Morning Star (Brown novel)

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Morning Star
Morning Star (2016).jpg
First edition cover
Author Pierce Brown
Audio read byTim Gerard Reynolds
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction
Publisher Del Rey Books (US)
Publication date
February 9, 2016
Publication placeUnited States
Media type
Pages518
ISBN 0-345-53984-2
Preceded by Golden Son  
Followed by Iron Gold  

Morning Star is a 2016 science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown, the third in his Red Rising trilogy. Morning Star picks up as the lowborn Darrow escapes capture and resumes his campaign against the tyrannical Sovereign of the Society. Pragmatic as ever, he begins to amass the resources and allies he needs to defeat the forces of the Sovereign.

Contents

Preceded by Red Rising (2014) and Golden Son (2015), Morning Star was published on February 9, 2016, and debuted at #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list. Brown announced a sequel trilogy in February 2016, to begin with the novel Iron Gold in January 2018.

Plot

Harmony's betrayal of Darrow to Adrius saw Io's ArchGovernor Revus murdered at Darrow's victory feast, prompting the Rim Golds' rebellion against the Society. Roque's fleet defeats Virginia's, then attacks Jupiter's moons. Howler Thistle defects to the Boneriders. Sevro becomes Ares, leading the Rising's war against the Society. Darrow is kidnapped; Adrius borrows Darrow for a year to torture, interrogate and imprison him. A doppelgänger of Darrow is publicly executed; Sevro publicly reveals Darrow's Red origin.

When Adrius hands Darrow to Octavia's Praetorians, two of them, Holiday and Trigg, rescue Darrow, who makes them rescue Victra. Darrow subdues and kills a mocking Vixus. Aja kills Trigg before Sevro and Ragnar rescue the group. After recuperating, Darrow, Victra, and Holiday join the Howlers.

Aiming to kidnap Adrius's ally Quicksilver on Phobos, the Howlers ignite a battle during Quicksilver's peace negotiation between the Society and Virginia's forces. Moira and the Death Knight are killed; Virginia flees after identifying Darrow. The Howlers kidnap Quicksilver, Matteo, and Kavax. Quicksilver reveals that he co-founded the Sons of Ares. Sevro and Darrow fight and reconcile; Sevro lets Darrow lead. Ragnar frees Kavax so that Virginia will negotiate.

The Rising seizes Phobos as a distraction, allowing Darrow, Ragnar, Holiday, and Virginia to visit Mars to recruit Obsidians. Cassius and Aja follow. Virginia incapacitates Cassius; Aja fatally wounds Ragnar and escapes. Ragnar reunites with Sefi before Darrow euthanizes him. Alia is complicit with the Society Golds' deception of Obsidians. Darrow, Virginia, and Sefi invade Asgard, defeating the Society Golds, who Sefi executes after killing Alia. Sefi leads the Obsidians in joining the Rising's fleet. Captured, Cassius reveals that Octavia's secret nuclear bomb stockpile was stolen, likely by Adrius.

Darrow sends the Rising's fleet to Jupiter to ally with the Rim Golds. Darrow meets the Rim's new Sovereign, Romulus, who invites Roque and Darrow to negotiate. Darrow lies that Roque's fleet has Adrius' nuclear bombs that will decimate the Rim. Roque admits the nuclear depot's existence; Romulus sides with Darrow in return for Darrow giving up the Rim's Sons of Ares.

The Rising and the Rim's fleets attack Roque's. Darrow sacrifices Pax (formerly Vanguard) to storm Roque's flagship Colossus. Roque's Pink valet, Amathea, helps Darrow's boarding party succeed. Refusing capture, Roque takes his own life in front of Darrow.

Using Colossus, Darrow and Victra destroy Ganymede's dockyards to impede the Rim Golds' ability to fight the Rising, with Roque being blamed. Antonia's ships flee; Roque's fleet loses. Romulus realizes Darrow's lie but maintains it to avoid war against the Rising. Victra captures Antonia and Thistle. Antonia kills Thistle to stop her from revealing Adrius' secrets.

Adrius broadcasts himself executing Narol, prompting Sefi's deadly riot in the Rising's fleet against Gold prisoners. Sevro intervenes, hanging himself and Cassius for being murderers. A disillusioned Sefi saves them; Sevro forgives Cassius. Victra and Sevro marry. Adrius admits to killing Quinn to Darrow. Darrow shows Cassius that most of his family was killed by Adrius, with Octavia's knowledge.

Darrow has the Rising's fleet attack Luna, which Adrius anticipates. Darrow orders Orion to allow Cassius to escape. Cassius (seemingly) kills Sevro, takes Darrow and Virginia hostage, and frees Antonia; the group leaves the Rising's fleet. Adrius brings them to Octavia, who has Aja execute Antonia for desertion.

Darrow lies about an Obsidian invasion, drawing guards away. Octavia sentences Darrow to death, but Cassius frees Darrow and helps him kill the remaining guards present. Darrow fatally stabs Octavia and wakes Sevro with adrenaline. Darrow, Virginia, Cassius, and Sevro kill Aja. Octavia warns about Adrius as she dies. Adrius, who placed the stolen nuclear bombs on Luna to blackmail Octavia into making him Sovereign, has Lilath detonate them, killing millions. Darrow tears out Adrius' tongue. Lysander persuades Magnus to attack Lilath. Magnus and the Rising's fleet destroy Lilath's ship, ending the nuclear explosions.

