Dark Age (novel)

Dark Age

First edition cover
Author	Pierce Brown
Language	English
Genre	Science fiction
Publisher	Del Rey Books (US)
Publication date	July 30, 2019
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardcover) E-book Audiobook
Pages	784
ISBN	978-0-425-28594-7
Preceded by	Iron Gold
Followed by	Light Bringer

Dark Age is a 2019 science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown; it is the second book of a tetralogy which continues the story of his Red Rising trilogy (2014–2016). Dark Age takes place immediately after the events of Iron Gold (2018), as the remaining Society forces aim to take back Mercury from the Solar Republic. A sequel, Light Bringer, was released on July 25, 2023.^[1]

Atalantia au Grimmus, Dictator of the Society Remnant, besieges the Solar Republic's Free Legions on Mercury after destroying their fleet in orbit. Three weeks after departing Venus, Darrow's team reaches Mercury and rescues Orion from torture at the hands of Atlas au Raa. Atalantia agrees to Lysander's proposition of an alliance with the Rim, but requires both Lysander and Seraphina to fall in her Iron Rain on Mercury.

Atalantia's forces assault Mercury, but Darrow has Orion create hypercanes using old terraforming technology and many of the invading force are killed, including Seraphina. Orion goes rogue, intending to scour the planet's surface to devastate the Society forces at the cost of the Free Legions and Mercury's civilians. When she refuses to back down, Darrow executes her. Kalindora au San, Rhone ti Flavinius and his Praetorians pledge allegiance to Lysander, making him a political threat to Atalantia. Jealous, his childhood friend Ajax unsuccessfully tries to have Lysander assassinated. Accepting that Orion's storm has doomed the northern cities and seeing that Atalantia seeks to occupy resource-rich Heliopolis, Darrow has his forces ride the storm across the Ladon Waste to intercept Ajax. Briefly captured by Atlas, Darrow and is saved by Colloway and Thraxa and his forces repel the assault on Heliopolis. Kalindora and Rhone are captured by the Republic, Ajax flees, and Lysander is stranded in the desert.

On Luna, Virginia urges the Republic Senate to come to the support of Darrow and the Free Legions, allying with Dancer to secure the necessary votes. However, before the vote can occur, Dancer and his allies are publicly poisoned by the Syndicate. Publius cu Caraval, puppet of the Syndicate, accuses Virginia and leads a deadly Vox Populi riot that massacres the Senate, including Daxo. Lilath au Faran is revealed to have survived the events of Morning Star and to be the mysterious Queen of the Syndicate. Virginia, Sevro, and many Howlers are captured. Publius publicly executes many of Virginia's allies, including Theodora, but Quicksilver, Kavax and Holiday escape. Lilath installs Publius as a puppet ruler and reveals that the Syndicate's rise to power was orchestrated by the now 10-year old clone of Adrius, who is being carefully molded into a new Jackal. Virginia escapes, but is forced to leave Sevro behind.

Victra has mercenary Figment kidnap Lyria and Volga. In the wake of their shuttle's crash, Ephraim, Pax and Electra are captured by Sefi's Obsidians. Sefi has been fatally poisoned by Atalantia, and she needs Volga, revealed to be Ragnar's daughter, as her heir to realize her dream of an Obsidian homeland on Mars. She plans to barter the children for Volga and Lyria. With Ephraim's guidance, Sefi's Obsidians capture many of Mars' helium mines from Quicksilver. After a celebratory dragon hunt, the mysterious Obsidian Volsung Fá and the true Ascommani of the Kuiper Belt surprise Ephraim, killing the popular Obsidian Freihild and framing Sefi. Her people begin to turn against her.

