Morning Star, by Pierce Brown
Book Review by SJ Higbee
I picked up the first book, Red Rising -- see my review here -- last month and was blown away by the full-on action, the twists and turns and the climactic ending. Yes... I'm aware that there is a Hunger Games vibe that runs through it, but given that I thoroughly enjoyed The Hunger Games trilogy anyway, and that Brown's detailed worldbuilding had the savage winnowing embedded within the culture that Darrow is rebelling against, I didn't have a problem with it. The second book, Golden Son -- see my review here -- was equally action-packed, with a similarly cataclysmic ending that had me longing to get hold of the third book.
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.
As it happens, I didn't have to wait too long, as it was released a few days ago -- yippee! Would this final book continue to engross me? To be honest, it did have a slightly sticky start. Brown's forthright pacey style stuttered, and I found the opening pages a bit of a trudge as it seems to backtrack, rather than plunge headlong into the galloping plot. However, I persevered as I had really enjoyed the first two slices of this adventure, and was very curious to see how it would all pan out. About a quarter of the way in, the book picked up pace as Darrow was busy trying to stay alive, lurching from crisis to crisis as the rebellion kicked off around him.
I like his character. Brown manages to provide the classic, driven alpha male who nonetheless is assailed by doubts and painfully aware of the consequences of some of his actions. I also enjoyed the fact that although there are regular outbreaks of bloody violence throughout the trilogy -- this is not one for the squeamish -- those deaths continue to impact on the action, both personally and politically. I like the fact that it mattered when some of the characters died -- and went on mattering throughout the trilogy.
Once Morning Star found its feet, the plot barrelled forward with Brown's usual explosive energy. There is also a fair amount of humour running through the story and some moving moments as Darrow strives to hold onto the group of people he has befriended during his roller-coaster progress, though those friendships are constantly threatened by the sense of betrayal they feel at his duplicity. I also enjoyed the dilemma Darrow faces as he becomes the poster boy for the rebellion due to a particular piece of film repeatedly shown to inspire the Reds to rise up for justice. How can he move on from his bereavement and invest in another relationship, when he is defined by his heartbreak and grief?
Not that Brown breaks his stride when presenting his character this particular problem -- he is too busy creating yet another crushing problem for Darrow to endure. So, did he accomplish a suitably climactic and convincing ending? Yes, he did. It was a fitting conclusion to a really entertaining and enjoyable read -- and if you haven't yet had the pleasure, don't start with Morning Star, get hold of Red Rising. Pierce Brown is One To Watch.SJ Higbee
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