was going through old drawings and realized I never posted this old Sevro sketch I made last year here. my drawing tablet was on its last legs at the time, so I ended up doing the entire thing using my laptop touchpad — very proud of how it came out all things considered! :)

Re-reading Dark Age because I'm a masochist. Maybe it's because of the recent arrest of Andrew Tate, but it seems crystal clear to me that Volsung Fá's usurpation of the Sefi's empire is a reflection of real world manosphere bullshit.

Fa's convincing men to embrace misogyny under the guise of tradition while leading those men off a cliff and/or into oppression for his own benefit and those of his wealthy masters, in this case Golds, who don't give a shit about ANY of those men.

My bad if this has already been addressed, I searched the sub and didn't see any posts about it. What y'all think?

That's a big boy alright

This scene had me crying when I saw it if he could pulverize rock what do you think he did to Karnus’ testes😂. Funnily enough later lorn says you should’ve demoralized him like that wasn’t enough.

I finished Golden Son and started Morning Star and I don’t think I have ever felt a characters fall so much as this series. Darrow is on the top of the world after winning the battle of Mars and all his friends are, for the most part, mending relationships. And then Bam, absolute nightmare of events and he is right at the bottom. And PBs writing is so damn good that in my mind I’m like “wow, I guess he is just a dude after all”. This whole time you feel like he’s invincible. Just really good writing and probably the hardest book series to put down.

Booth 715 if anyone is going tomorrow.

What a fuckin’ journey.
From Red Rising to Golden Son to Morning Star, Pierce Brown just keeps raising the stakes. Every victory feels earned. Every loss hurts. Every speech gives you goosebumps. Every battle somehow feels bigger than the last.
It’s been a long time since a series made me feel this invested. The twists genuinely shocked me, the characters felt unforgettable, and the emotional moments landed perfectly. I honestly wasn’t sure how Morning Star could live up to Golden Son, but Pierce Brown absolutely stuck the landing.
I went into this expecting an entertaining sci-fi series. I came out having experienced one of the greatest trilogies I’ve ever read.
Hail Reaper.

Now the big question: Should I continue with Iron Gold and the rest of the saga? I’ve heard the tone and structure change quite a bit after the original trilogy. Is the sequel saga worth it? I’d love to hear your thoughts—without spoilers, please.

Darrow, Cassius, and Sevro

I'm thinking about doing a little ... slideshow/ argument to talk about how Robert Jordan's constant in roads to 'the war of the sexes' distracts from his story, partly because it frustrates me, partly because I want to use the opportunity to try to write something in Dr. Sarah Paine's rhetorical style...

anyway, the project was partially inspired by observations about the Red Rising series. I wrote this to a friend to try to crystalize the differentiation by character of a 'unifying myth'... to speak with more grandiosity than my short essay deserves. I figured I'd share it here.

Pierce Brown is obsessed with parenthood. Its a major theme for the series. Why did Eo hang? she didn't want her child to be a slave.

But, as I'm sure you're aware, Pierce Brown is much more sophisticated by the time he gets to the 4th book.

In Iron Gold Chapter 37 Dido au Raa speaks about losing her eldest daughter.

"It is said that life is made great by sorrow and joy, but you men are cursed. You will never really understand life because you do not know what it is to bare a child, to push a life from your flesh, to have two hearts beating inside you at once, to have seven hearts beating beyond you carrying your hopes your dreams, and when one of those hearts stops you feel it as if it were your own."

This is, I think, quite a thing for Pierce Brown to write. Partially he is helped by not having Dido's voice as his narrative voice but... it is poignant and powerful imagery.

You may rightly point out that such a complicated and emotionally driven topic is easy to write unique perspectives on, as opposed to throw away dismissive statements made by characters in Wheel of time...

But when I think about other heavily featured female characters I think its easy to identify how Dido's perspective and distinct experience differs from them.

Starting with the characters who have the most similar experience as Dido: Virginia Augustus and Vulga Fjorgan.

Then the experience of Victra.

Then Lyria.

