Review: Morning Star

Review: Morning Star

By Pierce Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazon Blurb
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.

The Good
The amazing characters of the Red Rising series finally arrive--bruised and bloody--to book three: Morning Star.

Pierce Brown doesn't sugar coat or coddle his characters. He kicks them in the teeth before stabbing them in the kidney. Heroes and villains alike act honestly to their true motivations, even admitting that they might be wrong, but making their choices anyway. Difficult choices in a dangerous world.

Pierce's villains also have this amazing ability to actually out-think the heroes, and when they do, its harsh.

The Bad
Book three of the Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay, had the same difficulties that Morning Star had: combat fatigue.

I DO NOT think that this was a problem, but it does give readers the same weariness the characters are experiencing. Morning Star and Mockingjay both present the final battles of a very intense series. Most people thought Mockingjay fell flat because of Katniss' mental unraveling at the end, but I felt it was honest. Similarly, Morning Star doesn't hold any punches and brutalizes the characters through the final resolution.

After finishing it, I felt like I needed combat decompression.

And that's a hell of an experience.

Audio Version
Tim Gerard Reynolds was the best choice for narrator they could have made. His performance of each character is flawless. Loved every minute of his presentation.

The Spin
Morning Star completes the Red Rising series in epic fashion. Pierce Brown is a master of complex characters, tight plotting, and no-holds-barred storytelling. If you're looking for a gritty fixation after the Hunger Games, pick up this series. It's a 'can't miss.'