# Light Bringer (novel)

Light Bringer is a 2023 science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown; it is 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.

## Plot

After the Republic loses Mercury to the Society, Darrow and his remaining soldiers hide on the 'trash moon' Marcher-1682 for eight months. After fuel is obtained, Darrow's soldiers return to Mars. Darrow, Cassius and Aurae attempt to rescue Sevro on Venus from Apollonius, but Sevro has already escaped, and Apollonius captures Darrow and Cassius. Apollonius duels and defeats Darrow, but Sevro rescues Darrow and Cassius. They flee Venus with Aurae, who asks Sevro to lead the Rim's Daughters of Athena.
Lysander is celebrated as Mercury's ruler, but Atalantia orders him to Earth and captures his mentor, Glirastes. Atalantia intends for Lysander to lead an assault on Luna, but Lysander defies her, convincing the Society to attack Mars, ensuring Gilrastes' death by Atalantia. Lysander reveals his knowledge of Atalantia killing his parents. Ajax chooses Lysander over Atalantia, who besieges Lune.
While the Society and the Republic's fleets battle over Mars, the Society attacks Phobos, gaining a foothold. Virginia jailbreaks Valdir to escape Apollonius. Ajax is killed by Victra and Thraxa. Lysander parleys with Virginia, who relinquishes Phobos for her forces' safe passage to Mars and a prisoner swap for Kavax and Cicero. Lysander is poisoned by his bodyguard Rhone, who has allied with Atlas. Virginia orders Darrow to bypass the besieged Mars to retrieve Quicksilver's fleet.
At Atlas' behest, Fá's Obsidians and Ascomanni attack the moons of Jupiter, drawing the Dominion's forces from Mars; a recuperating Lysander follows. As revenge against the Dominion's past rebellion, Atlas and Fá decimate the Dominion's forces at Kalyke, killing Dido and Helios. Lysander is captured but evacuates Diomedes. Atlas plans for Lysander to save the Rim from Fá; Lysander agrees. Fá enslaves Io, bombs Callisto, then invades Europa.
Lyria, searching for answers in the Rim, is rescued by Matteo from Dominion Golds. Lyria chooses her memories over the Psyche tool's enhancement; Matteo extracts it and Lyria destroys it. Darrow's group find Quicksilver, Matteo and Lyria. Quicksilver reveals that his fleet was transformed into a generation ship containing non-Color children to escape the solar system. Darrow decides to travel to the Rim for the Daughters' fleet; Lyria joins Darrow's group as a stowaway. Cassius trains Darrow in swordsmanship. Lyria reveals Ulysses' death to Sevro.
At Kalyke, Darrow's group rescue Diomedes. On Io, they contact the Daughters, who repel the Obsidians' attack on Darrow and Cassius. The Obsidian Sigurd surrenders. Darrow's group enters the Daughters' base on Europa. Athena puts Darrow and Diomedes on trial, given Darrow's betrayal of the Rim's Sons of Ares to be killed by Romulus, while Diomedes admits the failure of the Dominion's rule. Sevro intervenes to have Darrow, Diomedes and Cassius spared to join the Daughters' fight against Fá.
Sigurd helps bring Lyria to Volga, who betrays Lyria to Fá. On Fá's orders, Volga kills Sigurd and then goes to kill Lyria, but Darrow interrupts, challenging Fá to a duel. Darrow defeats Fá with improved swordplay. Fá implores others to kill Darrow and flees. Darrow corners Fá, who confesses before the Obsidians that he serves Atlas. Darrow lets Volga decide; she kills Fá. Darrow arranges an election for Obsidian leadership; Volga wins.
Lysander's forces arrive and massacre the Ascomanni, broadcasting Io's liberation. Diomedes has himself, Lysander and Darrow meet; they reluctantly unite against Atalantia and Atlas. Later, Cassius meets Lysander to propose killing Atlas, who returns after retrieving the biological weapon Eidmi, which can eliminate any selected Color on any planet. Lysander and Cassius fight and kill Rhone and Atlas, though Atlas reveals that Lysander is using Cassius to obtain Eidmi. Cassius wants Eidmi destroyed but Lysander wants to control it. Cassius attacks; Lysander kills him.
Gaia captures Darrow, intent on maintaining the Golds' hierarchy and vowing to kill Darrow. Diomedes demands Gaia abandon the hierarchy or kill him; Gaia relents. The Dominion elect as leader Diomedes, who allies with the Republic, with Gaia's support. Lysander pretends that Cassius tried to assassinate him, and uses this pretext to devastate Io, destroying the Rim's crops while stealing crops for the Core. Lysander's forces flee for the Core; he ponders using Eidmi on Red or Gold. The Republic, the Dominion, the Daughters and the Obsidians enter an uneasy alliance; their forces leave for Mars.

## Reception

The week of August 7, 2023, Light Bringer landed on Publishers Weekly's best seller lists in second place for fiction and fifth overall. The following week, it ranked second on the New York Times Best Seller List for Hardcover Fiction and USA Today's Best-selling Booklist for fiction.
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". Booklist also reviewed the novel.
In 2023, Light Bringer placed second in the Goodreads Choice Award for Science Fiction. Barnes & Noble named it one of the best science fiction books of the year.