Reading Journal Post

Blog #5

When one reads a book, they feel more than one emotion, during different parts of the book. One of the strongest emotions I felt, was worry. I was constantly on edge, waiting for a twist in the story. Waiting for Darrow’s down fall. Darrow may have looked like a Gold but, he was really a red. I felt worried for Darrow throughout out the story, but there were specific moments were I really felt like he was not going to make it out of this. One of those moments was when Cassius found out about Darrow killing Julian. I really liked Darrow and Cassius being friends, but I always knew that they could just as easily be enemies once the truth was out. “… He steps in and drives my ion blade through my armor into my belly.”(pg. 261) I knew Cassius would be mad but I didn’t anticipate that, he would want to kill the man he called his brother. It really made me worry about Darrow, and how he would survive this.  Another thing that I was worried about was what the proctors would do to Darrow. Fitchner did warn Darrow about them, this made me worried whether Darrow would be able to conquer this battle. “He shoves me off the branch, hard. I hit another on the way down… and then the beast roars.”(pg.315) proctor Apollo tried to kill Darrow, but Darrow made it. Third of all, there were many things hinting towards mustang betraying Darrow. Considering that Fitchner tried to warn Darrow about her many times, and Darrow ignored Fitchner every time. The biggest hint after Fitchner not trusting Mustang was mustang’s response to the Jackal. Even though cassius was enemies to Augustus, he had never seen the Jackal’s face, and the fact that mustang was able to recognize him, was that she was in the ArchGoverner’s zone of trust. This made me worry about what mustang is capable of and what she could do to Darrow’s trust. “Virginia au Augustus. Sister to the Jackal. twin. An heir of the great family, the gens Augusta.”(pg.368) I was surprised that Virginia didn’t betray Darrow. This book was full of many surprises and battles, but the reason I would worry was because I was looking at everything from Darrow’s perspective, as if I was him. This caused me to worry and grow an attachment towards the character.

Reading Journal Post

Blog #4

 At the beginning of this book Darrow was just a 16 year old boy, who lived for his wife. Suddenly when his wife was taken away from him, his life had a new purpose; to ruin the society that took his wife from him. In order to be the man who could free his fellow reds, Darrow had to make many changes to himself. At one point in time Darrow lived his life for his wife, but when she was gone, he lived for her dream. Darrow became so determined to accomplish his wife’s dream. “I want to kill Augustus” I say remembering the cold golden face as it commanded my wife’s death. “He will not live while Eo lies dead” (pg.65). As Darrow went on his mission, somewhere along the way he forgot, and actually felt like he was a Gold. His view on the Golds in some way had changed. He began to grow attached to a few certain people. “I forget that Cassius, Roque, Sevro, and I are enemies. Red and Gold. I forget that one day I might have to kill them all.”(pg.228) all though Darrow hasn’t forgotten his hatred for Golds, but he has grown soft for a few. Darrow also started to feel an attraction towards Mustang. When Darrow’s wife died he thought he could never feel the same way about another girl again, but Mustang changed this. “But this girl, when they took her… I would have done anything to see her smirking again. Perhaps one day I’ll have two hearts to give.” (pg.365). at one point in time when Darrow saw Augustus had this burning rage to kill him right there and then, but now he willing pledged his allegiance to him. “So I kneel before him, as is their way.”(pg.382) Darrow has grown softer towards the Golds then before. When he was a red he hated the Golds for what they did to him, but when he actually became one himself, he grew softer towards them. Darrow becoming softer was a very important change in the story. It helped him see the Golds point of view.

