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; it is 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 au Raa murdered at Darrow's victory feast, prompting the Rim Golds' rebellion against the Society. In the year since the Lion's Rain, Roque's Sword Armada has defeated Virginia's fleet, then attacked Jupiter's moons. Howler Thistle has defected to the Jackal's Boneriders and Sevro has become Ares, leading the Rising's war against the Society. Darrow is imprisoned and tortured by Adrius, giving up his home mining colony of Lykos. A doppelgänger of Darrow is publicly executed and Sevro publicly reveals Darrow's Red origin, sparking system-wide riots and rebellion among the lowColors.

Adrius plans to hand Darrow to Octavia's Praetorians for dissection, but two of them, siblings Holiday and Trigg, rescue Darrow on behalf of the Sons of Ares. Upon discovering Victra is alive and also in captivity, they extract her. Darrow subdues and kills a mocking Vixus, but Aja au Grimmus kills Trigg before Sevro and Ragnar rescue the group. After recuperating, Darrow, Victra, and Holiday join the Howlers, with Sevro continuing to lead the Rising, despite Darrow's increasing disillusion with his guerrilla tactics.

While attempting to kidnap Adrius's financial ally Quicksilver on Phobos, the Howlers ignite a skirmish during Quicksilver's peace negotiation between the Society and Virginia's forces. Cassius escapes, Virginia flees after identifying Darrow, and the Howlers kidnap Quicksilver, Matteo, and Kavax. Quicksilver reveals that he co-founded the Sons of Ares, resenting Gold for holding stifling scientific and economic progress. Sevro and Darrow fight and reconcile, with Sevro ceding leadership to Darrow. Ragnar frees Kavax and Virginia then finds and joins Darrow to determine if he is someone who can rebuild from the ashes of Society.

The Rising seizes Phobos as a diversion, allowing Darrow, Ragnar, Holiday, and Virginia to visit the southern pole of Mars to recruit Obsidians. Cassius and Aja follow. Virginia incapacitates Cassius, but Aja fatally wounds Ragnar and escapes. A dying Ragnar reunites with Sefi before Darrow euthanizes him. They find that Ragnar's mother Alia Snowsparrow is complicit with the Society Golds' deception of Obsidians. Darrow, Virginia, and Sefi invade Asgard, defeating the Society Golds, and Sefi executes Alia. Sefi leads the Obsidians in joining the Rising's fleet. Captured, Cassius reveals that Octavia's secret stockpile of planet-killing nuclear bombs was stolen, likely by Adrius.

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

The Rising and the Rim's fleets attack Roque's. Darrow sacrifices the Pax to storm Roque's flagship Colossus. Roque's Pink valet turns on him, allowing Darrow's party to board the bridge. Refusing capture, Roque takes his own life in front of Darrow.

Using Colossus, Darrow and Victra destroy Ganymede's shipyards to impede the Rim Golds' ability to fight the Rising, with Roque being blamed. Antonia's ships flee and the Sword Armada is shattered. Romulus realizes Darrow's lie but resentfully maintains it to avoid costly war against the Rising. Victra captures Antonia and Thistle. Antonia kills Thistle, leaving her the only one with knowledge of Adrius' plans and preventing Victra from killing her.

Adrius broadcasts himself executing Narol, prompting Sefi to lead a riot in the Rising's fleet against Gold prisoners. Sevro intervenes, stating that in war, they are all mudererus, hanging himself alongside Cassius. Sefi cuts them down and Sevro forgives Cassius. In the aftermath, Victra and Sevro marry. Adrius admits to Darrow that he intentionally killed Quinn. Darrow reveals to Cassius that the Bellona family was massacred not by the Darrow or the Rising, but by Adrius, with Octavia's knowledge.

The Rising's fleet attacks Luna, which Adrius anticipates, marshalling his own forces alongside Octavia's and the Ash Lord. Darrow releases Cassius, who vows to leave the war behind, but then turns on them seemingly killing Sevro and taking Darrow and Virginia prisoner. Cassius frees Antonia and they leave 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 from the Sovereign's bunker. Over the HC, Octavia sentences Darrow to death before the entire system, but Cassius suddenly frees Darrow and Virginia. Darrow fatally stabs Octavia and wakes Sevro from a planned death-like stupor. Together Darrow, Virginia, Cassius, and Sevro kill Aja. As she dies, Octavia begs them to stop Adrius, who has placed the stolen nuclear bombs on Luna to blackmail Octavia into making him Sovereign. He has Lilath detonate several, killing millions. To stop him, Darrow tears out Adrius' tongue. Lysander persuades the Ash Lord to attack Lilath, and both he and the Rising destroy her ship, ending the nuclear threat.

Virginia becomes Sovereign, with Lysander, Darrow, Sevro, Cassius, and the Senate recognizing her ascent. The Rising captures Luna, Mars, and Earth, while the Ash Lord's 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. She and Darrow begin work to reform the remnants of the Society. On Earth, 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, published in January 2018. [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]

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.