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Cover of Dark Age by Pierce Brown

Book 5 in Red Rising

Dark Age

by Pierce Brown

800 pages

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Dark Age by Pierce Brown continues the Red Rising saga with intense interstellar conflict, political intrigue, and moral dilemmas, as Darrow and allies face betrayal, war, and the harsh realities of revolution.

Red Rising series tropes

Tagged on the series as a whole, so not every book will feature each one.

About the book

Dark Age by Pierce Brown is the gripping second installment in the Red Rising Saga: Second Trilogy, delivering high-stakes science fiction, intense political maneuvering, and epic battles across a fractured solar system. Following the events of Iron Gold, the novel plunges readers into a universe where the aftermath of revolution has left societies unstable, alliances fragile, and the fight for justice more complex than ever.

The story explores the consequences of victory, as Darrow, Mustang, and other key figures struggle to maintain order and achieve lasting change in a solar system rife with corruption, rebellion, and vengeance. Brown expands the narrative through multiple point-of-view characters, blending perspectives of both established heroes and new faces, providing insight into the far-reaching consequences of their actions and the moral ambiguity of war.

In Dark Age, every decision carries weight. Darrow faces personal and political challenges as he confronts enemies both old and new, navigating betrayals, power struggles, and strategic warfare. The novel examines themes of loyalty, sacrifice, ambition, and the moral compromises necessary to pursue freedom and justice. Readers witness the toll of leadership on individuals and societies, exploring the costs of rebellion and the enduring human capacity for courage and resilience.

Brown’s signature style blends fast-paced action with deep character development. Readers experience large-scale battles, interstellar strategy, and high-stakes confrontations alongside intimate moments of emotional tension, personal growth, and ethical dilemma. The stakes are higher than ever, and the narrative captures the chaos, danger, and intensity of a universe on the brink of collapse.

Dark Age features hallmark dystopian and sci-fi elements, including fractured societies, morally complex characters, political intrigue, epic space warfare, and high-stakes rebellion. The novel also explores the tension between idealism and pragmatism, showing that even in the pursuit of noble goals, the path to lasting change is fraught with compromise, loss, and heartbreak.

Ideal for fans of science fiction, dystopian epics, and character-driven sagas, Dark Age offers a relentless, emotionally charged continuation of the Red Rising universe. It is a story of strategy, ambition, courage, and sacrifice, where heroes face impossible choices, and the fate of the solar system hangs in the balance, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the final installment.

Red Rising reading order

Full reading order

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About Dark Age

Who wrote Dark Age?
Dark Age was written by Pierce Brown.
Is Dark Age part of a series?
Yes. Dark Age is book 5 in the Red Rising series. To read the series in order, start with Red Rising.
How many pages is Dark Age?
Dark Age is 800 pages long.
What books are similar to Dark Age?
If you enjoyed Dark Age, readers also recommend Skyward, A Memory Called Empire, Ultimate Cocky Fighter and LIFEL1K3 (LIFELIKE).

About Pierce Brown

Pierce Brown is the bestselling author of the Red Rising saga, a gripping sci-fi and dystopian epic of rebellion, interstellar warfare, and morally complex characters navigating a brutal hierarchical universe.

Books, series and tropes by Pierce Brown

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