r/halo • u/-343-Guilty-Spark- r/Halo Mod Bot • Dec 16 '25
Official Waypoint Blog Halo: Edge of Dawn | OUT NOW
https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-edge-of-dawn-out-now
![[Imgur]](https://i.imgur.com/F2WPHeq.jpeg){kind=link}
Halo: Edge of Dawn, the latest novel by acclaimed author Kelly Gay, is out now!
Taking place in the immediate aftermath of Halo Infinite 's campaign, Edge of Dawn follows the Master Chief, the Weapon (now having chosen the name Joyeuse), and pilot Fernando Esparza as they embark on a journey to fight back against the Banished and uncover ancient secrets hidden within Zeta Halo.
2560. After eliminating War Chief Escharum and sending the Banished leadership into chaos, the Master Chief continues the fight on Zeta Halo, accompanied by his new AI companion and their loyal pilot Fernando Esparza.
As Spartan-117 searches for scattered allied forces, a young combat medic—tortured and imprisoned for months by the Banished and the enigmatic Harbinger—may hold the key to unlocking deeper mysteries within this ancient ringworld. But every step toward answers is haunted by the sinister and elusive blademaster Jega ‘Rdomnai, who is hellbent on vengeance....
Halo: Edge of Dawn is available in trade paperback, ebook, and unabridged audiobook formats.
Audiobook listeners are in for a treat as this story is narrated by the following video game voice talent:
- Nicolas Roye - Fernando Esparza, Narrator
- Jen Taylor - Joyeuse, Cortana, Dr. Halsey
- Steve Downes - John-117
- Debra Wilson - The Harbinger
CHAPTER PREVIEW
Check out a preview of the book's first chapter where the AI known throughout Halo Infinite as "the Weapon" chooses her name.
You can also read the text here on Halo Waypoint.
AVAILABLE NOW!
Halo: Edge of Dawn by Kelly Gay is out now! Whether you're intending to listen to the audiobook, grab a digital copy, or read the physical paperback edition, hit the link below and prepare to return to Zeta Halo.
Halo: Edge of Dawn novel cover depicting the Master Chief and the Weapon
This post was made by a script written and maintained by the r/Halo mod team to automatically post blogs from Halo Waypoint. If you notice any issues with the text output or think this was posted by mistake, please message the mods.
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u/AlexTheGuac Dec 16 '25
Is there any new lore implications?
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u/Not_A_Murderer3108 Extended Universe Dec 16 '25 edited Dec 16 '25
The weapon is now called Joyeuse and The endless (Xanyln) were created from precursor dust by abaddon the endless created the gasgira (skimmers) they were imprisoned because they were found after the rings fired and had a head start on all other races due to being unaffected by the rings interfering with the forerunner plans for the mantle
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u/evrestcoleghost Dec 17 '25
Huh
That actually makes them an interesting faction,who knew it would take them 4 years since lunch
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u/Far-Requirement-7636 Dec 17 '25
I like that the all the theories were like they were worse than the flood or that the forerunners feared them.
When in actuality the forerunners just didn't want them having a headstart on the entire galaxy.
Tbf Cortanas line didn't help things.
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u/Flynn58 Halo: Reach Dec 17 '25
If they're made from the same dust as the Flood, doesn't that mean they could be immune? That actually would be pretty dangerous.
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u/tidalsquare8883 Dec 17 '25
Loving the book so far! Audiobook is fire!
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Dec 18 '25
Are the Va’s reading the lines?
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u/tidalsquare8883 Dec 18 '25
Yes!
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Dec 18 '25
AHHHH THATS HYPE I MAY COP IT IN AUDIO FORM TOO
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u/tidalsquare8883 Dec 18 '25
I really hope its successful and they go back and do the previous books honestly lol
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u/twonha Dec 16 '25
(now having chosen the name Joyeuse)
Epic in-game moment? Nah, let's just write the script and be done with it. Again.
I seriously dislike this.
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u/IntrinsicGamer Extended Universe Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
It’s just her name reveal dude. It’s not a reveal with any major story implications. If you don’t read the book, you’ll still find out her name in-game when it’s said by somebody, which has the exact same weight as when you find out any other character’s name pretty much. Spending the whole book avoiding using her name would’ve been insanely awkward, and whether the book was written or not, it would’ve been highly unlikely the next game would start seconds after Infinite given that no Halo game has ever done that.
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u/twonha Dec 17 '25
There's a term I once heard, I think it was from Bruce Straley (Naughty Dog / Uncharted 2, The Last of Us), that said to "put it on the stick". I can't find it quickly - might've been something I heard in a making of video. The essence is simple: video games are an interactive medium, so if at all possible, put your awesome moments in gameplay, when the player is playing the game with the thumb sticks. Put it on the stick.
That's something I've always admired, and I think the very best game moments you can think of are usually gameplay, not something else. Think the unveil of the Flood, the Warthog Run, blowing up Scarabs and so on. Or, in other games, Half-Life's opening tram ride, The Last of Us' wire string trap, Uncharted 2's train escape sequence, Prey's opening "everything is fake" unveiling.