Reading Journal Post

Blog # 3

If I had to choose someone from this book to be my friend it would be Sevro. Throughout the book, there were many people that Darrow couldn’t trust, and there were many people who could betray him at any point in time, but Sevro was not one of them. Sevro was the one character that I didn’t doubt while I was reading the book. His presence was comforting and there was something that made Darrow feel at ease around him. Sevro was loyal, equal, and a leader. Sevro had many chances to betray Darrow, throughout their journey at the institute. Sevro was loyal to Darrow even though he was not with him. When Darrow was almost killed by Cassius, Sevro was told that Darrow was taken by the Jackal. Due to this Sevro chose to leave house mars, because he had already alleged his loyalty to Darrow and would not switch it for someone else. “I learn from him around the campfire that he and the howlers, Thistle, Screwface, Clown, Weed, and Pebble- the dregs of my old house- stayed no longer than a day after I disappeared.”(pg.318) Instead of using the fact that the jackal took Darrow to his advantage, Sevro went to look for his friend, and lost an eye in the process. “Sevro sought the Jackal after Cassius fed him the lie.”(pg.318) Secondly, Sevro was different from the others Golds, he was a person who believed in equality. Sevro himself was a Bronzie, a lower class of the Golds and he knew what it felt like to be spat on. Even with all this he still stood up for himself, and didn’t let other peoples judgments stop him from doing what he wanted. “Don’t talk down to me…I’m every bit your equal.”(pg. 255) even though Darrow was the leader of their army, that doesn’t mean that Sevro wasn’t a leader as well. Sevro was a leader to all the howlers (low dregs) and to the wolves. “I’ve given Sevro the dregs to command because I know they might be the only people he’ll ever like.”(pg.229) the howlers are Sevro’s pack, and his family, not to mention that he was their leader when they went to look for Darrow. Sevro is loyal, equal, a leader, and most importantly, a great friend.

Reading Journal Post

BLOG #2

In the beginning at the institute, Darrow had his own tribe of a few boys and girls, and among them all he was loved. He was like a father to them, but when Darrow executed Titus and became leader of the house. He never payed much attention to how his army felt about him. He didn’t try to make them like him, and with his growing population of slaves it cost him everything. “That is the problem with slaves. They are so willing to find a way around their duty, and so excited to share secrets.”(pg.289) As a red Darrow was in some sense a slave of the Golds, and when given the opportunity to be a gold he did the same thing to the slaves as the Golds did to the reds. Mustang helped Darrow realize his mistake, and as an attempt to fix this, he decided not to have slaves. Not having slaves meant that all the other students in the game would choose him as a leader. In order to fix this Darrow made slaves, until he felt like he could truly rely on them, but even by doing this he never let them feel like they were his slave. He made them feel as if he would take a bullet for anyone of them. This is what he did when he punished himself for Tactus’s crime. “This is my army. Its evils are mine as much as yours, as much as they are Tactus’s. Every time any of you commit a crime like this, something gratuitous and perverse, you will own it and I will own it with you.” A relationship works both ways, so one just can’t expect from another, like Darrow expected the slaves to be loyal. In order to expect loyalty it’s necessary to give back as well.  In today’s world many people expect too much without giving anything. In some ways this relates to me because there are many things that I just expect to be there, and don’t care much about, but in fact I should be trying my best to give back. In a relationship it’s very necessary to be aware of how others feel, and this is something one should never forget.

Reading Journal Post

Blog #1

“Look at yourself, Darrow, and you’ll realize that you are a good man who will have to do bad things”… “See. That’s what I don’t get. If I am a good man, then why do I want to do bad things?”(pg.102)

            

This novel is about a boy needing justice for his wife. When Darrow’s wife was taken from Darrow, it was as if it was his own life. The only way Darrow could get justice, was by turning into the thing he hated the most; the Golds. Darrow started his crusade with burning rage and hatred for those who run the society. This meant that he would have to do things that were against his good intentions. During his entire crusade, he would have to lie, cheat, and betray everyone, including his own family. Darrow had good intentions, but in order to execute those he had to do bad things. I, myself have been in many situations like this where; in order to do the right thing I have to take the wrong path, for example tell a white lie in order to protect someone dear to me. One thing I always have to remember is that one certain aspect of a person doesn’t define them; its many things put together that do. This quote is important to me because I have been faced with many situations like this, in which in order to do the right thing, I have to take the wrong path.  In life this also happens to many people, where in order to do good they have to do bad. This quote really gets one to reflect on whether what they are doing is correct or not. Nobody is perfect, and in one point in time everyone tends to do something that’s not a part of their values or what they believe is wrong, and that is okay. Our imperfections are what make us human.

