Warning: This book includes mature content such as: sexual content, and/or drug and/or alcohol use, and/or violence.
Morning Star by Pierce Brown Series: Red Rising Trilogy #3
Published by Del Rey on 9 February 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Pages: 518
Format: Hardback
Source: Purchase
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.
Morning Star. It blew my mind. My brain is scrambled. My heart is broken. My breath is taken.
Morning Star is dark, following several different characters, even if a lot of the narration is from Darrow’s perspective. There is treason, suspected treason, politics, war, torture… and there is still a sense of hope in places, where the characters are ready to continue the war if that means the future will be better for those who come after them. However, there are also characters who are ready to continue the war for their own gain, for greed, to make sure the Golds stay on top of the societal pyramid.
The writing is beautiful, even when the subject matter is ugly. Brown paints his storyline in sweeping colors and large strokes, and it’s impossible not to feel as if we’re in the middle of it all, both the heartache and the triumph, the darkness and the possibility of light. I cried. More than once. And I also laughed. More than once. I held my breath, urging the characters I was cheering for to get it done, and to see the end-game. To counteract their enemies while still staying true to themselves.
And I think Morning Star wins the ‘Most vague review’ competition. There is not really a lot I can say without spoiling anything, but I can say I loved this story, it beautifully finishes a trilogy that has kept me thinking about it over the past two years. With characters who may lose themselves in the battle between good and evil, in all the gray areas of life, love and war. And it’s a series I think I will re-read in full now that all the books have been released. Run! Run! Run! to get your own copy, and let yourself be swept into a dangerous world in which nothing can be won in advance.
I would have thought there to be worse fates than this, but now I know there are none. Man is no island. We need those who love us. We need those who hate us. We need others to tether us to life, to give us a reason to live, to feel.
I don’t remember feeling so frightened before the Iron Rain. Was I braver then? Maybe just more naïve.
And Mustang has. More than that. She’s proven Eo right. And it wasn’t because of me. It wasn’t because of love. It was because it was the right thing to do.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
Twitter: ejaygirl77
Great review, Lexxie. This one’s going to kill me.
Yes, it’s definitely going to kill you, Jonetta, but in such a good way!
Twitter: Mlsimmons
Great review Lexxie. This is a series I’ve yet to try. It sounds really good. And I’ve heard good things about the audios, so I’m going to have to move up on my TBR list. Really glad it wrapped up good for you.
It is amazing, Melanie! The world-building is so well done, and there are different plot-lines, and fleshed out characters… all the things I enjoy in a story.
Such an emotional review, Lexxie! Even if it’s vague, you conveyed how much this book (and series) made you feel. And that’s something I dearly love in a story. I may not run today but I will run soon to pick up a copy of Red Rising. 😉
**BIG HUGS**
What do you mean you may not run out today, Brandee? I think you, and your kids, too, will love this series. It’s really well done, and I’m going to get it on audio so I can enjoy it all over again.
Can I tell you how jealous I am that you have already read this book? 🙂 I can’t wait to start this one and I am so glad to hear that this series is ending strong. I am so glad to hear that you loved it. Great review!
I was so lucky because it was sent early from Book Depository! I really thought I wouldn’t get my hand on it until the release day, but when I got it early, I just stopped everything I was doing. I hope you’ll love it, too, Carole.
Twitter: bmreviewsohmy
If I have a slot this month I am going to try and listen to Red Rising, not my normal genre but I shall give it a try. 🙂
I know it’s not your usual genre, Stormi, but this story is so well done! I hope you’ll end up enjoying it 🙂
Twitter: talksupeblog
Vague I fine. We’ve all been there at least once a month because is book is so awesome!
I can Tell that this installment is so emotional and that you really connected with it. Good news for non sci-fi readers like me
I absolutely loved it, Braine! And yeah, not spoiling anything is more important to me than writing a very detailed review.
I don’t mind vague – sometimes you can’t do anything but be vague if you don’t want to give the plot away. 🙂 This one sounds like an awesome book.
It’s really good, Majanka! If you haven’t started this series yet, you should give it a try.
“Brown paints his storyline in sweeping colors and large strokes, and it’s impossible not to feel as if we’re in the middle of it all, both the heartache and the triumph, the darkness and the possibility of light” wow! what a beautiful review Lexxie! You are pretty good at this writing thing too! O..M..G now I can’t wait to finish this series!!! Thanks for the great review! LOVE IT!
Thank you, Daniela 🙂 It’s really true, though, his writing is awesome – I guess I felt inspired 😉 I can’t wait to see what you think of Morning Star.
Guess what ? I have Red rising but haven’t read it yet 😀 (I should copy/paste that sentence, memorize it or something like that, I use it all the time). I wasn’t planning on reading just yet when it was chosen by Kim’s book club on Facebook for february, so I’ll finally, finally ! be reading that series. Good times ahead, it seems 🙂 Your vague review is excellent, as usual, bisous !
Now that just won’t do, Iza. I’m glad you’ll be starting the series this week. Thanks for stopping by. Bisous <3
I still need to dive into my copy of Red Rising so I just skimmed your review here Lexxie^^ I wanted to know what you thought of the conclusion! I’m really happy that you loved it and vague reviews are almost necessary at the end of a series aren’t they?! Thanks for sharing your thoughts here and have a wonderful week ♥
Yeah, there is really no spoilers in this – but I think I still managed to emphasise that I really enjoyed myself 😉
This is a series i have been meaning to start for ages but I guess now I can dive in since it is all done. Glad to see it finished strong and you enjoyed it! Great review!
It’s a great series, Grace, and I really hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. I’m getting it on audio now, so I have a good excuse for a full re-read 😀
I can’t WAIT to read this! I would be reading it right now, but I want to save it for when I’m feeling better and can fully enjoy it.
Are you still not feeling well? 🙁 I keep sending you healing thoughts, Christy, and I hope you’ll be in tip top shape to read Morning Star soon.
Twitter: kbaby81
I really need to hurry and read Golden Son, so I can read this. Great review!
Oh my goodness, Lekeisha, yes! Read Golden Son, then this one. I hope you’ll love both 🙂
It’s hard to review a last book in the series without giving anything away. But even thought it’s vague, I do think you express how much you enjoyed this book well. I don’t read a lot of dystopia’s anymore as I am not always in the mood for the dark books. I do like that how in this type of books the ending seems even sweeter after everything they did to fight for it. I might have to give this series a try once, it sounds good! Great review Lexie!
I’m glad my love for both this book and the whole series came through even if I had to be very vague, Lola 🙂
Twitter: limabean74
You are so making me want to read this series but I am not a big SciFi girl. Your enthusiasm is contagious! 🙂 I saw you bought the audio books for this, I would be curious to see what you think of those I might be able to follow along better listening than reading.
I skimmed the review since it’s book 3 but I know you don’t do spoilers.
Great Review Lexxie (the parts I did read) 😉
Yup, I have this whole series on kindle, hard-back AND audio… that right there tells you all you need to know 😉
Ok I have skipped your review as I have still to read this, as soon as my ARC arrived I decided to re-read the entire series and am half way through Morning Son. But I wanted to see what you thought and those stars look good, I can’t wait to read it!
I have to go check if you’ve had the chance to read it now, Heather…I have no idea how I missed your comment in February :O