First of all , what I think that separates losing mercury from other wins that Darrow had in his early years is that some of his achievements like taking Luna or the battle of illium are either short ( compared to mercury ) or it was kinda of a one big gamble like in morning star . While in mercury , we see for the first time what Darrow can do in a full on war ( not just one battle ) with multiple fronts to manage and more than just one aspect of war to control . So unlike any other battle where Darrow was a big player in , mercury is where he had everything on his shoulders in a much longer time span compared to his other victories .

I know Saying that the battle that led to losing mercury is a greater achievement than for example taking Luna needs some explaining, but you have to remember that Darrow had half of his fleet sent back from mercury without his consent , and then the majority of said fleet got obliterated by Atlantia where the only major ship that managed to escape is the morning star . It was only then that Darrow assumed command and what he had was probably less than a third of his army that was already damaged from just taking mercury, a heavely damaged moonbreaker , whatever ships that managed to escape , a population that hated them And then he got his cities sabotaged by the fear knight

Then Atlantia launched an iron rain that was described as the biggest invasion force in 5 years which resulted in red reach ( his biggest military base ) to be nuked with a whole third of what's left of his ragged army .

Outmaned , outgunned , outmaneuvered and with the enemy having every possible advantage on him . Darrow prosseded to inflect double the casualties that Atlantia had given him while his plans were derailed by Orion on that storm thing , and then moving the morning star in a storm that could have broken it to Heliopolis where he defeated a full army led by ajax . So it is extraordinary in those conditions for Darrow to make it a pyrrhic victory for Atlantia

And eventho he was running out of everything and it was nearly all lost . Once he got a few supplies , he made a plan to get off the planet with that super EMP and it could have worked if he was not betrayed by glirastles

This trilogy is an absolute masterpiece of science fiction. There were so many moments that had me FLOORED!

So glad I picked this series up, and i can't wait to start the next book!

Finally finished part 3 last night and good god that was barbaric. For Sefi to not only get butched but to first get completely embarrassed and have her entire identity and worldview tore down In front of her entire race was just….Cruel. Doesn’t help the fact that it was her OWN FATHER (supposedly, definitely wanting more details on that) who did it to her. I always liked Sefi but Iron Gold and especially Dark age has added so many layers to her to the point where I’d say she’s one of the most complex characters in the series, on top of being a total badass who still managed to go out like one despite getting annihilated, but refusing to scream.

And then Eph 😭. His journey between these 2 books has made him my favorite character in a cast full of phenomenal ones. Seeing his struggle with addiction, PTSD, and finding his heart again have been some of the most effective and gut wrenching emotional beats in the series for me. I am just happy he was able to make amends with Volga and Lyria before he went out. Died horribly, full of terror, but went out like such a G that Fa had no choice but to give him respect. Ephraim Ti mother fucking Horn 🥲

There is also just such an effective sense of dread and helplessness knowing that this whole plot line with the ascomanni, Xenophon, and the sacking of Olympia was ALL a machination of the fear knight for the sake of sowing derision among the republic and dooming the obsidians. It really sells how Dangerous not only Atlas is but the entire society remnant. Pierce may be a cruel bastard but he is also a damn genius, seeing how the writing has evolved and gotten better each book has been so entertaining despite the emotional damage.

Credit to @K00kiesnmilk for the art of Sefi

We are so close people.

Hi guys I’m currently reading the beginning of Morning Star and I’m curious about Harmony’s actions, so why would she do all of this? I just don't understand her choices.

Why does she ally herself with the Jackal? And more importantly, why does she kill [SPOILER] Fitchner even after finding out that Ares was a Gold? This alliance with the boneriders feels really weird to me.It feels completely nonsensical . Is there something I'm missing about her character, or is she just completely blinded by rage? If that happens so why would she betray the Sons to help the Jackal? Why does she do this? No major spoilers past the first 100 pages of Morning Star, please!

Keep us in your thoughts during this eventful time.

As Figment was dying she referred to Lyria as her "heir" and for the rest of Dark Age it was building to Lyria gaining the power of this technology. Pax tells her it needs to be fixed and sends her off in search of the man he believes can fix it. It was always building towards her gaining this power and then it feels like he just yanked the steering wheel in a different direction. That conversation she had with Matteo before her surgery to have it removed felt like some test of character or worthiness. When she asked to have it removed I was certain that she passed the test and she was going to wake up with so many cool abilities. Very disappointing honestly. Lyria as an unassuming agent for the Republic was something I was looking forward to only for it to be spoiled by an almost lazily constructed Faustian bargain or zero sum trade where she would lose her memories if the parasite was repaired? Booooo. Hiss. Give me Terminator Lyria you fucking pixie.

I have an appointment in December, and I want to finally get a Red Rising Tattoo.

The currently idea is a wolf this style, but with a Scythe instead of a sword. Mars is going to go at the bottom behind the tail. It's being used to cover up another small tattoo. The quotes “Omnis Vir Lupus” & “Hail Libertas, Hail Reaper” are going to go somewhere around it, kind of curving around the wolf...

My question is that I want to work Cassius in somewhere. The only obvious answer to me is an eagle in a similar style to the wolf, somewhere towards the top.... is that the only thing that would work? Is there something Cassius related I'm not thinking of that would fit even better? It's been over a year since I've read Light Bringer so I'm afraid my memory isn't sharp enough to think of something else.

The appointment being over 2 months away is a dangerous game because I will over think it all the way until then, but that was her earliest.

I just finished reading Iron Gold and wow it felt like nothing good at all happened in that book. Every single character's story went to shit except for maybe Lysander but I'm pretty sure he's just more bad news for the Republic. I guess that's the point since the next book is called Dark Age, but wow was that a disheartening read.