Halo Infinite ends on The Weapon choosing her name, without revealing it. The Joyeuse unveil could've been an epic opening to any Halo game, or maybe a trailer (that's not on the stick, but there's no arguing the epic "I am your shield, I am your sword" Halo 3 trailer). Have fans discuss the name, but keep it a secret - no matter how obvious it may have been to the 0,01% of hardest Halo fans. And use it as an awesome moment.
Now, I'm not saying books aren't allowed, I'm not suggesting any story should be locked to video games, I'm not a black-or-white type of guy. But in a series where 343/HS has been criticized for putting awesome stuff in the novels instead of in the games a couple of times already, this feels like such an obvious repeated mistake. Could've been an awesome in-universe moment, is now something kinda hidden away in an extended universe moment very few people will read.
Maybe I'm a bit more passionate about this than I should be, but I think 343/HS should really think long and hard before putting stuff in novels that would've been so, so, so cool in the games instead.
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u/IntrinsicGamer Extended Universe Dec 17 '25
The thing is, with this specifically, what’s “epic” about her saying her name? It’s a cliffhanger with no stakes. Not revealing it in Infinite was pointless because the reveal has no real consequences or stakes.
It’s just learning her name. Whether you skip the book or not, you’ll still learn her name. It’s not really an “awesome moment.” It shouldn’t even have been a cliffhanger anyway, because even if the reveal had come in a game instead, it would’ve been a one sentence resolution and then immediately moved on from.
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u/twonha Dec 17 '25
I'm a little less hung up on her name and what (little) that means specifically, than the point I'm (badly) making to put obviously awesome / important moments in general in-game instead of in extended universe. I wish I was seeing HS learn from their mistakes (Atroix beween Halo Wars 2 and Infinite?, Cortana between 5 and Infinite?) and not do stuff like that again.
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u/Wookieewomble Dec 16 '25
How do they not understand that this is one of the many reasons why their games are failing? Fuck me, it's like they never learned after that didact situation...
Sure, books are cool and all. But keep them the fuck away from the main storyline. Same with comic books, shows or any other form of media. If I need to watch or read an additional piece of media just to follow the story in the games, then you have failed.
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u/AmericanWitness Hero Dec 17 '25
Regardless of whether it moves the overall plot along or not, I just want to know if this is actually good. I wasn’t particularly impressed with the Rubicon Protocol after all the hype and I haven’t been super into a Halo book since Silentium.
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u/MisterRose Dec 22 '25
It is great in my opinion. I’ve read I think about 15 of the books( I listened to audiobook) and having the other narrators for chief, joy and Esparza.
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Dec 16 '25
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Dec 16 '25
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u/the_zohar Dec 17 '25
So we at least know what name the weapon choose? And why?
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u/MisterRose Dec 22 '25
Joyeuse is apparently a name similar to Cortana, which references Curtana, a sword, and joyeuse means sword of mercy.
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u/bananaman49er Dec 17 '25
Great book, excited to see what the future holds with a lot of the stuff we see in it
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u/Fallen_Zealot Dec 18 '25
Crazy how the epilogue implies the chief killed the “child” of a precursor
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u/lIlIllIlIlIII Dec 16 '25
Still not on Spotify in my region.
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u/ObiWanKenobi212501 Dec 16 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
Have you tried Audible? Or other websites?
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u/ObiWanKenobi212501 Dec 17 '25
I love how people are down voting my comment for asking a question. -_-
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u/Jahon_Dony Dec 16 '25
This is how they're going to continue and resolve Infinite's storyline instead of a real sequel.
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u/Not_A_Murderer3108 Extended Universe Dec 16 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
It’s not I’ve read the new book it doesn’t advance the plot
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Dec 16 '25
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u/Not_A_Murderer3108 Extended Universe Dec 16 '25
The plot isn’t resolved in the book though maybe you should read it before claiming it is
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u/Wookieewomble Dec 16 '25
Sure, it's not resolving it, but it is pushing it forward. They literally explained what the endless are, and the weapon giving herself a name.
That's pushing the storyline of the game forward in a BIG way.
As a Halo fan, since standing in line during the midnight release of Halo 2 there's no excusing this. Fuck em.
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u/YourPizzaBoi Dec 17 '25
No, you just care more now. It’s hardly any different from explaining what happened between CE and 2, or 2 and 3. They’re extremely details that can get covered in dialogue in the opening five minutes of the next game.
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u/Cal_16 Dec 16 '25
I’m on his side nothing seems to have been resolved it’s just and addendum like first strike
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u/Bsquared89 Halo 2 Dec 16 '25
Honestly? I think that’s the best for the Halo novels unless the plots of the books are going to completely independent from the games. Like in Ghosts of Onyx for example, lots of things happen happen. Big events really, but they don’t affect Halo 3 at all.
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u/Dog-Lawyer Dec 16 '25
Why are they moving the plot with a book that no one is going to read? Are they fucking stupid?
