by Pierce Brown
Series: Red Rising #5
Narrator: Tim Gerard Reynolds, John Curless, Moira Quirk, James Langton, Rendah Heywood
Length: 33 hours and 58 minutes
Genres: Fantasy
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.5x
For a decade Darrow led a revolution against the corrupt color-coded Society. Now, outlawed by the very Republic he founded, he wages a rogue war on Mercury in hopes that he can still salvage the dream of Eo. But as he leaves death and destruction in his wake, is he still the hero who broke the chains? Or will another legend rise to take his place?
Lysander au Lune, the heir in exile, has returned to the Core. Determined to bring peace back to mankind at the edge of his sword, he must overcome or unite the treacherous Gold families of the Core and face down Darrow over the skies of war-torn Mercury.
But theirs are not the only fates hanging in the balance.
On Luna, Mustang, Sovereign of the Republic, campaigns to unite the Republic behind her husband. Beset by political and criminal enemies, can she outwit her opponents in time to save him?
Once a Red refugee, young Lyria now stands accused of treason, and her only hope is a desperate escape with unlikely new allies.
Abducted by a new threat to the Republic, Pax and Electra, the children of Darrow and Sevro, must trust in Ephraim, a thief, for their salvation—and Ephraim must look to them for his chance at redemption.
As alliances shift, break, and re-form—and power is seized, lost, and reclaimed—every player is at risk in a game of conquest that could turn the Rising into a new Dark Age.
Dark Age by Pierce Brown the fifth book in the Red Rising series was one that I savoured. Dark, brutal and a beast of a tale no one is safe least of all you.
I treated myself and savored my time with this highly anticipated release. I spent almost a month with Dark Age. I listened to the audiobook as I read along with my hardcover edition. It is something I highly recommend as it added another layer of enjoyment to a bloody brilliant tale.
The audiobook is a beast at over thirty-three hours and the tome comes in at seven-hundred and fifty-seven pages. For me every sentence mattered and the changes in POV gave us insider perspective to events as they unfolded.
Lo Howlers, this tale is insanely brutal and gets gorydamn bloody as we realize the Republic is no longer safe. New threats emerge and align. Enemies hide within our ranks. Our heroes and heroines grow weary and new ones join their ranks. So much blood and gore.
Brown has such a dark and twisted imagination. Is it wrong that I love it? Heed my warning his battle scenes are the truth definition of horror. No one is safe and the vivid, twisted prose brought it all to life in gorydamn three-D imagery. I loved and hated every moment.
While the tale is dark, very dark… it also has hilarious moments and moments of triumph. I laughed and cheered over cool piloting maneuvers, talks of self-medicating, training and kickassary. You get to know these characters intimately. You know their hearts, their flaws and when one falls you bloodydamn weep for them. Forget protecting your heart. I tried early on vowing to care for no one, but Brown tricked me into caring and I wept all the same. The bastard.
“The waves crash all around the roots of the building. Both were made by man. Perhaps at first in hope, to give our species a new home to live and to love. But in time, I don’t know when, their creation became a vanity of will, and in the shadow of that vanity, man grew lesser for having more. Lesser for mastering the keys of creation, because he mistook himself for god, and cared less for his people, and more that his works endured.”
― Pierce Brown, Dark Age
Brown pours his soul into these books and loyal Howlers have witnessed his growth along with those of key characters. One of my favorite things is seeing the transformation of characters from the good, bad to the downright ugly. Love them or hate them, Brown allows you to get inside and understand what makes them tick.
This is a large scale plot with many characters, alliances and factors. It is not a story to be rushed. It is one from which fandoms are born. I purposely spent a month reading/listening and digesting it. First, because of the multiple POVs and gory scenes. These demanded small servings. Second to reflect on how each fits into the bigger picture.
The ending was satisfying and exasperating. It ended in a well thought out place, and we have a vague idea of where we are headed, but the wait will be painful.
The audiobooks for the series are amazing. Tim Gerard Reynolds is of course phenomenal. John Curless, Moira Quirk, James Langton and Rendah Heywood all brought their characters to life. Listening was an absolute treat.
“Red Rain, Red Rain!” – Dark Ages, Pierce Brown
I’ve finished. There will be nightmares. But I am ok with that.
