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4.41 AVERAGE
4.41 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Too trauma-porny with no character development. Darrow is the exact same boy as he was at the end of book 1. Brown did better writing about SA in this than in the first series but I really think he needs to chill out, just went too overboard with it. Eventually shock-value story after shock-value story becomes overdone, we get it war’s bad. Also he’s a Zionist, boo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Violence, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Wow. An emotionally destroying story. It feels like every chapter was just another terrible experience for the protagonists.
The multiple POV’s in this book were far better constructed than in Iron Gold, I found myself enjoying every character instead of just Darrow and Lysander. Mustang’s POV’s were very, very interesting — especially everything to do with the politics and mind-games on Luna. Darrow and Lysander’s POV chapters were a great back and forth between each other, and I found myself rooting for both of them at points (until Alex’s death). My favorite chapter was definitely Cassius’ return, even though I saw it coming when Mustang said she sent someone to get Darrow if all things went bad on Mercury.
Overall, I’d put this at 3rd in the series so far.
1. Golden Son (5/5)
2. Red Rising (4.5/5)
3. Dark Age (4.5/5)
4. Morning Star (4/5)
5. Iron Gold (3.5/5)
The multiple POV’s in this book were far better constructed than in Iron Gold, I found myself enjoying every character instead of just Darrow and Lysander. Mustang’s POV’s were very, very interesting — especially everything to do with the politics and mind-games on Luna. Darrow and Lysander’s POV chapters were a great back and forth between each other, and I found myself rooting for both of them at points (until Alex’s death). My favorite chapter was definitely Cassius’ return, even though I saw it coming when Mustang said she sent someone to get Darrow if all things went bad on Mercury.
Overall, I’d put this at 3rd in the series so far.
1. Golden Son (5/5)
2. Red Rising (4.5/5)
3. Dark Age (4.5/5)
4. Morning Star (4/5)
5. Iron Gold (3.5/5)
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dark Age by Pierce Brown is epic on every level, this is a novel of loss, sacrifice, redemption, heart break, political moves, and tyranny. This is book five of the Red Rising Saga. This book was so welcomed by me, because I thought that book four Iron Gold was the weakest in the series. This book follows the same format from Iron Gold, where it gives the same five character perspectives Darrow, Lyria, Ephraim, Virginia, and Lysander. This worked a lot better this time around it didn't feel like all the characters were setting up something for the next novel, there's a only one that didn't feel complete, and was a set up story. This novel wrapped up all the stories from the cliff hanger of Iron Gold, and managed to go into new territory and create new problems as the stories moved forward. This book does a great job of showing two characters difference towards the same goal, as a reader they kept making good points and then screwing up there own ideas to beat one another, it was such good character work and plotting. The twist and turns are so good it reminded me of the midway turn in the original Red Rising and the end turn in Golden Son. There's a lot of character's too keep up with which was a little daunting since it had been over a year since reading Iron Gold, and two years since reading the original trilogy. This book brings back some characters that you might have forgot about in the original trilogy that you might have forgotten. One character I thought would have made it to Iron Gold but when they do appear it is well worth the wait and the shock value that they're capable.
The Plot: Darrow has gone to fight a war in Mercury to free more colors from slavery, he had to sacrifice not finding his son Pax in the process. His Wife Virginia the Sovereign has kept the kidnapping under wraps to not alert anyone and for people who want her power to say she's compromised. She with Servo, who's daughter was also taken help track who took the kids. Virginia also is trying to gather support for her husband n the unsanctioned war on Mercury he started. Lryia is being tortured by a pregnant Victra, who is Servo's wife, She does not know she was a pasty and was manipulated by Ephraim. Ephraim downed his ship on purpose with the two kidnapped kids, when he relized who's hands they were going to and there intentions, but where he downed the ship there people who see a big opportunity to use the kids as a bargaining chip to gain power. Lysander convinced what's left of the Raa family to make Darrow pay for his huge betrayal and lie in the book Morning Star. He meets with a members of his family to take Darrow down on Mercury. He's finding out the people remember that he is rightful heir to sovereign.
What I Liked: This is edge of your seat story telling at it's best. There's so many twist and turns one person will have an advantage one moment then switch, then find out there was a puppet master in the shadows. The character's arc in all stories evolve and come full circle. Secrets are revealed that were hinted at in past books making it really rewarding for having read the first 4 books in the series. Every character has an agenda and it's constantly shaping but it all makes sense. The flow of this book is amazing it does let you catch your breath after a big reveal but not too long because another one is coming soon. The character's big and side character's all sound different and easy to separate from one another. A great ending not a cliffhanger like the last one but you know where most characters are headed, and it going to be bloody.
What I Disliked: This is a broken record comment, but with so many character's if there was some synopsis for the character's, it would be great, thank goodness for the internet, so I could look up the character's to know their history in the series, the book usually gets there, and gives a background eventually. Lyria story is still the weakest story but is way better than in Iron Gold.
Recommendations: I totally recommend this series with a little warning about content, this is a brutal story where people are ripped apart, swearing, sex, rape is threatened, radiation rots the people form inside out, and urination on a vanquished foe is par for the course. This is book is rated Young Adult but could really be adult. That being said I'm an adult that loves Game of Thrones and stories where no one is safe and a brutal world. I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars. my ranking of the series from top to bottom is Red Rising, Dark Age, Golden Son, Morning Star, and Iron Gold.
