might not be way too developed, but you get to like many of them, especially Sevro, Roque, and Pax. I like that. I like having bonds with characters. Though, it might just be my 25 year old heart, I fell in love with no character (and I don't mean crush, I mean attachment). Not even Darrow. But it's OK. 
 I'm looking forward to pick up Morning Star. This one I couldn't put down before I finished. I hope the second is just as engaging.