Dark Age by Pierce Brown will chew up your heart, spit it out and leave you begging for more. #RedRising. Please sir, may I have another? #Fantasy #Epic #MustRead #Audio #Howler Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
MarthaE
Glad you are still enjoying the books. I have my son hooked on this series now. He is passing me and I need to get to work catching up.
Anne
This is a series I have plans to read. I have been buying it on audio. Someday! I’m glad you think it is great.
Anne – Books of My Heart
Jen
WOW!! What a great review. My son read the first 4 books, but now that he’s busy with HS and reading for classes and school sports, he hasn’t shown interest in reading for fun. This one sounds like he’ll need to wait until summer, when he can take his time and digest. Thanks.
Chanzie
I love that I can see how much you enjoyed this book. I haven’t ever thought of reading and listening to a book at the same time at this age (i used to do it when i was a kid).
I also laughed at the part where you say he tricked you into caring for the characters – sneaky authors!!!
Great review Kimberly 🙂
Debbie S Haupt
wow 700+ pages and every sentence matters now that’s quite the recommendation. I have enjoyed through the years epic journeys like this series and it remains on my wish list. What a fantastic review Kim. I’m right now listening to The Scribe (which I’m loving) and hating you for at the same time as each story is at least 3 novels long. But you’re just that good of a reviewer. Thanks for yet another over the top excellent review!
Kimberly
Only the first couple is three books, so don’t hate me too hard!
Debbie Haupt
Oh good to know because The Staff and the Blade book 4 says its a novel in 4 parts so I guess it’s just 4 parts inside the one novel. Whew and no I don’t really hate you xo
Kimberly
Yes… all inside the one novel or audio!
Carole @ Carole's Random Life in Books
I really need to get caught up with this series. This book sounds amazing, Kimberly!
Tyler H. Jolley
I’m so glad it was everything you hoped it to be — and more! Dang, that is a long audio book. Did it comes as one file or multiple?
Kimberly
I listened through Audible, so not really sure. I imagine it would be at least 2.
Nadene
You have me curious about the series. I can see you had good time with this one, thanks for putting it on my radar.
Jonetta (Ejaygirl) | Blue Mood Café
I still haven’t read #3 (too chicken) but am glad to see the series is still holding up! I had to skim your review as I’m behind.
Kimberly
I worked very hard to keep it as spoiler free as possible. Morning Star is still my favorite but this was epic.
Jonetta (Ejaygirl) | Blue Mood Café
Oh, I’m sure you did! I’m just too far behind. Okay….you’ve given me courage to return?
Sophia Rose
Sounds epic! I can’t honestly say I have a book/series going right now where I feel that strongly about it. But, I love that feeling when I have it. Love how you got to savor this one. 🙂
sherry fundin
oooo sounds like my kind of read, dark and brutal. don’t think i’ve read any of his work, though his name is familiar to me. probably saw it here. 🙂
Melliane
I heard so much about this series but I haven’t tried it yet
Jenea's Book Obsession
This sounds so good! Mu library doesn’t carry any of the books though. ?
Kimberly
That is absurd. So many of the books have won Goodreads awards. You need to give them the what for Jenea.
Silvia
If memory serves me well, I added this series to my list right because of you 🙂 So happy to hear it still goes strong after five instalments, and you know I love dark, very dark stories, so I don’t care if it still gets me a while to put my hands on this series, but I’ll read it at some point for sure!
Ailyn Koay
ahh. not really a fan of cliffhangers at all! but I think by the time I finish five books the next one would be out eh?
Olivia Roach
You were anticipating this one and it sounds like that anticipation paid off! I love that this one is so dark. I have read Red Rising but need to read more of his books because it sounds like each one really has all of his blood, sweat and tears poured into it!
czai
ah, you make me want to get back to reading this. it’s so huge that i’m really intimidated and when i got so caught up with life, i ended up putting this off for a while.. LOVE that you the things you pointed out, the transformation of the characters, the mixture of feelings, and the ending (omg!)!!
i have to get back to this one soon!!
Kimberly
Ah, enjoy when you do. I am so sad to waiting yet again for a new book.
Jackie
Oh, I will definitely be reading this. I have Dark Age on hold at the library and plan on getting the audiobook to listen to it as well.