Iron Gold is a triumphant return to the world of Red Rising, blending war with hope, and growth with power; a newly created democracy faces its greatest challenge yet, and from where we least expect. 

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Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction

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Rating: 4/5.

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“I will love you until the sun dies. And when it does, I will love you in the darknes

In my previous review of Morning Star, I mentioned that it was the perfect ending to the original trilogy. Ultimately, it had a beautiful and fulfilling pay off for all of the plot points and characters that I would have been happy saying goodbye there and then. That’s how well executed it was! But I guess Brown wanted to keep on feeding us; he came back with a bigger, and dare I say, better set of books set years after the defeat of Octavia. When the newly created democracy is facing its greatest challenges from within, and where new enemies who want to bring back the hierarchy plots for revenge. I would say that Iron Gold has a similar jump of quality and worldbuilding from Morning Star as that of Red Rising to Golden Son. It’s a much deeper exploration of history and politics, almost reminiscent of Greek mythology. 

I do want to preface that I do not think Iron Gold is the perfect book, which mainly stems from the fact that much of the book focuses on expanding the world. It was inevitable, but I couldn’t ignore the redundancy when the plot refused to progress and yet we met a new set of characters or facts every other page. Sometimes, it was exciting. Other times, not so much. I can’t wait to see how the foundation would pay off later, but for now, I would say that it was a factor that pulled down the excitement and intrigue of the overall narrative. I could go as far as to say this book was a “set up” book. Enjoyable nonetheless, but I wished it had more of an identity. 

“I know it may be impossible to believe now, when everything is dark and broken, but you will survive this pain, little one. Pain is a memory. You will live and you will struggle and you will find joy. And you will remember your family from this breath to your dying days, because love does not fade. Love is the stars, and its light carries on long after death.”

Something I want to touch on is that most of the cast from the first trilogy is older and more mature here, but that doesn’t stop them making some (A LOT OF) mistakes. About 100 pages in, Darrow did something that literally left me speechless; while it really showed how the continued war and violence had shaped him as a person, it was almost laughable how ridiculous it was in terms of its political ramifications. It was something that Darrow would have done 15 years ago when he didn’t have any responsibilities except destroying the empire. But now, as the leader of a revolution that has tangled countless actors, there just wasn’t the rush of violence that was there before. Such an interesting exploration of his conflicting identities as a leader, and warrior. 

“My wife is not as fickle as a flame. She is an ocean. I knew from the first that I cannot own her, cannot tame her, but I am the only storm that moves her depths and stirs her tides. And that is more than enough.”

And of course, I simply have to mention the multi-pov structure that is introduced. Lyria, Ephraim, and Lysander. Such a diverse and complete set of characters that allowed me to truly appreciate the scope of happiness, pain, and humanity storied inside Brown’s imagination. I especially enjoyed Ephraim’s perspective, since it was our very first time getting such an intimate look at a Gray. His deeply flawed, but still utterly human, view in life warmed in ways I hadn’t expected when I first read his chapter. A definite affirmation that Brown is able to not only write Darrow flawlessly, but can replicate that skill with other characters as well. 

In conclusion, Iron Gold is a triumphant return to the world of Red Rising, blending war with hope, and growth with power; a newly created democracy faces its greatest challenge yet, and from where we least expect. If you had any doubts about continuing the series after Morning Star, this is your sign to pick it up. ⅘.

“A new wound can take a body. Opening an old one can claim a soul.”