Review by: Samantha M. Siciliano
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WARNING: THIS REVIEW HAS MASSIVE SPOILERS!
Quick Summary:
Morning Star is the third installment of the Red Rising trilogy. Like the other two, it is set in the future where humanity has colonized the Milky Way, and the galaxy is divided by a rigid caste system to “keep order.” This sci-fi, dystopian story follows Darrow, a Red turned Gold, who continues to navigate the politics and wars of the Gold-run universe, all while trying to change the society that has done nothing but oppress and destroy so many Colors and families over centuries. Darrow must rely on his friends, both Golds and lower Colors, to try to navigate the war against the Sovereign and her allies. Will he be able to build a new society that accepts all as equal? Will he be able to trust his friends? Will the Sons of Ares and their allies prevail in starting to create the systematic change they wish to see?
The Review:
I highly recommend listening to the audiobook while reading along. Tim Gerard Reynolds is a spectacular narrator who immersed me even further into the book.
***
These books would make a brilliant TV series- if the creators stay true to the books and don’t fuck it up like Game of Thrones. So many scenes leap off the page with cinematic energy: the pulse-quickening duels (Aja and Ragnar’s showdown specifically), the gut-wrenching deaths, and the little heart-to-hearts captured my imagination, attention, and emotions. This book will put you through a spectrum of emotions- joy, sorrow, anger, heartbreak. As Trigg so perfectly puts it, “Shit will animate a corpse.” This book will wake up emotions that you haven’t felt from a book in a long time, having you wishing you could watch it unfold on a big screen.
***
This is most definitely not a popular opinion, but if I were to rank the trilogy by sheer epicness, Golden Son would easily take the top spot, Red Rising would be second, and Morning Star third. The ending of Golden Son lives rent-free in my head- I find myself wanting to go back and reread it all the time. Red Rising was a blast, especially getting to know the young characters and watching Darrow both succeed and fail within the mini world of Golds. I love a good underdog story! Although the prose was a bit rougher than the sequels, I like to think that it matched Darrow’s own raw entry into the Gold-run society. Morning Star, on the other hand, had some truly beautiful prose, but I found myself less invested at times. The space battles didn’t grab me, and some of the speeches felt like they dragged on. Still, the emotions in this book were intense- raw, deep, and sometimes harsh.
***
If Golden Son is dysfunctional, Morning Star is downright soul-crushing. The emotional weight of this book is staggering- there were moments when I had to set it down and collect my thoughts or process emotions. The torture that Darrow and Victra endured (oh yeah, she isn’t dead), the painfully slow and agonizing death of Ragnar, and 100% Sevro’s death were the three major events that hit me like a freight train.
Then there was Trigg’s demise, Mustang efforts and tests she creates when rebuilding her relationship with Darrow, and the unwavering support from the various Colors, which adds even more layers of heartbreak and hope. Darrow’s mother’s raw emotions, Narol perishing, Jackal’s relentless threats and nuclear bombs, Aja’s last stand, Sevro’s resurrection, and Quicksilver’s secret involvement with the Sons. Each chapter seemed designed to wring out every last emotion, from despair to hope, anger to bittersweet relief.
Darrow’s torture in Morning Star was especially difficult for me to read- it stirred up a lot of emotions, including my anxiety, depression, and PTSD from my past experiences. I had heard and read that this book was darker than the others, but I wasn’t prepared for just how intense and raw those scenes would be. It was a real struggle to get through that part of the story. Thankfully, once I made it past those chapters, the rest of the book didn’t hit quite as hard mentally.
The deaths of Ragnar and Sevro destroyed me, making me bawl like a baby. With Sevro’s death, I was completely undone- ugly crying in my comfy chair as my hubby came over to remind me that it was just a book. But in that moment, it felt like I had lost a best friend.
Throughout the story, I found myself reflecting on how Sevro is the heart of the Rising. If Sevro embodies the spirit and emotional core of the rebellion, Mustang is the strategic mind, while Darrow is the face and muscle- ready to lead and fight when it matters most. These characters and the bonds between them are what make the trilogy so powerful and unforgettable.
***
Sevro’s role in Morning Star is nothing short of legendary. When Darrow was captured and publicly “executed,” it was Sevro who kept the Rising alive, refusing to give up hope and relentlessly searching for his friend, who was miserable in the Jackal’s dungeon. Sevro was instrumental in helping Darrow rebuild- mentally and physically- reminding him of his strength and purpose, even if it was Sevro’s leadership as Ares that brought him back to life. He was more focused on causing chaos for the Sovereign than advancing the rebellion in a traditional sense.