The Plot: Darrow has gone to fight a war in Mercury to free more colors from slavery, he had to sacrifice not finding his son Pax in the process. His Wife Virginia the Sovereign has kept the kidnapping under wraps to not alert anyone and for people who want her power to say she's compromised. She with Servo, who's daughter was also taken help track who took the kids. Virginia also is trying to gather support for her husband n the unsanctioned war on Mercury he started. Lryia is being tortured by a pregnant Victra, who is Servo's wife, She does not know she was a pasty and was manipulated by Ephraim. Ephraim downed his ship on purpose with the two kidnapped kids, when he relized who's hands they were going to and there intentions, but where he downed the ship there people who see a big opportunity to use the kids as a bargaining chip to gain power. Lysander convinced what's left of the Raa family to make Darrow pay for his huge betrayal and lie in the book Morning Star. He meets with a members of his family to take Darrow down on Mercury. He's finding out the people remember that he is rightful heir to sovereign.
What I Liked: This is edge of your seat story telling at it's best. There's so many twist and turns one person will have an advantage one moment then switch, then find out there was a puppet master in the shadows. The character's arc in all stories evolve and come full circle. Secrets are revealed that were hinted at in past books making it really rewarding for having read the first 4 books in the series. Every character has an agenda and it's constantly shaping but it all makes sense. The flow of this book is amazing it does let you catch your breath after a big reveal but not too long because another one is coming soon. The character's big and side character's all sound different and easy to separate from one another. A great ending not a cliffhanger like the last one but you know where most characters are headed, and it going to be bloody.
What I Disliked: This is a broken record comment, but with so many character's if there was some synopsis for the character's, it would be great, thank goodness for the internet, so I could look up the character's to know their history in the series, the book usually gets there, and gives a background eventually. Lyria story is still the weakest story but is way better than in Iron Gold.
Recommendations: I totally recommend this series with a little warning about content, this is a brutal story where people are ripped apart, swearing, sex, rape is threatened, radiation rots the people form inside out, and urination on a vanquished foe is par for the course. This is book is rated Young Adult but could really be adult. That being said I'm an adult that loves Game of Thrones and stories where no one is safe and a brutal world. I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars. my ranking of the series from top to bottom is Red Rising, Dark Age, Golden Son, Morning Star, and Iron Gold.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Pierce Brown may have hit a new peak with the fifth book in the saga. Dark Age is to Iron Gold as Golden Son was to Red Rising. Dark Age feels like the true meat of this second trilogy, building on and tearing down all that was set up during Iron Gold.
Being the fifth book in a series, there is already a substantial cast of characters and Dark Age introduces quite a few more. One of my favorite things about the series is these larger than life characters who truly embody the feeling of legends. There’s something just so freaking cool about characters like the Ash Lord, the Fear Knight, Atalantia au Grimmus, and Atlas au Raa. The naming conventions of Pierce’s characters already makes them memorable, but what truly separates them is that Brown doesn’t just rely on “cool names” – each of these characters is well developed and memorable in their own right. The villains of the series really stand out in this entry.
Dark Age is aptly named. This is a dark book and one I frequently found myself having to pause reading to process. This is a book of failure, of impossible circumstances, and of heroes realizing they may have been wrong in their convictions – and may be becoming villains themselves. I said at the start of this review that I wouldn’t talk about the plot, but I will say that Dark Age is full of shocking moments that all feel earned. Brown doesn’t shy away from putting his characters through difficult situations, and no one feels as if they have plot armor. Brown does what is best for the story and doesn’t cheapen a tragedy or battle to make sure the heroes come out on top.
Dark Age has the benefit of building on four books before it, which allows it to tell a complex story that relies on the hundreds of pages of background that came before. At the same time, Dark Age has the challenge of being the fifth book in the series – and, not only that, but being the second book in sequel series that came after a trilogy that many feel ended properly. There was certainly some apprehension going into this sequel series – authors often continue their stories long beyond their natural conclusion – but Dark Age has cemented for me that this sequel series is not only wanted, but that it is necessary. The story Brown began in Iron Gold and continued in Dark Age feels like a needed continuation of the original trilogy, and with the conclusion of Dark Age, is more central and important to the overall narrative than any of the books before it.
The Red Rising saga is truly something special and discovering it is the best thing that has happened to me so far in 2025.
Being the fifth book in a series, there is already a substantial cast of characters and Dark Age introduces quite a few more. One of my favorite things about the series is these larger than life characters who truly embody the feeling of legends. There’s something just so freaking cool about characters like the Ash Lord, the Fear Knight, Atalantia au Grimmus, and Atlas au Raa. The naming conventions of Pierce’s characters already makes them memorable, but what truly separates them is that Brown doesn’t just rely on “cool names” – each of these characters is well developed and memorable in their own right. The villains of the series really stand out in this entry.
Dark Age is aptly named. This is a dark book and one I frequently found myself having to pause reading to process. This is a book of failure, of impossible circumstances, and of heroes realizing they may have been wrong in their convictions – and may be becoming villains themselves. I said at the start of this review that I wouldn’t talk about the plot, but I will say that Dark Age is full of shocking moments that all feel earned. Brown doesn’t shy away from putting his characters through difficult situations, and no one feels as if they have plot armor. Brown does what is best for the story and doesn’t cheapen a tragedy or battle to make sure the heroes come out on top.
Dark Age has the benefit of building on four books before it, which allows it to tell a complex story that relies on the hundreds of pages of background that came before. At the same time, Dark Age has the challenge of being the fifth book in the series – and, not only that, but being the second book in sequel series that came after a trilogy that many feel ended properly. There was certainly some apprehension going into this sequel series – authors often continue their stories long beyond their natural conclusion – but Dark Age has cemented for me that this sequel series is not only wanted, but that it is necessary. The story Brown began in Iron Gold and continued in Dark Age feels like a needed continuation of the original trilogy, and with the conclusion of Dark Age, is more central and important to the overall narrative than any of the books before it.
The Red Rising saga is truly something special and discovering it is the best thing that has happened to me so far in 2025.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes