# Dark Age (novel)

Dark Age is a 2019 science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown; it is the second book of a tetralogy which continues the story of his Red Rising trilogy (2014–2016). Dark Age takes place immediately after the events of Iron Gold (2018), as the remaining Society forces aim to take back Mercury from the Solar Republic. A sequel, Light Bringer, was released on July 25, 2023.

## Plot

Society Dictator Atalantia's fleet besieges the Republic's army on Mercury after destroying the Republic's fleet there. Darrow's team reaches Mercury after rescuing Orion from Atlas' capture, though Ajax kills Tongueless. Lacking Apollonius' help, Atalantia agrees to Lysander, Diomedes and Seraphina's offer to ally the Dominion with the Society.
Atalantia's forces (including Lysander and Seraphina) assault Mercury, but Darrow has Orion create hypercanes against them. Orion goes overboard, intending to devastate Mercury to doom the Society, so Darrow kills her. Kalindora, Rhone and the Praetorians pledge allegiance to Lysander, making him a political threat. Darrow's forces kill Seraphina. Jealous, Ajax tries to have Lysander killed; Lysander kills Ajax's assassins, including Seneca. Darrow kills Scorpio, and is saved from Atlas by Colloway and Thraxa. Darrow's forces retreat to Heliopolis City, imprisoning Kalindora and Rhone.
On Luna, Virginia urges the Senate to support Darrow. Before Dancer can do so, he dies, poisoned by the Syndicate. Publius, a puppet of the Syndicate, blames Virginia, instigating a deadly lowColour riot that propels him to power. Syndicate Queen Lilath kills Daxo and has Virginia, Sevro, Clown and Pebble captured. Kieran becomes Mars' ArchGovernor after Rollo's assassination by ArchImperator Zan's men. Publius has Theodora executed. Quicksilver flees. Lilath enslaves Publius. The Syndicate's scheme was planned by Adrius' clone, born 10 years prior by Lilath at Adrius' arrangement. Virginia escapes, outwitting Lilath and Adrius' clone. They later dissolve the Senate. Virginia and her allies return to Mars, where Kieran gives Virginia command.
Sefi's Obsidians capture Ephraim, Pax and Electra, killing the Syndicate's men who retrieved the trio from their crashed ship. Atalantia has poisoned Sefi, who wants Ragnar's daughter Volga as her heir. With Ephraim's guidance, Sefi's Obsidians capture Mars' helium mines from Quicksilver. Ephraim and Freihild save Sefi and Pax during a dragon hunt. Fá and the Ascommani visit, killing Freihild and framing Sefi. Valdir kills Sefi's griffin Godeater, so Sefi imprisons him.
Victra has mercenary Figment kidnap Lyria and Volga to Victra's flagship Pandora. Sefi's advisor Xenophon helps Fá and the Ascomanni attack Pandora for Volga; Sefi is again framed. Fearing Volga's death, Ephraim escapes the Obsidians, taking Pax and Electra on Snowball. Pax rejects returning to the Republic, wanting to save Victra. Victra, Volga, Lyria and Figment crash on Mars. Figment is killed; an enhancing device leaves Figment and enters Lyria. Victra births a son, Ulysses. Harmony's Red Hand kills Ulysses and captures Victra and Volga. Lyria marries the Red Hand's Duncan and kills him, while instigating the Red Hand's childbrides to rebel, freeing Victra and Volga. Lyria and Victra leave Harmony to be killed by pitvipers. To defeat the Red Hand, Lyria seeks help from Mars' civilians, who arrive after Pax boosts Lyria's distress call. Flying Snowball, Pax destroys the Red Hand's torchShip. Victra reunites with Electra and Pax. Volga stops Victra from killing Ephraim. Pax persuades Ephraim to warn Sefi about Xenophon. Pax, aware of Lyria's device, gives her a mission. Pax later reunites with Virginia.
Ephraim confronts Xenophon, who admits to being Atlas' Gorgon, along with Fá. Fá arrives, declaring himself father of Ragnar and Sefi. Fá, challenges, duels and kills Sefi, becoming the Obsidians' leader. Fá orders Ephraim's execution; Xenophon unwittingly triggers Ephraim's bomb. Xenophon dies, but Fá survives and kills Ephraim. Fá has the Obsidians brutalise Martian cities. Fá, the Obsidians and Ascomanni leave Mars after Volga surrenders to them.
Atlas' Gorgons capture Lysander and Alexandar. Atlas identifies Lysander and allows Lysander to capture him to infiltrate Heliopolis. The Gorgons attack, but Colloway helps retrieve Lysander, Alexandar and Atlas. Darrow belatedly identifies Lysander, who has Gilrastes activate an EMP against Darrow's forces. Lysander kills Alexandar and leads Heliopolis' civilian rebellion, freeing prisoners-of-war including Kalindora and Rhone. Atalantia's forces defeat Darrow's, liberating Atlas. With Diomedes having lied about Cassius' death, Cassius escapes the Dominion and joins the Republic; at Kavax's instruction, Cassius rescues Darrow and his top commanders from Mercury.
Atalantia arranges for Lysander's assassination, but relents when he proposes marriage. She agrees and sleeps with him. Poisoned, Kalindora dies after telling Lysander that Octavia had Atalantia and Kalindora murder his parents as his mother planned to overthrow Octavia. Lysander allies with Apollonius, while the Society and the Dominion capture Earth.

## Publication

The book was originally announced as a sequel trilogy to Red Rising in February 2016. The title of the second installment, Dark Age, was announced in February 2018 soon after the release of Iron Gold. Dark Age was released on July 30, 2019, and debuted at #4 on The New York Times Best Seller list.