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Morning Star

Book 3 in the series:Red Rising Saga

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'Morning Star' by Pierce Brown is the epic conclusion to the Red Rising Trilogy, where the protagonist Darrow of Lykos leads a revolution against the ArchGovernor and his arch nemesis Adrius. Filled with action, adventure, plot twists, and loss, the book satisfies readers with its intense and ruthless storytelling. The narrative progresses with a relentless pace, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they witness intricate political intrigue, strategic battles, and the evolution of complex characters in a dystopian future setting. The writing style is described as consistent, solid, and engaging, with a space opera theme that delves into themes of revolution, societal hierarchy, and the complexities of human relationships.

Characters:

Characters undergo significant development, particularly Darrow, showcasing complex relationships that emphasize loyalty, betrayal, and personal growth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is lyrical and immersive, featuring a dark and gritty tone complemented by descriptive battle scenes and emotionally charged dialogues.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is an intense and action-packed conclusion to an epic trilogy that explores themes of rebellion and personal sacrifice through the character of Darrow.

Setting:

The setting is a future Mars and its surroundings, showcasing a divided society within a rigid caste system and featuring various planets and moons.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally fast, with relentless action, although some middle sections slow down for character introspection before the final chapters increase the overall tension.
Deep in darkness, far from warmth and sun and moons, I lie, quiet as the stone that surrounds me, imprisoning my hunched body in a dreadful womb. I cannot stand. Cannot stretch. I can only curl in a b...

Notes:

Morning Star is the final book in the Red Rising trilogy by Pierce Brown.
The story begins with Darrow, the protagonist, being captured and tortured by his former ally, The Jackal.
The trilogy explores a society on Mars with a strict class hierarchy defined by color.
Darrow was originally a Red, the lowest caste, before undergoing surgery to become a Gold, the ruling class.
The narrative includes themes of betrayal, friendship, and the cost of war.
Strong character development is a defining feature, with Darrow evolving from a grieving husband to a powerful warrior leading a rebellion.
The author blends intense action with deep emotional moments, creating a rollercoaster of feelings for readers.
Sevro, one of the supporting characters, provides comic relief amidst the dark themes of the story.
The book is noted for its elaborate battle scenes and strong political intrigue throughout the series.
Fans appreciate the rich world-building and the emotional weight of the story, leading to many intense reactions during key moments.
The trilogy has been compared to epic works like Hunger Games and Game of Thrones.
Pierce Brown has plans for future books expanding the Red Rising universe, promising more adventures.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains graphic violence, emotional trauma, and themes of betrayal and death.

Has Romance?

Romance plays a notable role but is interwoven with other significant themes.

From The Publisher:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Red Rising thrilled readers and announced the presence of a talented new author. Golden Son changed the game and took the story of Darrow to the next level. Now comes the exhilarating next chapter in the Red Rising Saga: Morning Star.

ITW THRILLER AWARD FINALIST

"[Brown's] achievement is in creating an uncomfortably familiar world of flaw, fear, and promise."-Entertainment Weekly

Darrow would have lived in peace, but his enemies brought him war. The Gold overlords demanded his obedience, hanged his wife, and enslaved his people. But Darrow is determined to fight back. Risking everything to transform himself and breach Gold society, Darrow has battled to survive the cutthroat rivalries that breed Society's mightiest warriors, climbed the ranks, and waited patiently to unleash the revolution that will tear the hierarchy apart from within.

Finally, the time has come.

But devotion to honor and hunger for vengeance run deep on both sides. Darrow and his comrades-in-arms face powerful enemies without scruple or mercy. Among them are some Darrow once considered friends. To win, Darrow will need to inspire those shackled in darkness to break their chains, unmake the world their cruel masters have built, and claim a destiny too long denied-and too glorious to surrender.

Praise for Morning Star

"There is no one writing today who does shameless, Michael Bay-style action set pieces the way Brown does. The battle scenes are kinetic, bloody, breathless, crazy. Everything is on fire all the time."-NPR

"Morning Star is this trilogy's Return of the Jedi. . . . The impactful battles that make up most of Morning Star are damn near operatic. . . . It absolutely satisfies."-Tordotcom

"Excellent . . . Brown's vivid, first-person prose puts the reader right at the forefront of impassioned speeches, broken families, and engaging battle scenes . . . as this interstellar civil war comes to a most satisfying conclusion."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A page-turning epic filled with twists and turns . . . The conclusion to Brown's saga is simply stellar."-Booklist (starred review)

Don't miss any of Pierce Brown's Red Rising Saga:

RED RISING

GOLDEN SON

MORNING STAR

IRON GOLD

DARK AGE

Ratings (98)

Incredible (42)
Loved It (39)
Liked It (13)
It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (2)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (120):

Read It (102)
Want To Read (14)
Not Interested (4)

5 comment(s)

Hated It
1 week

Eh meh this series went down hill for me. Loved the first but feelt underwhelmed and disappointed in the rest

 
Incredible
2 weeks

Wow! This series is an absolute must-read for all science fiction fans! I've thoroughly enjoyed this epic adventure! I look forward to reading Brown's

Iron Gold trilogy and anything else he writes.

 
Incredible
2 months

PERFECTION.

THE WAY I WOULD FOLLOW DARROW ANYWHERE!

pierce brown, your mind!

 
Did Not Like
3 months

2.25

I am done with this world even though it continues.

This was the weakest of the trio. The writing had a tendency to get dense. The battle scenes went on and on. And on…. Again, there was the tendency to go on in a certain direction only to discover well into it that the narrator held something back and you had to go back over it the “right” way. Kind of like someone telling a long, rambling story where you *knew* they were lying but you had to listen anyway only to have them shout “PSYCHE!” Then tell you the actual story. It gets tiresome.

 
Loved It
5 months

Best of the series so far. Lots of character and world building payoff and more twists than you can shake a stick at. Can’t say I love the looming sense of dread that permeates this series.

 

About the Author:

Pierce Brown is the New York Times bestselling author of Red Rising, Golden Son, and Morning Star. While trying to make it as a writer, Brown worked as a manager of social media at a startup tech company, toiled as a peon on the Disney lot…

 
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