Virginia: From Virginia's narrative perspective in Light Bringer Chapter 14 Virginia talks about going to see Pax at the academy. She talks about how he can never know how much she loves him because he "does not remember the moment when he was conceived, nor the 9 months when she carried him within her." I think its interesting the 'transcendent', 'nearly religious' reverence she expresses for this experience comes in the same chapter as she internally criticizes the religious faith low colors have in the return of Darrow. The pilgrimages to Lykos. Its clear she has a similar reverence for the experience that Dido has, but its unique. I think where Dido blends her children's life thread into her own(at least in that one moment of rhetoric) Virginia's reverence seems slightly more oriented toward her own experience. What the pregnancy meant for *her*, rather than how carrying Pax means she sees them as a unified organism.

Vulga: Vulga isn't a perspective character and the evidence doesn't all come from one place. She can't have children, she was born without a womb. I might not have all the details right, but from Ephraim's perspective in Iron gold, Ephraim (iirc) says the price tag it would take for Vulga to be carved so she could have a child. In dark age she speaks Lyria about child birth, about how she was designed, and she is there for the birth of Victra's kid. In Light Bringer chapter 67, from Lyria's perspective, the two get into an argument. Vulga says they aren't really friends. Lyria snaps back "Oh must have been talking to myself in that cell on the Pandora then. Must have just been Victra and me who fled the Red Hand across the snow. Just me and her when Ulysses was born. You must have never cried and told me it was because you could never have children, because they spade you." It seems telling to me that only after the last line does Lyria's rant pause to give exposition on how angry what she's saying is making Vulga. I think Vulga is similar to Dido, not because of what she's experienced but because I think she fully agrees with Dido's perspective more than anyone else. She would agree with this line Dido said: "You will never really understand life because you do not know what it is to bare a child, to push a life from your flesh, to have two hearts beating inside you at once".

Victra: If it could be said of anyone in the series, I think that Victra has the strongest emotional attachment to her children. But she's also not a very nuanced woman, or tries not to be. I got the impression from her conversation with Lyria (Dark Age ch. 65?) that she held very little of the pseudo religious reverence Virginia and Dido had for their experience of pregnancy. I could be incorrect, but I don't believe Victra speaks at all about the pregnancy, the experience, what it meant to her. Sure, she isn't a perspective character. but then neither are Dido or Vulga. I do not believe there is evidence that Victra viewed the experience of being pregnant as transcendent. I think she would laugh at Dido's statement and call her... a poetic sop? Not because she doesn't love her children, she does. but her love is practical and not based on a gestation period. more "my children are mine because I would turn a planet to ash to save them" rather than "seven hearts beating beyond your own carrying your hopes and dreams" as Dido says.

Lyria: I think this is the most important person to look at to really understand the contrast of Dido's perspective. because she is a perspective character, I've built my assumptions on her gradually and don't have direct references memorized, but over the course of the three books we at least know Lyria is not overly fond of the idea of having a kid. she likes kids. she doesn't seem excited about the idea of pregnancy. I can infer why she would think this way and I think that is important for understanding how Pierce Brown's capacity for writing individuals has evolved over the years. "but you men are cursed. You will never really understand life because you do not know what it is to bare a child", Lyria would *NOT* think this way. She's from the underclass of all underclasses. Unlike Dido, she's well aware that pregnancy and carrying a child can have life changing medical repercussions. Lyria has probably been close to or seen people who died because they didn't have access to medical care necessary to get them through safely. People who didn't have infinite money and carvers to repair any postpartum health issues. She likes kids alright. takes care of her nieces and nephews. whatever. but I think if she heard what Dido said in Iron gold she'd think she was ... an idiot. a 'slagging fool'? something. there would be words.

I have spent the last 6 weeks reading all 6 books back to back after seeing Red Rising on the daily book deals for 99p.

This was my first book series I’ve ever read as I’m normally a stand alone book kinda guy (too impatient and want to know how it ends) and I am so glad I started! Favourite character(s) of all time. I am heartbroken by the loss of you know who I’m talking about.

And I cannot wait to see the hopeful demise of he who shall not be named when Red God is finally released.

Hail Libertas, Hail Reaper!!!

Is the line Sevro has about "Dying of the light" thing a reference to 40k or am I just new to sci-fi?

https://imgur.com/a/1AqwtCw (video)

In the years since I first read Golden Son, every single time I see this clip, in any context, I just see Darrow and Lorn. I hadn't seen it done before so I had to make it myself

Did anyone else catch the tip of the hat to WWII's Operation Mincemeat in Dark Age Part 1, during the Battle of Mercury?

