Light Bringer: 6 (Red Rising)

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I’ll say this from the get go to set expectations. Light Bringer was not my least favorite nor my favorite book of the Red Rising Saga. Out of the 6 current books it sits at #4 behind Golden Son, Dark Age, and Morning Star, but ahead of Red Rising and Iron Gold. To put that into further perspective, I have never ranked a Red Rising book below 9/10. So it is no insult to say that Light Bringer is my 4th favorite of the series. They are all basically amazing. Anyway, on to the actual review. However, those of us who have read through Dark Age know that some of the relationships that we’ve come to love so much are in dire straits, potentially broken forever. I was really happy to see that the few relationships that are focused on in Light Bringer are written in such a way that feels true to the characters involved and also to the trauma of what they’ve been through, whatever the outcome. There is also a new friendship formed that I really enjoyed. How the author writes his characters is one of my favorite things about this series and that didn’t change in Lightbringer. Some of the very best moments were intimate, emotional scenes between characters with deeply meaningful relationships. That is where I will stop with that discussion though because I can’t say more without spoilers. The path is made of many stones that look all the same. When you trod upon evil, do not rest or look down because goodness is only a step away. The next may bring ruin, the next joy, but these stones are not your destination, they are but your journey to the path’s end.”

Much like A Song of Ice and Fire’s George R. R. Martin, Brown is an author who is interested in exploring the consequences of his protagonist’s actions. Revolution doesn’t come without a price and no one can stay a hero forever.” — The Mary SueBut I literally love this book even more going through it a second time. And I still cried just as much, if not more. I honestly thought it might be too soon for a re-read but my emotions ran just as intense because the plot is just that insane. I had such high expectations for this book going in, and it still blew them away! This might be the best Red Rising book so far, but either way, it was the best book in the second series by far. I started Lightbringer on audiobook, but the production value was so bad that after 2 hours, I decided to wait for my physical copy that was set to arrive a few days later. You could easily tell that Audible had been changing some of the mixer settings instead of just letting TGR do his magic like he did in the original trilogy. Without him, I don't know if I ever even finish the first book, and now this series is among my favorite of all time. Well because Pierce Brown doesn't care about his reader's feelings and is having way too much fun ruining character's lives. A] thoughtful blend of action, intrigue, and prosaic human drama.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Light Bringer combines Brown’s trademark character work and action sequences with the grimness of Dark Age, and the hopefulness of the original trilogy, to create a truly unique entry in the Red Rising Saga. I cannot wait for book 7, Red God!This made for an even more amazing reading experience because I realised that I did still love this series and that this book may well be my favourite book of the year.

With so much time between books the theory crafting and speculation can go a little crazy. 4 years is a long time but definitely not in the Song of Ice & Fire kinda long wait that made my theories and speculation dry up. I had many coming into this book and I gotta say; I was wrong on all of them. So begins Darrow’s long voyage home, an interplanetary adventure where old friends will reunite, new alliances will be forged, and rivals will clash on the battlefield.The events happening in each Part (4 parts in total) are paced in such a way that to hop across the solar system might be a little jarring. When you’re in a massive space battle, the last thing you want is to jump to another location for a territory dispute. Less hopping makes the book more cohesive but you will miss some of those side characters for long stretches. So what you’re saying is, without your friends , you’d be slagged and the Rising would be ashes?... Welcome to the club, asshole. Where do you think I’d be without you? Without our friends? Dead in a ravine, that’s where. We hold each other up. We always have. That’s not weakness. That’s the only strength we’ve got. More than anyone, you’ve been there for me. You’ve been my engine for half a life. My turn.” Lysander longs to destroy the Rising and restore the supremacy of Gold, and will raze the worlds to realize his ambitions.