Above Mars, the Ascomanni attack Victra's flagship Pandora to find Volga, framing Sefi. Many onboard are killed, but Victra, Volga, Lyria and Figment crash on Mars. Fearing Sefi's imminent downfall, Ephraim escapes the Obsidians with Pax and Electra. Not trusting the Republic after Publius' coup, Pax suggests they seek out Victra. Figment dies from wounds sustained in the crash, but a mysterious parasitic device detaches from her and enters Lyria. Victra gives birth to a son, Ulysses. Harmony's Red Hand track the group, brutally kill Ulysses, and capture Victra and Volga. With the help of the device, Lyria infiltrates the Red Hand base, freeing Victra, Volga, and many enslaved prisoners. Lyria and Victra feed Harmony to pitvipers. To defeat the Red Hand, Lyria seeks help from Mars' civilians, who arrive after Pax boosts Lyria's distress call. Pax and Ephraim lead the response, ending the threat of the Red Hand. Victra reunites with Electra and Pax and Volga stops Victra from killing Ephraim.

Ephraim, knowing both Sefi and Volsung Fá seek Volga, returns to Olympia to warn Sefi of her servant Xenophon's duplicity. Xenophon admits to being an agent of Atlas and Fá and has manipulated the male Obsidians to turn on Sefi. Fá arrives, declares himself father of Ragnar and Sefi and challenges Sefi to a duel, killing her. Fá orders Ephraim's execution, but Ephraim triggers a bomb designed by Pax, killing Xenophon. Fá survives and kills Ephraim, then unleashes the Obsidians to brutalize Martian cities.

Atlas' Gorgons capture Lysander and Alexandar, who survived the floods. In a bid to prevent Atalantia's planned chemical genocide, Atlas allows Lysander to escape and deliver Atlas to Heliopolis. Darrow belatedly identifies Lysander, who has Gilrastes activate an EMP device that cripples Darrow's forces. Lysander kills Alexandar and leads the civilians of Heliopolis in rebellion, freeing Society prisoners-of-war including Kalindora and Rhone. Lysander and Atalantia's forces defeat Darrow's, liberating Atlas, but Kalindora is grievously injured. Preparing to make their last stand, Darrow and his top commanders are rescued and evacuated by Cassius, who had survived the duel and been held prisoner by Diomedes. Kavax sent him to rescue Darrow should the Senate abandon the Free Legions and Cassius pledges himself to the Republic.

Virginia and her allies return to Mars, where Kieran grants Virginia emergency powers of war. Pax reunites with Virginia, but the Republic believes Darrow dead. Volga surrenders to Fá to save Mars from the Obsidians, who leave the planet. Pax, aware of Lyria's device, gives her a mission. On Mercury, Atalantia arranges for Lysander's assassination, but relents when he publicly acknowledges her authority and proposes marriage. She agrees and sleeps with him, enraging Ajax. On her deathbed, Kalindora reveals to Lysander that Octavia had ordered Atalantia and Kalindora to murder his parents, as his mother had planned to overthrow Octavia, recognizing her as a corrupt tyrant. Diomedes and Ajax capture Earth and Lysander secretly allies with Apollonius, promising him the lives of his betrayers--Atalantia, Ajax, Atlas and Darrow--in exchange for his support in reestablishing the Society with Lysander as Sovereign.

