Book: Iron Gold by Pierce Brown
Reviewed by Anonymous
Rating: 5/5
“For those who dine with war and empire, the bill always comes at the end.” WOW! Do I have some thoughts about Iron Gold! First I absolutely loved this book and the POVs and perspectives that we get. I'm not usually a huge fan of time jumps between books, and there is a 10-year time jump between Morning Star and Iron Gold, but I actually think it was so necessary here.
The pacing starts of fairly slow but picks up and maintains a pretty solid pace as the story goes. I feel like Pierce's pacing can ebb and flow with the emotional impact of the events on the page which really brings his writing to life.
Iron Gold starts 10 years after the end of Morningstar. While battles have been won the seemingly endless war is taking its toll- on Darrow, the Republic, and most of all the "liberated" citizens.
Iron Gold really leans in to post war commentary and the effects that war has on its citizens. What happens when you "free" a people but your help and aide stops there? When you find replacements for their jobs without considering they may not know or have access to another skill or means to provide for their family? What happens when you pardon war criminals, slavers, and oppressors? When you make deals with them that turn them from slaver to savior?
And don't even get me started on the capitalism of it all! I knew that Quicksilver and his capitalist ideologies would be playing a bigger role and I expect we will see more of that in the next 2 books.
Now it's time to talk about Darrow. I'm sorry but I have said it since Red Rising (or maybe Golden Son) that I feel like Darrow is a cautionary tale. I feel like Darrow has had little to no character growth. He has made bad decision after bad decision and does not outwardly take accountability for his actions or change his behavior. And that is proven once again by his choice at the end of the book.
We see the characters around Darrow change and grow (even Sevro!) whether they change for the better or not there is change. Darrow is stuck and doesn't even attempt to listen to those around him who are trying to get through to him. I will, I admit I expected better out of Mustang as a leader but I am trying to hold judgment until the next book.
Once again Pierce knows just how to dig in and make you feel the entirety of the emotional spectrum. Anger, apprehension, sorrow, joy, I don't think there is a feeling left unfelt by the end of the book. My heart was RACING in the last 5% and then I ended with such anger, disappointment, and confusion by Darrow's decision. It appears that Lorn was right and the bill has come.
All of that to say 5 stars. I definitely recommend Iron Gold and I am heading into the Dark Age!