Throughout the book, Sevro’s wild, reckless stunts added both tension and comic relief (look ma, no hands! (he said as he jumped off a bridge with a noose around his neck)). One of those non-attemptable stunts was absolutely NOT Sevro getting married! That was fantastic. The scene where Darrow comforts Sevro before his wedding is one of my favorites: Sevro, anxious and convinced Victra might change her mind, is calmed by Darrow’s words- “…But my uncle told me that it’s women who see us better than we see ourselves.” Darrow and Sevro's playful honesty is fun to read: “Sevro, you’re a lot of things. You’re smelly. You’re small. Your tattoo taste is questionable. Your pornographic proclivities are… uh, eccentric. And you’ve got really weird toenails.” Sevro’s response to the toenail comment is priceless, capturing the brotherly humor that they share and making their friendship memorable.
I really enjoyed that this book was not a revenge story. Torture does a lot of damage to the psyche, and it can break a person. It can make one bitter. Or it could make someone more compassionate and averse to inflicting suffering on others. The outcome for anyone is a spectrum.
What stood out to me was how these experiences changed not only Darrow but also those around him. Sevro, for example, saw the aftermath of Darrow’s suffering and gradually moved away from the idea of destroying all those who stood in their way. Instead, he embraced a more hopeful vision for the future. A powerful moment demonstrating that was one of Sevro’s speeches:
“Darrow’s wife…” Sevro croaks, larynx damaged. “His wife,” he says more deeply. “And my father never met. But they shared a dream. One of a free world. Not built on corpses, but on hope. On the love that binds us, not the hate that divides. We have lost many. But we are not broken. We are not defeated. We fight on. But we do not fight for revenge for those who have died. We fight for each other. We fight for those who live. We fight for those who don’t yet live.”
Goosebumps! It’s a reminder that even in the darkest times, the fight can be for something greater than vengeance- it can be for hope, love, and a better future.
Mustang wasn’t always front and center for me, but her impact was undeniable- especially when she and Darrow were on a mission at the Pole. I think my favorite scene with Mustang is when Sefi and her Valkyrie lead her and Darrow to the home of the “Gods.” This was just a magnificently written segment. Watching Mustang reveal the “gods” as mere mortals was a turning point, shifting the power dynamic and fueling the Rising’s momentum by adding the Obsidians to team Rising. Her line of “There’s five gods left,” Mustang says. “How’d you ladies like to meet them?” was simply perfect. That next chapter was absolutely wonderful.
By the end of Morning Star, Mustang’s true test for Darrow became clear: she needed to know he could build, not just destroy. In a galaxy where tearing down things or people is easy, Mustang wanted a future where she and Pax would be welcomed, valued, and loved- a society built on hope and not just victory.
Darrow’s arc is a testament to transformation. He moves from a mission of destruction- burning the Gold world for Reds to rise- to a vision of unity, where every Color has a place in the new order. This happened during his healing journey from the loss of the world he had surrounded himself in after the Institute in Golden Son, and the heartbreaking torture from the Jackal. He channels his pain into rebuilding an army and his community of Colors that he is hoping to introduce to lead the way for the change that he and his friends envisioned.
He was no longer driven by rage and led with diplomacy and empathy, even when facing difficult people and situations. It would have been easy for Darrow to lose his mind against the Jackal, Roque, and Cassius. Instead, he treated them with dignity and was even willing to give them a second chance to join him in building something greater. Unfortunately, each chose a different outcome. Jackal was given forced justice (there was no rehabilitation for this dude), Roque went by suicide (and a long explanation that kind of bored me), and Cassius joined Darrow for a brief moment for an epic partnership.
Adrius, the Jackal, is hands-down one of the most unforgettable villains in sci-fi. This quote-
“I listened to your proposal, now listen to mine. Run. Now. While you can. But know, wherever you go, wherever you hide, you cannot protect your friends. I’m going to kill them all and put you back in the darkness with their severed heads for company. There is no way out, Darrow. This I promise you.”
- is complete nightmare fuel. HOLY FUCK! Hearing Reynolds deliver those lines in the audiobook gave me chills. The pauses were SUPREME. The malice in his voice was FLAWLESS. The calmness and surety that Reynolds spoke, IMPECCABLE.
Brown crafted a villain who is as compelling as he is terrifying. The Jackal’s backstory, revealed through Mustang, adds layers of tragedy and fury to his character. He has always been obsessed with winning, willing to sacrifice anything and anyone to come out on top. I haven’t felt such visceral hate for a character since reading Harry Potter, where Umbridge was the villain. Adrius is cold, relentless, and unforgettable.
