A review by epsyphus
Light Bringer by Pierce Brown

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Again, I think few things can really encapsulate my feelings on this book better than the dozens of the screaming texts sent to my friend who read this before me, but I'll try. As much as Lysander drives me crazy, I did enjoy seeing more of his internal conflict and watching his character develop. I love Lyria more and more and I love her relationship with Volga. Ah, Volga, my beloved.

I loved seeing Cassius, Sevro, and Darrow back together! They really deserved that. I really liked seeing Darrow interact with the other narrating characters. I absolutely loved Darrow's and Fa's duel and the way Darrow found a rhythm of his own. Cassius's death broke my freaking heart. Him telling Lysander that the guilt of killing him would crush him but that he was willing to be the millstone that brought him down?? Stunning but also you belong in federal prison for that Pierce, my goodness.

This felt like a good sort of cool down from the intensity and darkness of Dark Age, while still clearly ratcheting up the stakes and building toward the last book. I definitely found myself purposely slowing my pace while reading this because I am going to be waiting with bated breath for Red God.