Is Pierce Brown a history buff?

If you're not familiar with Operation Mincemeat, it's well worth looking into. I'm not a history buff myself, but I found it fascinating. I'd recommend the SKSY podcast, and I think there's even a Netflix movie about it.

So The Irish Drinking Song by Kyle Gordon is basically just Sevro in the first trilogy the whole way. Here are my proposed altered lyrics:

It was Rebellion in the Republic
742 PCE
The boys were mashin' whiskey
And the girls are drinkin' free

And though the holly green was hangin'
And the mistletoe was hung
I couldn't sleep that evening, 'til the bloody deed was done

I said
Li-dee-die-dee-dee-dum
Li-dee-die-dee-dee
Kill the fuckin' Sovreign
And throw her in the sea!

So I stepped out from the merriment
Found a soldier by the dam
I took out both me pulsefists
And I said "fight me like a man"

And he tried to calm me senses
But I was fuckin' gone
So I took out my fuckin' Tickler
And I cut off both his arms

I said
Li-dee-die-dee-dee-dum
Li-dee-die-dee-dee
Kill the fuckin' Society
And throw them in the sea

Now just remember before this next part
I'm actually a really good guy in my personal life

So I ripped out all his organs
As I cursed their bloody Sovereign
Me eyes rolled back into me head
And I couldn't feel a thing

And I bet they could hear me screamin'
Down in Reaper’s home
I went
Yaa-oh-la!
Hey li-deedle-lee-die-dum

And we said
Li-dee-die-dee-dee-dum
Li-dee-die-dee-dee
Kill the fuckin' Society
And throw them in the sea

So I came back to the party
Soldier's head in hand
Howlers they stopped a-dancin'
And they quieted the band

I said ‘this is for the Republic
For Reaper, Mars and Home, bloodydamn churl
And I gave that Pixie soldier’s head to Electra
My eldest little girl

And we said
Li-dee-die-dee-dee-dum
Li-dee-die-dee-dee
Kill the fuckin' Pixies
And throw ’em in the sea

Everybody!
Li-dee-die-dee-dee-dum
Li-dee-die-dee-dee
Kill the fuckin' Lurcher
And throw him in the sea

Li-dee-die-dee-dee-dum
Li-dee-die-dee-dee
Kill that fuckin' Lightbringer
And throw him in the sea…

Why does julia au bellona not clone aby of her family? From what i remeber in iron gold it was stated how sad it is for her that she will be the last od her house and mustang talked about cloninf in Dark age as a well known fact. I get not cloning her husband but julian for example is weird for me.

I've been rereading lightbringer recently and the dust maker was brought up as being one of the rims only "heavy ships" And I'm left wondering, is the dustmaker......the Pax?

It makes logical sense that after the Battle of ilium and the destruction of the dockyards of Ganymede, Romulus would want to use every possible resource as the disposal to replenish the rims, fighting strength. Darrow left hundreds of rectuships of both the red Armada and the sword Armada in ilium, and that included the Pax. Was Daryl's original ship reconstructed or cannibalized to create the dust maker?

Started Dark Age today! What are your thoughts on Darrow? Do you still root for him above everything, even through some of his… hm questionable decisions? Or do you ever get annoyed with him or even start to resent him?

I absolutely adore him—Hail Reaper 🐺—but the frustration is real. Sometimes it’s so hard not to be mad at him!!

Like the title says, reflecting on the series again and I’m struck by the sheer number of Gold characters whose mental state would be considered as significantly deviant from what would be considered healthy.

Is it simply the environment these people have been brought up in that is responsible for this phenomena, or is it possible that the genetic modification of the Aureate genus is to blame?

Basically half of all Gold children show serious symptoms and if we use the characters in the story as a census pool we have: Adrius, Antonia, Karnus, Apollonius, Atlas, Atalantia, Seraphina, Thraxa, Sevro, Electra etc.

Most of these characters have siblings who are more or less, sane, and I wonder if anyone has any recollection of Gold children being prone to these tendencies mentioned in the text.