The Rising’s greatest strength was the unity, knowledge, and skills of the various Colors. Under the rule of the Golds, racism kept everyone divided and powerless, but the revolution proved how vital each Color’s skills were for the success of the Rising. Holiday and Trigg, elite Gray soldiers (and siblings), rescued and protected Darrow. Ragnar, more than just a skilled warrior, showed the world the Obsidians’ capacity for joy and family when he played with Darrow’s nephews and nieces. What a big softie! Orion, a Blue, became a legendary Praetor, who would not have had a chance to have this role if it weren’t for the Rising (best space pirate I know!). Reds Narol and Dancer led with a vision, one that Darrow modified. Other Reds were able to use the equipment and their technical expertise to help dismantle “indestructible” ships. Sefi was a leader of the Valkyrie under her mother, but she became THE leader when her mother was beheaded. She brought the Obsidians from the Pole to the “civilized” world. She grew and learned every time we engaged with her. Quicksilver, a Silver (duh, I know), was supplying money, people, and other resources to the Sons of Ares from the shadows.
When the Colors worked together, they became more than pawns of the Golds- they became the architects of the new world they are building, proving that the true strength comes from unity, not division.
***
There were many moments in Morning Star where the prose flowed off the page, swirled around my head, into my ears, landing gracefully within my brain where I could drown in the text. One of the most powerful scenes for me was Darrow’s reunion with his mother after surviving unimaginable torture. The way Brown describes the comfort, the scent of home, and the release of pain is simply breathtaking:
“She kisses my forehead and rocks her head against mine. She smells like rust and sweat and oil. Like home. She tells me I am her son. There is nothing to apologize for. I am safe. I am loved. The family is here. Kieran, Leanna, their children. Waiting to see me. I sob uncontrollably, sharing all the pain my solitude forced me to hoard. The tears a deeper language than my tongue can afford. I am exhausted by the time she kisses me again on the head and pulls back.”
I mean, come on! My heart grew three sizes reading this! After all Darrow endured- believing his family was suffering too- the relief in this moment was palpable. I felt it right alongside him, like a breath of fresh air after being locked away. This reconnection to his mother, siblings, and uncle was so deep and visceral. There are countless examples of Brown’s wonderful prose, but this scene stands out because it landed in my heart.
***
Some of my favorite quotes:
“Nah. Death chewed on me a bit. Then spat my bloody ass back out.”
-Narol
“Government is never the solution, but it is almost always the problem.”
-Quicksilver
“The Golds claim to the Obsidians that they are gods. They are not. Gods create. If Golds are anything, they are vampire kings. Parasites drinking from our jugular. I want a Society free of this fascist pyramid. I want to unchain the free market of wealth and ideas. Why should men toil in the mines when we can build robots to toil for us? Why should we ever have stopped in this Solar System? We deserve more than what we’ve been given.”
-Quicksilver
I think the shittiest part of getting old is now we’re smart enough to see the cracks in everything.”
-Darrow
“Howler Rule 17. Only Pixies shower before battle,”… “I like my soldiers savage, stinky, and sexy…”
-Sevro
My friends have filled the hollow carved in me by my wife’s death. They’ve made me whole again.”
-Darrow
Sefi pulls a handful of dried mushrooms from a satchel. “God’s bread?” she asks. “You will see dragons.”
“War’s scary enough, darling,” Victra says.
***
One of the biggest debates in the Red Rising fandom is how Brown handled Sevro’s resurrection in the Sovereign’s lair. I’ll admit, as much as I hated him for making me ugly cry over Sevro’s death, the PURE JOY I felt at that twist was off the charts. It’s moments like these that remind me why it’s so important for authors to experiment with their storytelling. If writers never take risks or try new techniques, how can they grow or surprise their readers? Brown’s willingness to keep us guessing- and to play with our emotions like a puppet master- made the payoff that much sweeter.
My biggest gripe with Morning Star was the pacing- especially during the space battles. I often caught myself itching to jump ahead to the political intrigue, close combat, and those rapid-fire moments that kept me hooked. Maybe it’s just me, though; my husband totally disagrees (he can be the weird one in this galaxy!).
***
This book was an emotional roller coaster- every feeling I have had its moment in the spotlight! If it had been my physical book, and not my husband’s, I may have chosen violence and thrown it across the room more than once (especially at Ragnar and Sevro’s deaths). Morning Star had the alley-oop from Golden Son, but the ball went in slow motion to the rim, bumped around, and finally sank.
I am hoping the next books bring more explosive events like the ending of Golden Son, destroy my emotions again, resurrect me with new winds as more characters join (PAX!), and have the lyrical prose of the third book that made so many scenes stand out. My hubs did tell me that the next book is from multiple POV, so I am extra excited! This book shall receive a 4.4/5. Seriously- READ THE FRACKING BOOK!
Up Next: Shifting Flames by Aleeza Nelson
