Morning Star by Pierce Brown

Wow oh wow, just wow.

This has to be my favorite in the trilogy so far. There are so many moments where you’re thinking, “He couldn’t possibly…” But oh, sweet summer child, he absolutely could. And he does. Over and over again. Just when you think the stakes can’t get any higher, Pierce Brown laughs in your face and cranks the dial to eleven.

I was genuinely left speechless more times than I can count. I kept pausing the trilogy just to spam my friends with emotionally unstable updates. The biggest offender? Book three, 100%.

This book is war. Unrelenting, brutal, soul-shattering war. And yet somehow, in the middle of all that bloodshed, betrayal, and grief, there’s still space for humor, banter, and these gut-wrenchingly beautiful character moments that make it all hit even harder. 

So much comes together in this one and just as much falls apart. You never quite know where you're standing. That sense of tension and instability is relentless in the best way. Is that thin ice I hear cracking beneath my feet? Oh, wait, no. That’s just the sound of my heart completely shattering into a thousand tiny shards. I refuse. I deny thee! Give it back.

The sheer amount of loss in this book is staggering. So. Much. Death. No one feels safe, and honestly, that’s part of what makes the story so compelling. There are no guarantees here. You’re just white-knuckling your way through, hoping your favorite doesn’t get obliterated by a plot twist.

And speaking of favorites… Sevro. My gremlin king. My disgusting little goblin of a man. I would start a full-scale rebellion for you without a second thought. His chaotic energy and unhinged sense of humor somehow make him the emotional backbone of this series. He brings so much levity in the darkest moments that I don’t even know how to explain how vital he is to this story. He has my whole heart.

The friendships in this book are just as gripping as the action. There’s such an incredible push and pull between loyalty, survival, and purpose. Everything is constantly shifting, but the emotional through-lines hit hard. There were scenes that left me stunned, jaw open, staring at the wall, wondering how I was supposed to keep reading like nothing just happened.

Amazing. Loved it. Savored it. Give me 20 more.