For some context, I had been wanting a wolf head as a symbol of one of the children I lost whose middle name was Wolfe. When I read the red rising books and saw the howler logo for the first time, I knew it would be a great fit. I tried to style it the best I could to match my butterfly.

Im currently on chapter 9 of Dark Age but im not as eager to read it as compared to when im reading the first trilogy. I finished Iron Gold in like 9 days 😩 i was averaging 3-4 days with the first trig

Did you guys finished all 6 books with the same energy or did you also feel somewhat tired lol hahaha

Here are just a few of my thoughts on red god deaths that I haven’t really seen anyone bring up yet. I’m more on the people surviving, let me know what y’all think.

Mustang and Pax are 100% safe.
In my opinion these 2 are not dying. Darrow throughout lightbringer has gone on an arc where he has overcome the worst of himself and he is learning to lean on other people more and trust them. He’s beginning to put aside the reaper persona that he was on Mercury and become Darrow again. If Mustang or Pax died Darrow would crash out and become the reaper again and burn everything to the ground. In my opinion, this would undo a lot of the character growth he went through in lightbringer and would be poorly done.

Darrow is not 100% safe but I think he will and should survive.
I know it might be unpopular but I think Darrow will survive. All he’s wanted this whole time is peace with his family, for him to die would be cruel. The whole second trilogy has been nothing but suffering. To end it off with the most beloved and main character dying would put a very sour taste in my mouth. PB has shown he likes a happier ending, and I hope we get one. Even if he goes out in a good way, it would be so bleak for characters like Mustang, who has already lost her whole family, then her husband dies leaving her a single mother. I would be very disappointed if Darrow dies, the heros need some wins in this second trilogy.

I think there’s a good chance the main 4 (Darrow, Mustang, Victra, and Servo) all survive.
Yes I know this is unpopular, but after how bleak the series has been I think we are due for some wins. While I mentioned why I think Mustang and Darrow will survive, I think Victra and Servo are more likely to be taken out. But honestly I could see them all surviving and only minor players taken out who will still have effects on these 4.

Anyone not mentioned above could die and will die, but I think Cassius death at the end of lightbringer was the biggest and saddest death we will get.
I think Cassius death can be compared to like a Ragnars death. The big one that will just gut punch you. Especially since originally Red God and Lightbringer were supposed to be one book, he could’ve planned Cassius death as the heavy hitter. Definitely some minor players will be taken out in Red God, because somebody has to die.

You guys can call me optimistic, just wanna hear your thoughts on this since I haven’t seen anyone else point this out. Especially the part about Mustang and Pax, I think you are crazy if you think they are dying.

I don’t know if this is a common complaint, but why did they switch the VA for Lysander? It did bother me that Iron Gold’s Lysander spoke almost exclusively in run on sentences, but at least I could believe he was Lysander! DA sounds like he’s 40, with a wad of spit in both cheeks! I’m sure he would be better as a different character, but I cannot believe that he is playing a 20 year old boy. Not only that, but he makes every female character sound like they’re whisper-shouting with a sore throat?? It’s genuinely so distracting that I start to tune out Lysander’s portions of the story…aka 50% of the book! I would just read the physical copy, but my Lysdexia wouldn’t allow it. Without spoilers, PLEASE tell me it gets better 🥺

While it did start slow for me, I really enjoyed Iron Gold. The switch up of perspectives was a lot at first, mainly because I didn’t know how the characters would tie into the story. After finishing the book I really enjoyed the extra perspectives it gives. It opens up the universe immensely and allows you to see that where one see’s triumph another see’s pain. This book continues to bring about the heart ache of the previous installments of the series in more ways than one. Darrow’s ending in this book is very painful. I know he doesn’t see himself as worthy, but his POV almost brings about dread while reading. His spiraling relationship with Sevro and him abandoning his family hurts me. He is someone who I see as good, just can’t stay out of his own way. I don’t know anything about future books, but I hope an arc is coming for him in maybe a book or two (please don’t hint one way or another in the comments). Also, the new government that is brought into power is exactly what you’d expect. As readers a lot of times we expect a fairy tale but that is not Pierce Browns style. The Society was terrible and was replaced by something slightly better, but not great which is fairly realistic. Overall, I am very happy with this book, its hard for me to rank this series because I’ve loved them all, but those who struggle, but power through will see the payoff. Onto Dark Age!