Iron gold

Picking up a decade after the final book in his Red Rising trilogy, Morning Star (2016), Brown's latest finds the new Republic Darrow worked so hard to establish in jeopardy. Displeased with Darrow's latest battle against a destructive warlord, the Senate issues a warrant for Darrow's arrest, forcing Darrow to go on the run to finish the fight he believes will save the Republic. Although the original trilogy was told solely from Darrow's point of view, Brown expands his scope here to include the perspectives of three new characters: Lyria, a 20-year-old girl who witnesses the brutal deaths of her family; Ephraim, a thief mourning the loss of his fiancée; and Lysander, the grandson of the sovereign Darrow deposed who is now living the life of a scavenger with one of Darrow's former rivals. Though it may take readers a little while to invest in the new characters' stories as much as they have in Darrow's, by the time the book builds to its breathtaking climax (and a cliff-hanger ending), fans of Brown's richly imagined world will be entranced.--Huntley, Kristine Copyright 2018 Booklist

Brown adroitly builds upon the intricate future he introduced in his Red Rising trilogy with this accessible space opera, set in a near future where the fledgling Solar Republic has freed Mars from the villainous ruling Society, and is attempting to do the same for several other planets in the solar system that are still under the sway of a military leader called the Ash Lord. The novel combines elements of The Expanse and Game of Thrones: the plot lines include world-shattering developments, but Brown's focus on crafting memorable individuals means that events such as a devastating attack on Mercury are very emotionally affecting for the reader. That assault was launched by Darrow, the military leader of the Solar Republic. His bombing campaign enabled Mercury to join other free worlds under the Republic's banner, but his actions were not officially sanctioned, and his wife, Mustang, may face repercussions in her role as sovereign. The repercussions of Darrow's rogue operation alternate with the situations that three other major characters confront. The most memorable involves Lyria, a Martian, for whom the liberation of her planet was not a happy ending: she faces even more trauma at this book's outset, "two years and a thousand broken promises" after the Republic's rise. Fans of thoughtful blends of action, intrigue, and prosaic human drama will find this hits the spot. Agent: Hannah Bowman, Liza Dawson Associates. (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

It has been ten years since the Rising took down the Society. Even with the new Solar Republic led by Darrow and Mustang, strife continues to mar the peace Darrow tried to establish. While the Republic holds a tenuous balance of power against the remaining Golds, who strive to maintain their color-coded caste system, trouble brews beyond the asteroid belt. Newly freed Reds now living in refugee camps discover that freedom does not mean the end of their struggle. Still with his mentor Cassius, Lysander au Lune, the exiled heir to the sovereign, reaches a crossroads that could determine how much of the past will determine the future. -VERDICT This fourth series entry (after Morning Star) launches a new trilogy, incorporating a fresh cast of characters along with several familiar ones. The gritty action and emotional punches will thrill fans eagerly awaiting more from Brown. [See Prepub Alert, 4/10/17.]-KC © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Brown is back with Book 4 of his Red Rising series (Morning Star, 2016, etc.) and explores familiar themes of rebellion, revenge, and political instability.This novel examines the ramifications and pitfalls of trying to build a new world out of the ashes of the old. The events here take place 10 years after the conclusion of Morning Star, which ended on a seemingly positive note. Darrow, aka Reaper, and his lover, Virginia au Augustus, aka Mustang, had vanquished the Golds, the elite ruling class, so hope was held out that a new order would arise. But in the new book it becomes clear that the concept of political order is tenuous at best, for Darrow's first thoughts are on the forces of violence and chaos he has unleashed: "famines and genocide...piracy...terrorism, radiation sickness and disease...and the one hundred million lives lost in my [nuclear] war." Readers familiar with the previous trilogyand you'll have to be if you want to understand the current novelwill welcome a familiar cast of characters, including Mustang, Sevro (Darrow's friend and fellow warrior), and Lysander (grandson of the Sovereign). Readers will also find familiarity in Brown's idiosyncratic naming system (Cassius au Bellona, Octavia au Lune) and even in his vocabulary for cursing ("Goryhell," "Bloodydamn," "Slag that"). Brown introduces a number of new characters, including 18-year-old Lyria, a survivor of the initial Rising who gives a fresh perspective on the violence of the new warand violence is indeed never far away from the world Brown creates. (He includes one particularly gruesome gladiatorial combat between Cassius and a host of enemies.) Brown imparts an epic quality to the events in part by his use of names. It's impossible to ignore the weighty connotations of characters when they sport names like Bellerephon, Diomedes, Dido, and Apollonius.For those who like their science fiction dense, monumental, and a bit overwrought. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Picking up a decade after the final book in his Red Rising trilogy, Morning Star (2016), Brown's latest finds the new Republic Darrow worked so hard to establish in jeopardy. Displeased with Darrow's latest battle against a destructive warlord, the Senate issues a warrant for Darrow's arrest, forcing Darrow to go on the run to finish the fight he believes will save the Republic. Although the original trilogy was told solely from Darrow's point of view, Brown expands his scope here to include the perspectives of three new characters: Lyria, a 20-year-old girl who witnesses the brutal deaths of her family; Ephraim, a thief mourning the loss of his fiancée; and Lysander, the grandson of the sovereign Darrow deposed who is now living the life of a scavenger with one of Darrow's former rivals. Though it may take readers a little while to invest in the new characters' stories as much as they have in Darrow's, by the time the book builds to its breathtaking climax (and a cliff-hanger ending), fans of Brown's richly imagined world will be entranced. Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.