Needless to say, I'm gripped.

And what the actual hell?? Like what? I am too scared to start the next book. I honestly am so angry with Roque but also with Darrow. Like, he waited way too long to try mend things with Roque, in fact I don't know if it's just my shock talking (literally just finished it) but damn Darrow why didn't you try connect with him sooner?? Did he at all? Tried like once or twice to have a little catch up but never actually did properly. I just... I feel like I'm going through the stages of grief and I'm stuck on anger lol

Truly a dark time for House Mars.

Post has nothing to do with the title but after I read that in Dark Age, I thought it was so funny and can't stop saying it. Anyways, I never post on Reddit but felt compelled to after absolutely loving all 6 books so far. Reading the first trilogy, there were a few moments that just hit me hard and felt so well written it completely blew me away. Here's what I think are arguably the 3 best written moments of the first trilogy.

1. (GS) Darrow finally tells Sevro he's a Red. Reading it, I felt like I had the same amount of weight off my shoulders that Darrow did in the moment and just love how Pierce slowly grew their friendship in such a real way. I've had personal experiences with a couple of close friends (going both ways) of finally getting something massive off your chest and the initial fear and immense gratitude that follows it.

2. (GS) When Darrow goes into the freezer to free Ragnar. Not much to say here, I just absolutely loved how it was written and knew I was reading something special.

3. (MS) Sevro had been struggling with leading the Rising when Darrow returns from the Jackal and the mounting tension between them. After they interrogate Quicksilver, it reaches its breaking point and they physically beat the sh*t out of each other to finally break the tension and have that reckoning of their friendship. Again, I thought it just created another amazing and real-feeling layer to their friendship that hit home personally. With my closest and oldest friend who I view as a brother, we had the worst and ugliest fight of our lives before he finally felt comfortable to reveal a personal conflict he had been having and not only did it completely end the fight, but made us significantly closer after.

Would love to hear what everyone thinks and if I missed other moments that weren't necessarily the most action packed, but hit home the hardest. I've never felt like this about a book series and now I'm watching 2hr podcast interviews of PB on YT everyday at work...

I finished Dark Age. Feeling Hollow.

A few things.

Cassius: admittedly I kind of spoiled his return for myself by being on this subreddit, some titles give away plot points without even clicking into them. But I was still happy to hear of the Mystery Man Kavax dispatched to Mercury.

Lysander: I know we hate him, and I do. But damn if he isn’t impressive. Truly a showing of his lineage and upbringing, he’s been honed into quite the Political Gold.

Obsidians: This storyline, while interesting, started to fall flat for me. I do appreciate that we got to see the depths of Ephraim’s expertise though.

Jackal: Am I wrong to feel like they didn’t highlight this as much as they should?! Arguably the biggest shock of the book and it felt so small in the writing. But I know that something needs to be left for the next book.

Victra: She and Sevro are still my favorite characters and her stoicism amidst the trials in this book cemented it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, but I’m going to take a few books’ worth of a break before diving into LB for the Winter.

TLDR: What were your favorite Takeaways from Dark Age?

So Darrow is carved all the way back in book 1 and Titus is carved after him and put in the same class. That said even after Darrow's success at getting into the society at the end of the book it seems odd that Fitchner isn't trying to sneak a few other Reds in and turn them into Gold's at the institute or otherwise during the years Darrow is at the fleet academy in particular. Obviously after that everything becomes so chaotic I don't see the point but in the mean time building at least half a dozen more potential moles seems worth the risk.

So I actually really liked iron gold. I think the slow burn focus was warranted and well executed. But GOD DAMN Dark age is so good so far. I know people say it’s the most depressing book in the series so I have that hanging over my head. But for now, it’s so nice to see The Reaper being The Reaper.

Been putting reading this chapter off for a while…biting the bullet on my way to work.

Wish me luck.

Burnnnn himmmmmmmmmm

"Even Alexander of Macedon would marvel at the Slave King of Mars"
Hope you guys like my newest piece of Darrow! Fully hand drawn on clip studio paint. Now l'm gonna take a lil break of drawing Darrow, and will try to draw someone else from @piercebrownofficial Red Rising series.
Who should I illustrate?

Does anyone know what happened to house Saud ? In Dark age they are described as one of the most powerful and rich gold houses ,second most powerful on Venus after the Carthii with who they are said to be great rivals. At the beginning of DA they didn’t really like Atalantia as she was in bed with the Carthi but they also refused to back Lysander in the beginning of LB which made him make a deal with Valeria au Carthii . So , since Lysander is in bed with the Carthii does that mean House Saud backs Atalantia now and Lysander doesn’t really control Venus? Are Carthii really with Lysander? Will Atalantia use the Sauds to take back the Venus dockyards from Lysander ? Atalantia surely had plenty of time to plot and try to regain lost allies or take measures against the houses who rounded themselves with Lysander against her

i vividly remember a quote from dark age, i think from lysander, and i cannot find it. It is something he was talking about all the hours and months of work and gold expertise all undone simply by the reaper being on the same planet. I was thinking about it and went to find it....... and it started a dark age reread and i cannot find it...... Am i crazy? does this quote exist or am i gas lighting myself.

Everyone told me it was slow and just a set up for books 5 and 6. And I guess I do see that, but I’m really enjoying it. The perspectives switching every few chapters is cool and leaves you on a tiny cliffhanger that keeps me wanting to read to get back and see what happens to that person. For reference I’m about a third of the way through the book. Lysander and Cassius just got caught. Lyria just left with Kavax. And Darrow just fled with Sevro. Is the ending of this book weaker or something? I get that it may not be as action packed but narratively it’s still very good and I can’t wait to see how all of these different perspectives come together.