Chapter Summaries post 4

PART IV: REAPER

Chapter 34; THE NORTHWOODS

It has been 4 weeks and Darrow has been rescued by mustang, while spending time with mustang, Darrow learns that his strategy of having slaves was wrong; he should have won their allegiance instead.  Unfortunately mustang gets sick and is on the verge of death, when on a hunt for medicine Fitchner tells Darrow that their rings are what track all the housemates. Fitchner also tells Darrow that the game is rigged, so that Adrius (the ArchGoverner’s son) will win. If Darrow continues to be a hurdle in the Jackal's path, then Jupiter and Apollo will kill him, and if a house is destroyed the proctor of that house have to leave. Fitchner leaves Darrow with the antibiotics and a plan to get the proctors out of the way.

Chapter 35; OATHBREAKERS

Darrow and mustang interact with oathbreakers (slaves who run away), and hope to get them on their side. Mustang and Darrow free 10 oathbreakers of their slave marks, so that they can assist in taking mar's slaves. Darrow frees many of mar's slaves, and pays castle mars a visit in the night signing his reaper mark on every door.

Chapter 36; A SECOND TEST

Darrow attacks house mars, and takes and frees as many slaves as possible. Tactus tries to rape a Ceres slave, which puts Darrow in a tough situation. So as punishment, Darrow gives Tactus 20 lashes from a leather switch, and then gives himself  25 from Pax, officially uniting his army as one.

Chapter 37; SOUTH

Darrow organizes his army in order to find house Apollo, with a secret mission to eliminate proctor Apollo out of the game. By tricking Darrow, proctor Apollo lures him away from the camp, and leads him to the beast of the woods

Chapter 38; THE FALL OF APOLLO

Sevro rescues Darrow from the huge bear, and it turns out Sevro is the one eyed demon everyone is frightened of. Darrow and his army are interrupted by proctor Apollo. During this time using Sevro, Darrow manages to trick the proctors and capture house Apollo. Darrow threatens proctor Jupiter, warning him that his house will be next.

Chapter 39; THE PROCTOR'S BOUNTY

Fitchner warns Darrow about how proctor Apollo has still not left even though his house has been eliminated. Fitchner gives Darrow dancer's knifeRing, and it is revealed that Fitchner is Sevro’s father. Darrow captures Fitchner. Throughout Fitchner's visit, he tries to warn Darrow about mustang.

Chapter 40; PARADIGM

Darrow's army sets out on a hunt for the jackal, one day a boy named Lucian comes out of Jupiter's castle and lets Darrow in, without a fight. Inside Jupiter’s castle, Darrow has a long conversation with Lucian, during which he realizes that Lucian is from house Pluto, and not Jupiter.

Chapter 41; THE JACKAL

Darrow knew that Lucian was the jackal all along. Darrow offers the jackal a deal; if he cuts his hand off, he can leave. The jackal agreed, surprising Darrow. The proctors come to the Jackal's aide, due to this the Jackal kills Pax, and just like that the Jackal had escaped. Apollo takes mustang, and begins to blackmail Darrow. Using the knifeRing given by dancer, Darrow kills proctor Apollo.

Chapter 42; WAR ON HEAVEN

Stealing the proctor's armor, Darrow heads for Olympus. Darrow defeats all the proctors, and has won himself Olympus, and has found mustang.

Chapter 43; THE LAST TEST

 Darrow sends mustang to get the Jackal and his standard. Fitchner then tells Darrow that mustang is Virginia au Augustus, twin to the jackal. Darrow assembles his army, once he realizes he has been betrayed. As Darrow goes to house mars, he finds Roque and realizes that he is not dead. Cassius lets Darrow go, but makes it clear that the hatred between them is a blood feud.

