Dark Age

Pierce Brown has outdone himself with Dark Age. If Iron Gold was his transition into a grander, more complex narrative style, Dark Age is his full mastery of it. The pacing is relentless from the very beginning, a full-throttle, no-breathing-allowed kind of read. It's an absolute page-turner that had me sacrificing sleep, telling myself “just one more chapter” over and over.I know a lot of people were put off by the use of multiple POVs in Iron Gold, but I actually liked it. In Dark Age, Brown takes it to another level. In Part I, he masterfully bounces between Darrow and Lysander, showing both sides of the same brutal conflict. The sheer scale of the battles, the way they unfold through different perspectives—it's nothing short of cinematic. The Institute in Red Rising feels like child's play compared to what Brown is doing here. He's fully stepped into the realm of grand space opera, with a complexity and scope that keeps you wondering what's next.Speaking of Lysander, I'm fully on board. He was already my favorite character in Iron Gold, and now, there's no doubt—he's my absolute favorite. His battle against Seneca and his men? I was practically jumping out of my chair. I know I might be in the minority, but I find myself deeply rooting for him, even when I probably shouldn't.Virginia's chapters, though, might have been my favorite POV. There's something about her introspection, her constant questioning, and her balance of intellect and leadership that resonated with me. “Or would I grow to be the villain in someone else's story?” That's the kind of question that lingers in your mind long after you put the book down.Ephraim really surprised me. He was already funny in Iron Gold, but here, he's even better. His humor doesn't feel out of place, and I genuinely enjoyed his chapters. More than that, his arc feels like one of the emotional cores of the book—this could easily be called his redemption story.Lyria, though, might be the biggest improvement. I didn't dislike her in Iron Gold, but she felt more like a plot device than a fully developed character. Dark Age completely changes that. She's full of personality now, and I found myself loving her journey. I'd be so excited for a spin-off about her adventures as a freelancer.And then there's the big twist— the Jackal clone. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, it's a wild, exciting development. On the other, it does feel a bit like a cheap plot device. The fact that the clone is ten years old and so brilliant immediately made me think of Ender Wiggin. I'm still not sure how I feel about it, but I'll give Brown the benefit of the doubt.Finally, the ending. No massive, shocking revelation, but a rock-solid setup for what's next. Brown leaves a lot of threads open—more than in any of his previous books. It's not a conclusion; it's a launching pad. And I can't wait to start [b:Lightbringer 72174599 Lightbringer (Red Rising, 6) Pierce Brown https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1691857705l/72174599.SY75.jpg 49466217].