Just when it looks as if Darrow and the Rising are about to defeat holdout Golds and end their world's cruel color-coded caste system, a new foe comes along, which makes this fourth "Red Rising" book the first in a new trilogy. Last year's Morning Star topped the New York Times best sellers list.

It has been ten years since the Rising took down the Society. Even with the new Solar Republic led by Darrow and Mustang, strife continues to mar the peace Darrow tried to establish. While the Republic holds a tenuous balance of power against the remaining Golds, who strive to maintain their color-coded caste system, trouble brews beyond the asteroid belt. Newly freed Reds now living in refugee camps discover that freedom does not mean the end of their struggle. Still with his mentor Cassius, Lysander au Lune, the exiled heir to the sovereign, reaches a crossroads that could determine how much of the past will determine the future. VERDICT This fourth series entry (after Morning Star) launches a new trilogy, incorporating a fresh cast of characters along with several familiar ones. The gritty action and emotional punches will thrill fans eagerly awaiting more from Brown. [See Prepub Alert, 4/10/17.]—KC

Brown adroitly builds upon the intricate future he introduced in his Red Rising trilogy with this accessible space opera, set in a near future where the fledgling Solar Republic has freed Mars from the villainous ruling Society, and is attempting to do the same for several other planets in the solar system that are still under the sway of a military leader called the Ash Lord. The novel combines elements of The Expanse and Game of Thrones: the plot lines include world-shattering developments, but Brown's focus on crafting memorable individuals means that events such as a devastating attack on Mercury are very emotionally affecting for the reader. That assault was launched by Darrow, the military leader of the Solar Republic. His bombing campaign enabled Mercury to join other free worlds under the Republic's banner, but his actions were not officially sanctioned, and his wife, Mustang, may face repercussions in her role as sovereign. The repercussions of Darrow's rogue operation alternate with the situations that three other major characters confront. The most memorable involves Lyria, a Martian, for whom the liberation of her planet was not a happy ending: she faces even more trauma at this book's outset, "two years and a thousand broken promises" after the Republic's rise. Fans of thoughtful blends of action, intrigue, and prosaic human drama will find this hits the spot. Agent: Hannah Bowman, Liza Dawson Associates. (Jan.)