Before I move on to the final Red Rising book, I’ve been reading The Green Ember by S.D. Smith. It’s a bit of a shift from a brutal, high-stakes sci-fi world to one filled with talking rabbits and ancient battles between light and darkness. But honestly, I’m loving it.
There’s something refreshing about this story. It doesn’t try to be edgy or clever for its own sake. It’s a tale of traditional good versus evil, of loyalty, courage, and hope in the face of loss. In an era when so many stories blur the lines between hero and villain until you can’t tell the difference, The Green Ember reminds me that moral clarity can still be deeply compelling.
The characters are simple but not shallow. They’re brave, afraid, determined, broken — all the things real heroes are. The story doesn’t apologize for having virtue at its core. And maybe that’s why people love this series so much: it feels like coming home to something timeless.
It’s a world where light is still worth fighting for, where small acts of goodness matter, and where faith and family echo quietly beneath the adventure.
As much as I enjoy the grit and complexity of Red Rising, I think I needed this reminder that not every story has to explore the gray to be meaningful. Sometimes, what we need most is a clear vision of hope, even if it comes from a band of brave rabbits with swords.
And honestly? That’s the kind of story the world could use a little more of right now.
Agreed! I think having both is necessary grit and complexity can make stories interesting and reflective of our own world, but virtue reminds us of how we can be better heroes in our own lives.
There's a certain joy that comes from the classic good vs evil plot line, I mean, it's considered classic for a reason. As much as I love moral struggle, I think "simple heroes," as you said, have a way of recentering a person and encouraging us to hold onto the good in the world. I'll definitely be checking out this book. Thanks for sharing it with everyone