The Solar Republic

• Darrow of Lykos, a.k.a the "Reaper" and the "Morning Star" (Red): a Red physically remade into a Gold to infiltrate and destroy the Society. The former ArchImperator of the new Solar Republic, now commander of the marooned Free Legions on Mercury.
• Virginia au Augustus, a.k.a. "Mustang" and "Lionheart" (Gold): reigning Sovereign of the Solar Republic; daughter of the former ArchGovernor of Mars, Darrow's wife, and mother of their son Pax.
• Pax (Gold/Red): son of Darrow and Virginia
• Kieran of Lykos (Red): brother of Darrow, a Howler.
• Rhonna of Lykos (Red): daughter of Kieran, lancer to Darrow, a Howler
• Sevro au Barca, a.k.a. "Goblin" and "Ares" (Gold/Red): Imperator of the Republic, Darrow's best friend and second-in-command.
• Victra au Barca (Gold): Darrow's former lieutenant, Sevro's wife, and a wealthy shipping magnate in the Solar Republic.
• Electra au Barca (Gold): eldest daughter of Sevro and Victra
• Dancer O'Faran (Red): Darrow's former mentor in the Sons of Ares, now a powerful senator in the Republic and leader of the Vox Populi, a socialist faction opposing Virginia
• Kavax au Telemanus (Gold): longtime ally to Virginia and Darrow, Primus of House Telemanus, father of Daxo, Thraxa, and the deceased Pax au Telemanus
• Niobe au Telemanus (Gold): Kavax's wife
• Daxo au Telemanus (Gold): son and heir to Kavax, Tribune of the Gold bloc in the Solar Republic, ally of Virginia.
• Thraxa au Telemanus (Gold): Praetor of the Free Legions, daughter of Kavax and Niobe, one of Darrow's trusted Howlers.
• Alexandar au Arcos (Gold): eldest grandson and heir of Lorn, lancer to Darrow, a Howler
• Cadus Harnassus (Orange): Imperator of the Republic, second in command of the Free Legions
• Orion xe Aquarii (Blue): Navarch of the Republic, Imperator of the White Fleet, longtime ally of Darrow
• Colloway xe Char (Blue): Pilot, reigning kill-leader of the Republic Navy, a Howler
• Glirastes the Master Maker (Orange): Mercurian architect and inventor
• Holiday ti Nakamura (Gray): Dux of Virginia's Lionguard, sister of Trigg, Centurion of the Pegasus Legion
• Regulus ag Sun, a.k.a. "Quicksilver" (Silver): the richest man in the known worlds, head of Sun Industries and co-founder of the Sons of Ares.
• Publius cu Caraval (Copper): Tribune of the Copper bloc in the Senate
• Theodora (Pink): Leader of the Splinter Operatives, Virginia's spymaster, a former Rose
• Zan (Blue): ArchImperator of the Republic following Darrow's removal, commander of Luna's defense fleet
• Clown (Gold): a Howler
• Pebble (Gold): a Howler
• Min-Min (Red): sniper, munitions expert, a Howler
• Screwface (Gold): a Howler
• Marbles (Green): hacker, a Howler
• Tongueless (Obsidian): former prisoner of Deepgrave, ally of Darrow
• Felix au Daan (Gold): bodyguard to Darrow

The Society Remnant

• Atalantia au Grimmus (Gold): Dictator of the Society, the Ash Lord's sole remaining daughter, sister to Aja and Moira au Grimmus.
• Lysander au Lune (Gold): grandson and heir to former Sovereign Octavia au Lune. Recently returned from exile
• Atlas au Raa a.k.a. the "Fear Knight" (Gold): brother to Romulus, Legate of the Zero Legion ("the Gorgons")
• Ajax au Grimus a.k.a. the "Storm Knight" (Gold): son of Aja au Grimmus and Atlas au Raa, heir of House Grimmus, leader of the Iron Leopards
• Kalindora au San a.k.a. the "Love Knight" (Gold): aunt to Alexander au Arcos, childhood friend of Atalantia au Grimmus and Anastasia au Lune
• Julia au Bellona (Gold): Cassius's estranged mother who harbors a fervent hatred of Darrow for killing her son, Julian. Primus of House Bellona
• Scorpio au Votum (Gold): Primus of House Votum, former ArchGovernor of Mercury
• Cicero au Votum (Gold): son of Scorpio and heir of House Votum, Legate of the Scorpion Legion
• Asmodeus au Carthii (Gold): Primus of House Carthii, the shipbuilders of Venus
• Scipio au Falthe (Gold): Primus of House Falthe
• Rhone ti Flavinius (Gray): Lunese subPraetor, former second officer of XIII Dracones Praetorian Guard under Aja au Grimmus
• Seneca au Cern (Gold): Dux of Ajax, Centurion of the Iron Leopards
• Magnus au Grimmus, a.k.a. the "Ash Lord" (Gold): Former ArchImperator under Octavia, the Burner of Rhea, killed by the Howlers and Apollonius au Valii-Rath on Venus
• Octavia au Lune (Gold): Former Sovereign of the Society, grandmother to Lysander, killed by Darrow ten years previously.
• Aja au Grimmus (Gold): Former Protean Knight under Octavia, daughter of the Ash Lord, killed by Sevro ten years previously.
• Moira au Grimmus (Gold): Former Politico under Octavia, daughter of the Ash Lord, killed by Darrow ten years previously.