Chapter 44; RISE

Darrow prepares his army, just as mustang drops the jackal in front of Darrow. The game is over, and the drop ships come to Olympus. At the small ceremony, Augustus offers Darrow a place as a lancer at his house, and Darrow gladly accepts.

Chapter Summaries post 3

PART III: GOLD

Chapter 20; THE HOUSE MARS

Darrow is afraid of what Cassius will do once he finds out that Darrow killed his brother. Once the survivors meet, Darrow makes the decision of not telling Cassius about how Julian died.

Chapter 21; OUR DOMINION

While running, Darrow and Cassius spot food set out to as trap by house Ceres. This act of madness strengthens their relationship, but it also makes house Mars realize how partial the game really is due to the other house gaining more luxuries than Mars. Fitchner introduces the house standard that is required to make slaves.

Chapter 22; THE TRIBES

Cassius and Darrow's relationship strengthens in front of the house as the house mates try electing a leader before primus. Roque, Darrow, Cassius, Lea, and Quinn team up while others do the same, leaving the competition between Darrow, Cassius, Antonia, and Titus for primus.

Chapter 23; FRACTURE

Word has been going around about Sevro's disappearance. Back at the house Darrow has an unpleasant encounter with Titus and his gang, due to Titus finding out that Darrow has had matches all along, while the housemates starved.

Chapter 24; TITUS'S WAR

Darrow and his crew quickly evacuate the house as Titus has sent his men after them. People from house Ceres have stopped coming out, due to Titus's brutality towards the Ceres slaves.

Chapter 25; TRIBAL WAR

Titus has been beating up girls for some time now, and Darrow's tribe decided to make a plan to take him down. Unfortunately this plan didn't go well, and led to Quinn being beaten and loosing and ear. Cassius was beaten and urinated on by Titus, which ruined his reputation.

Chapter 26; MUSTANG

Darrow and Cassius spot a rider, who turns out to be the girl on the pony, back when Darrow was learning how to ride. She goes by the name Mustang and is from the house Minerva, and easily leads Darrow and Cassius into a trap. As Darrow and Cassius struggle to stay alive, goblin (Sevro) comes to their rescue. They find the Minervan’s castle and raid it, Darrow also comes to know that mustang's real name is Antonia.

Chapter 27; THE HOUSE OF RAGE

The reaper and the mighty Pax au Telemanus finally have their first encounter. Darrow manages to escape and go negotiate with mustang about the Ceres slaves, during which mustang mentions the Jackal.

Chapter 28; MY BROTHER

Darrow finds Titus in the cellar, beaten up. While Titus tells Darrow his story and why he raped all those girls, he accidentally lets a word slip and Darrow realizes that Titus was a red like him.

Chapter 29; UNITY

Darrow sentences Titus to death because he believes that he puts every red carved into a gold at risk. Titus is executed by the hands of Cassius. Fitchner also reveals that the Jackal is the ArchGoverner's son.

Chapter30; HOUSE DIANA

Sevro and the reaper find house Diana, where Darrow negotiates an agreement with Tamara (head of house Diana) to help him take down house Minerva, and in return he will help them take down house Ceres.

Chapter 31; THE FALL OF MUSTANG

To create a distraction to Darrow's ulterior motive, he challenges Pax to a duel. By hiding the soldiers of house Mars and the soldiers of house Diana in the bellies of dead horses, Darrow wins house Minerva, but let’s Mustang live.  

Chapter 32; ANTONIA

As well as winning house Minerva, Darrow also manages to siege house Diana. An emissary from house Pluto sent by the Jackal leaves a message and a pouch for Cassius. On the other hand, Lea leads Darrow into a trap set by Antonia, where Antonia then kills Lea, and Roque has disappeared.

Chapter 33; APOLOGIES

Cassius finds out that Darrow was the one who killed Julian due to the holo sent by the Jackal. Cassius lures Darrow away from the castle and both of them engage in a duel. In the end, Cassius drives his ion blade through Darrow’s stomach.