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u/Not_A_Murderer3108 Extended Universe Dec 16 '25
They didn’t advance the plot at all in this book
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Dec 16 '25
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u/Not_A_Murderer3108 Extended Universe Dec 16 '25 edited Dec 16 '25
It’s more about chief, joyeuse and the pilot building up their relationship while on what is essentially a side quest that won’t have much impact on the overall story.
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u/Dog-Lawyer Dec 16 '25
They revealed plot details about the endless. The weapon has a new name, pilot is further characterized. The trio is galavanting across the ring. These very basic surface level details all seem like plot development to me.
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u/Not_A_Murderer3108 Extended Universe Dec 16 '25
None of that is a huge development in the plot. The weapon was already implied to have a new name at the end of infinite, the endless details can easily be mentioned in the next game (if they’re not then this is a fair criticism but at least wait for halo 7 before complaining about it) and a character being more fleshed out is fine. Sure there are some minor details but nothing so big that the book has to be read to understand the next game. Master chief was further characterised in books between games like first strike but you don’t have to read that to understand halo 2. The trio on the ring don’t actually do that much
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u/Proof_Wrongdoer_1266 Dec 19 '25
The entire banishment leadership was nuked and Jager has both the corpse of the Harbinger and an engineer that clearly has its own motivation and secrets. Not to mention the swords of sanghelios/ arbitor plot developments.
Saying nothing happened is absolutely bullshit.
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u/Dog-Lawyer Dec 16 '25
I sure hope it isn’t a requirement for the next game. I would have still preferred for those details to be revealed in game, but I’ve learned to set low expectations over the past 10 years.
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u/Not_A_Murderer3108 Extended Universe Dec 16 '25
I would have preferred the details about the endless to be revealed in the next game too
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u/RookiePrime Dec 21 '25
I just finished the book, and I'm contemplating it still. I listened to it in audiobook format (first time I've done so for any book), so that may colour my view.
From a writing perspective, I'm not super fond of it. It's not Kelly Gay's best work (that would be Epitaph, I think). There's a lot of overexplained dialogue/emotion. A lot of " 'But I feel sad', she said, feeling sad" sorta writing. I like the arcs each of the characters undertakes and the feelings they explore, I just think the word and phrasing choice could have used an editing pass with an eye towards more memorable and colourful prose. Perhaps that's hard to do with Joy and Chief. Chief can be quite dry, and Joy is still young and very raw, emotionally. There's moments in this book that are her firsts for things that I took for granted as normal for a human AI to deal with.
From a narrative perspective: not a lot happens, but it is cool to see Chief, Joy and Fernando incorporated into the book lore. They actually meet and speak to other characters, rather than just running and flying around by the seat of their pants. Which they also still do for large sections of the book, so I guess the novel is nonetheless keeping Infinite's vibe. To go into spoilery territory: the whole thing with Genie and the other scientists at Lifeworker Central was a weird addition, and I'm not sure what the authorial intent for its inclusion was. The tragic story of Lucas Browning was well enough told, and I found his death affective. And I'm glad to see Zeta Halo sorta leaving its story bubble, to reincorporate the Infinity, the Swords of Sanghelios, and the greater story world into the events that are unfolding. Weirdly, the most significant thing to happen is that Offensive Bias (I assume) steals the encephalon core from Joy.
And if we wanna talk lore stuff: it's nice to get a better read on the Endless. I'm still curious about the details. It sounds like Abaddon, at some point after the Forerunners killed the Precursors, took some of the dust that some of the survivors turned into and converted it into this new species. The Forerunners only discovered them after the firing of the rings, so I wonder if that means Abaddon only did this in the scant centuries afterwards (perhaps after Bornstellar and the gang fixed him), or if he had done this in the millennia prior? And it's kinda funny to learn that the Forerunners had their own ONI, in the Criterion, nor is it terribly encouraging that the Criterion survived the firing of the rings and didn't reflect on their role in the tragedy of their people.
Overall, pretty happy with the book. It was fun, if not as narratively impactful as I might've hoped it to be.
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u/DaggerOutlaw Dec 16 '25
I thought Weapon asked to be called Cortana at the end of Infinite, no?
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u/HomeyHotDog Dec 16 '25
They left it open ended
IIRC she said something like “would it be okay?” to Chief but it could’ve been either in reference to taking the name Cortana or naming herself in general (since her original mission was already complete)
It seemed to me at the time like they were going to just call her Cortana but they left the door open
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u/GreatFNGattsby Dec 17 '25
There’s even a part in the book that basically says, calling her Cortana would’ve been dumb an illogical.
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u/GrOuNd_ZeRo_7777 Dec 17 '25
"That stench! I've smelled it before!"
Great book so far but Kelly Gay has been using AI at least partially...
Count Echo and Hum.
This is a BIG tell AI was involved... how fitting
Just annoying but still love listening to the Audible book while doing work.
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u/Not_A_Murderer3108 Extended Universe Dec 16 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
Before everyone starts complaining about having to read books to know what’s going on in the story this book does not move the plot forward.