By: Pierce Brown
Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds, John Curless, Moira Quirk, James Langton, Rendah Heywood
Series: Red Rising, Book 5
Length: 33 hrs and 58 mins

Brutally beautiful. Dark Age was a hard book to read, and by the end I felt almost exhausted by it. Yet that exhaustion was part of what made the book so powerful.

One of the most beautiful moments was watching Darrow become willing once again to do what was right, even when nearly everyone around him believed he was wrong. Without going too deeply into spoilers, there is something deeply moving about seeing him accept the cost of his choices and remain willing to sacrifice himself.

Pierce Brown also continues to weave Darrow, Lysander, Mars, and the other storylines together remarkably well. This may be one of his best books, though strangely it is not one I immediately want to read again.

The best comparison I can make is to visiting two very different national parks. The original trilogy feels like Yosemite Valley. Its beauty surrounds you almost immediately. You can walk through the valley, look upward, and take in something magnificent without having to struggle for every view. There are difficult climbs available, but much of the beauty is generous and accessible, making it a place I naturally want to revisit.

Dark Age feels more like climbing Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park. The beauty is still there, but reaching it requires effort, endurance, and a willingness to pass through discomfort. The intensity of the climb becomes part of the experience, and the view at the end is extraordinary. Yet once you have completed it, you may feel grateful without immediately wanting to make the climb again.

I am grateful I read it. It was dark, exhausting, and wonderful. Not everyone will enjoy the intensity, but for those willing to make the climb, it is worth it.