Virginia becomes Sovereign, with Darrow, Sevro, Cassius, and the Senate kneeling. The Rising captures Luna, Mars, and Earth, while Magnus' fleet retreats to Mercury and Venus. Sefi's Obsidians return to Mars and Cassius adopts Lysander. Adrius is publicly executed. Virginia dissolves the Senate and charges thousands with crimes against humanity. Virginia reveals to Darrow that she secretly gave birth to their son, Pax.

Characters

The Rising

The Rising is the revolutionary movement featured in the book, which seeks to reform or overthrow the ruling hierarchy to achieve fair treatment and justice for all human races. It comprises The Sons of Ares (the rebellious organization that originally started the movement), The Sun Industries (their financier), several Obsidian tribes and part of the fleet of the Lion House of Mars. Their characters include:

The Society

The Society is the tyrannical government that has ruled the whole solar system but lost control of all planets beyond the asteroid belt before the start of the book. It characters include:

Others

In March 2016, Brown named Victra is his favorite character to write, saying that she "is dark and broken...but she finds her way back". [1] He added, "And the Jackal because he's that little dark part of me that is lonely, the jealous part. He just always wants what he can't have." [1] Brown said of Mustang's final mercy towards her brother, the Jackal, that "Some readers have been very vocal that they didn't think that he deserved any mercy, but I always felt he was as much a victim of his own life, and even if redemption was not possible, someone showed him love at the very end." [1] Brown also noted that he almost killed off Cassius, saying "Cassius' taking care of Lysander also gave me a reason to save him. Darrow would have killed him otherwise. Ultimately, he didn't kill him because he felt guilty. Which plays into the next series ..." [1]

Publication

Morning Star is the third and final novel in Brown's Red Rising trilogy, preceded by Red Rising (2014) and Golden Son (2015). [2] In August 2015, Brown said of the novel:

I'm working on the second draft [of Morning Star] as we speak. It's a more ambitious book than either Red Rising or Golden Son, so I've got my work cut out for me, but I couldn't be more pleased with how things are going so far. It's my last baby in the Red Rising Trilogy, so I want to make it the best. [3]

It was published on February 9, 2016, and debuted at #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list. [4] It reached #1 on USA Today 's Best-Selling Books list, [5] and won the Goodreads Choice Award for science fiction. [6]

Brown announced a sequel trilogy in February 2016, [5] to begin with the novel Iron Gold in August 2017. [7]

Reception

Kirkus Reviews called Morning Star an "ambitious and satisfying conclusion to a monumental saga", noting that "Brown creates an alternative universe that is multilayered and seething with characters who exist in a shadow world between history and myth, much as in Frank Herbert's Dune ." [8] Marc Snetiker of Entertainment Weekly referred to Brown as "science fiction's best-kept secret", calling the novel "devastating and inspiring" and writing that "the violence here is grimmer, its humor more unsettling, its forgiveness rarer, its casualties more sickening." [9] Publishers Weekly called the Morning Star "excellent", adding that "Brown's vivid, first-person prose puts the reader right at the forefront of impassioned speeches, broken families, and engaging battle scenes that don't shy away from the gore as this intrastellar civil war comes to a most satisfying conclusion." [10] Kristine Huntley of Booklist described the novel as "simply stellar", calling it "a page-turning epic filled with twists and turns, heartbreaks and daring gambles" and praising Brown's "fabulously imagined universe". [11] Comparing the series to Star Wars and calling Morning Star "this trilogy's Return of the Jedi ", Niall Alexander wrote in Tor.com that "as an ending, it absolutely satisfies" while noting some flaws in pacing, character development and accessibility for new readers. [12] Jason Sheehan of NPR praised Brown's vivid action scenes but wrote that this third installment is heavy on exposition. [13]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Kyriazis, Stefan (March 6, 2016). "Red Rising author Pierce Brown on film casting, the Irongold sequels & fan power". Daily Express . Archived from the original on January 28, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Red Rising Trilogy Book 3: Morning Star". RedRisingBook.com (Official website). Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  3. ↑ Liang, Adrian (August 2, 2015). "Q&A with Red Rising and Golden Son Author Pierce Brown". Omnivoracious. Archived from the original on August 6, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Best Sellers for the week of February 28, 2016". The New York Times . February 21, 2016. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Truitt, Brian (February 17, 2016). "Pierce Brown lands at No. 1 with Morning Star, plans new series". USA Today . Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Best Science Fiction 2016 — Goodreads Choice Awards". Goodreads. Archived from the original on November 27, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  7. ↑ Snetiker, Marc (December 15, 2016). "Pierce Brown debuts new Red Rising trilogy, cover, plot". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Morning Star by Pierce Brown". Kirkus Reviews . December 9, 2015. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  9. ↑ Snetiker, Marc (February 4, 2016). "Morning Star: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 7, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Fiction Book Review: Morning Star: Red Rising, Book 3". Publishers Weekly . February 2016. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  11. ↑ Huntley, Kristine (February 1, 2016). Morning Star by Pierce Brown (Starred Review). Archived from the original on May 21, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016– via Booklist.
  12. ↑ Alexander, Niall (February 8, 2016). "Return of the Reaper: Morning Star by Pierce Brown". Tor.com . Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  13. ↑ Sheehan, Jason (February 9, 2016). "Morning Star Brings Red Rising Trilogy To An End ... Eventually". NPR. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
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