The Rim Dominion

• Dido au Raa (Gold): Co-consul of the Rim Dominion, wife of former Soverign of the Rim Dominion, Romulus au Raa, a native Venusian of House Saud.
• Diomedes au Raa, a.k.a. the "Storm Knight" (Gold): eldest remaining son of Romulus and Dido, a blademaster and Taxiarchos of the Lightning Phalanx
• Seraphina au Raa (Gold): the remaining daughter of Romulus and Dido, a blademaster and Lochagos of the Eleventh Dust Walkers
• Marius au Raa (Gold): Quaestor, and son of Romulus and Dido
• Helios au Lux a.k.a. the "Truth Knight" (Gold): Co-consul of the Rim Dominion with Dido
• Romulus au Raa a.k.a. "The Lord of the Dust" (Gold): former Sovereign of the Rim Dominion and Primus of House Raa, killed by ceremonial suicide

The Obsidian

• Sefi the Quiet (Obsidian): Queen of the Obsidians and sister to fallen hero Ragnar Volarus, leader of the Valkyrie
• Valdir the Unshorn (Obsidian): Warlord and royal concubine of Sefi
• Ozgard (Obsidian): Shaman of the Firebones, advisor to Sefi
• Freihild (Obsidian): Skuggi spirit warrior
• Gudkind (Obsidian): Skuggi spirit warrior
• Xenophon (White): a logos, advisor to Sefi
• Ragnar Volarus aka "The Shield of Tinos" (Obsidian): Former leader of the Obsidian, brother to Sefi, a Howler, killed by Aja au Grimmus ten years previously

Other Characters

• Ephraim ti Horn (Gray): Freelancer, former son of Ares, husband of Trigg ti Nakamura.
• Volga Fjorgan (Obsidian): Freelancer, Ephraim's associate and bodyguard.
• Apollonius au Valii-Rath, a.k.a "The Minotaur" (Gold): heir of House Valii-Rath, verbose
• The Duke of Hands (Pink): Syndicate operative, master thief, a former Rose
• Lyria of Lagalos (Red): a Gamma Martian Red, former client of House Telemanus
• Liam of Lagalos (Red): nephew of Lyria, client of House Telemanus
• Harmony (Red): Leader of the terrorist group "the Red Hand", former Sons of Ares lieutenant. Responsible for the deaths of Lyria's family on Mars.
• Pytha (Blue): pilot and companion of Cassius and Lysander
• Figment (Brown): a mysterious Freelancer
• Mickey (Violet): the Rising carver who remade Darrow into a Gold.
• Fitchner au Barca a.k.a the "Rage Knight" and "Ares" (Gold): former leader of the Sons of Ares, father of Sevro, killed by Cassius au Bellona
• Cassius au Bellona (Gold): Darrow's former friend and Morning Knight under the previous Sovereign, Octavia au Lune, caretaker and mentor of Lysander. Killed by Seraphina in ritual duel on Io.

The book was originally announced as a sequel trilogy to Red Rising in February 2016.^[2] The title of the second installment, Dark Age, was announced in February 2018 soon after the release of Iron Gold.^[3] Dark Age was released on July 30, 2019,^[4] and debuted at #4 on The New York Times Best Seller list.^[5]

• Official website