Light Bringer (Brown novel)

Light Bringer

First edition cover
Author	Pierce Brown
Language	English
Genre	Science fiction
Publisher	Del Rey Books (US)
Publication date	July 25, 2023
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardcover) E-book Audiobook
ISBN	978-0-425-28597-8
Preceded by	Dark Age
Followed by	Red God

Light Bringer is a 2023 science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown, the third book of a tetralogy which continues the story of his Red Rising trilogy (2014–2016). Light Bringer takes place after the events of Dark Age (2019), as the survivors from Mercury make their way to Mars and the Solar Republic.^[1]

Darrow and the survivors from Mercury, having repaired their ship, set out to rescue Sevro from Venus. Their plan fails when they walk into a trap set by Apollonius, leading to Darrow’s easy defeat in a duel. Sevro, who had escaped and orchestrated explosions, rescues them amid the ensuing chaos. They flee to Mars, where they discover Aurae is a Daughters of Athena agent with a fleet ready for Sevro.

Back on Mercury, Lysander is celebrated as a hero of the Society but faces political turmoil. He defies his wife, Atalantia, at a crucial meeting, convincing the Golds to support an attack on Mars instead of Luna. Atalantia agrees but does not commit her troops.

Lyria, searching for answers in the Rim, chooses her family’s memories over the Psyche tool after a battle and rescue by Matteo and his robots. Virginia prepares Mars for a siege, leading ground forces while Victra commands the space battle. The battle is intense, involving various key figures and ending with a truce allowing Virginia and her forces safe passage back to Mars. Virginia advises Darrow to find Quicksilver and bring him back to the war.

Lysander, planning to assault Mars, is poisoned and falls into a coma. He awakens to news that Ajax has been assassinated by Victra, and of an attack on Illium by Volsung Fá. He agrees to assist Diomedes and Helios in the conflict, while his slower ships follow later.

Darrow, Cassius, Sevro, and Aurea search for Quicksilver, who has scrapped his fleet to build a generation ship and leave the solar system with his husband. Despite Darrow's initial anger, he wishes Quicksilver well. Lyria is denied the chance to join Darrow’s mission to meet the Daughters of Athena but later stows away on their ship. During their journey to the Rim, Darrow and Cassius train together, Aurea helps Darrow teach her people, and Cassius falls for Aurea, though she does not return his feelings. Lyria’s presence is discovered on board. While conversing with Lyria, Sevro learns of Ulysses' death and becomes despondent over his failure as a father.

Upon reaching the Rim, they find the Rim Dominion fleet destroyed and Diomedes in an escape pod. Although initially uncooperative, Diomedes is convinced by Aurea to help. Planning to reach Io to contact the Daughters of Athena, they are soon caught in the aftermath of an Obsidian-led massacre and enslavement of Rim Dominion citizens. Darrow and Cassius battle Obsidian slavers and learn the Daughters are on Europa, which is under siege by Fá. On Europa, Darrow and Diomedes face trial, where Diomedes admits the failure of the Golds, and Darrow's powerful speech, along with Sevro’s intervention, spares them. As Fá advances, the Daughters of Ares and the Golds unite to fight.

Lyria seeks out Volga and tries to convince others of Fá’s treachery but is disregarded. Fá orders her death, but Volga refuses the command and is saved by the arrival of Darrow, Cassius, and Sevro. Darrow challenges Fá to a duel and defeats him with a new technique, Breath of Stone. Fá tarnishes his reputation by fleeing from the duel in view of the Volk; Volga kills and usurps Fá, pledging her allegiance to Darrow.

Lysander follows Atlas’s plan, destroys Obsidians on Io, and broadcasts the Iron Rain. Diomedes arranges a face-to-face meeting between him and Darrow; despite their distrust, they agree to unite against Atalantia and Atlas. That night, Cassius offers to help Lysander kill Atlas, leading to an ambush. They succeed but discover Atlas had a biological weapon. Lysander admits to wanting to use it, and when Cassius refuses to let him, Lysander shoots his mentor dead and purges Atlas' agents.

The next day, Diomedes convinces his grandmother Gia to support the republic by revealing his love for a Pink, Aurea. At a council meeting, Diomedes announces his alliance with Lysander and Darrow, but Lysander betrays them by showing Cassius’s body and bombing the council chamber. He then attacks Io, leading to an uneasy alliance among Darrow, Diomedes, the Daughters of Ares, and the Volk. While Darrow and Sevro mourn for Cassius, Lysander, with Atlas' weapons, deliberates whether to target Mars or the Core next.

The week of August 7, 2023, Light Bringer landed on Publishers Weekly's best seller lists in second place for fiction and fifth overall.^[2] The following week, it ranked second on the New York Times Best Seller List for Hardcover Fiction^[3] and USA Today's Best-selling Booklist for fiction.^[4]

According to Brian Kitson of The Cosmic Circus, if readers are "looking for another well-written science-fiction/fantasy novel on audio, then Light Bringer should definitely be on [their] list".^[5] Booklist also reviewed the novel.^[6]

In 2023, Light Bringer placed second in the Goodreads Choice Award for Science Fiction.^[7] Barnes & Noble named it one of the best science fiction books of the year.^[8]

• Official website