Light Bringer

Red Rising, Book 6

By: Pierce Brown

Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds

Length: 30 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Darrow returns as Pierce Brown’s New York Times bestselling Red Rising series continues in the thrilling sequel to Dark Age.

“The measure of a man is not the fear he sows in his enemies. It is the hope he gives his friends.”—Virginia au Augustus

The Reaper is a legend, more myth than man: the savior of worlds, the leader of the Rising, the breaker of chains.

But the Reaper is also Darrow, born of the red soil of Mars: a husband, a father, a friend.

The worlds once needed the Reaper. But now they need Darrow. Because after the dark age will come a new age: of light, of victory, of hope.

Don’t miss any of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Saga:

RED RISING • GOLDEN SON • MORNING STAR • IRON GOLD • DARK AGE • LIGHT BRINGER

©2023 Pierce Brown (P)2023 Recorded Books

reduction in quality

I expected a varied cast of voice actors, like the last two books. Instead, I got one voice actor who doesn't sound the same as his previous works. I appreciate TGR, and it hurts me to leave a negative review, but the quality of this production is so far removed from what I came to expect from this series.

I hope this gets properly addressed, because I want so badly to leave a good review. As of now, I cannot do that in good conscience.

The blight of ensemble voice cast are gone!

This book fixed the worst aspect of the last 2, the terrible ensemble voice cast.

Great story, great reading!

Rrrrg!

God i love this series and this book was absolutely amazing but it kills me a little inside at the same time. I swear i lost 5 years off my life due to gut wrenching anxiety this whole book waiting for the shoe to drop. I knew it would come but still wasnt ready for it.... No spoilers its just hard not to rant. I guess thats what reddits for.... Anyway, this installment of the series was very well executed. I see alot of comments already complaining about TGR taking over the whole production instead of having different voice actors for each POV like the last 2 books. Im actually in agreement with that opinion but to a lesser extent. I loved mustang and lysanders narrators (not a fan of lyrias) in the previous book and would've loved it if they came back but the thing is i seen plenty of comments complaining about all the different narrators on both of those books so i guess PB figures he cant please everyone so hed go with the cheaper option and i dont blame him. I feel like i was the only one who applauded the choice of multiple actors. If you enjoy something about a production let it be reflected in your ratings and comments so the creators will know whats popular. Not just when you DONT like something or else only the negative voices will be heard. Anyway i feel if the whole show had to be laid at anyones feet im glad it was TGR cus he is a marvel. As for the actual content of the book, it was beautifully written, consistent with his previous works but with alot more sentimentality, warmth and light than the previous books which i was really greatful for. Pierce Brown is so gifted at pulling emotional strings im glad he spent so much time on matters of the heart and relationships in this book. It was touching and moved me. But like i mentioned above i drove myself insane with worry the whole way through because i knew peace can never last in his works... their just too gd believable and puts humanity and all its flaws under a microscope for all of us to bare witness to. The evil of man but also the light and strength and power of hope and will. Amazing book. Enjoyed it and will be crying in a corner for a while... maybe its a good thing theres years between each book release. Gives us time to recover.... I also wanted to mention how greatful i am that PB recognized he couldnt give us a satisfactory ending in the limited space of one book so instead of just saying screw it and writing something sloppy and unsatisfying (like some authors i know) he adapted and is giving us another book in order to have the proper amount of time to finish things properly.
Hail Reaper

Those review about the VA are wrong

First this book is just great, any RR fan will love it in my opinion, its a bigger page turner than dark age.
Second a lot of reviews are pooping on TGR narration or complaining about the audio quality, i think his narration is great but i understand they got use to lysander's VA from IG/DA. There are some lines he did that brought me to tears with his performance is all ill say from the quality of the VA, the only complaint is his Lysander is basically darrow which is tough since he wasnt doing the va for him in the last two books.
Lastly, im 2/3 through the book and had to write this review because i saw all the negative reviews, this book is great so far and i can't image it having a bad ending. My two cents, TGR and PB are gods of their craft and can't wait for the last book.

What do I do now

Never has a narrative invoked such tremendous irrefutable emotion from me. I am in awe of Pierce Brown. Enthralled. And now that I close this book, I must return to the real world with the incredible weight of it on my heart. What a treat & what a burden.

As always, much applause for TGR as he is able to convey such intricate dialogue with heartfelt emotion- or purposeful lack there of. To the characters, the prose, the story telling, & the voice actor- Applause. Applause!!

Ad Astra

The voices are wrong…

I’m still early into listening so I’m not saying the story is bad BUT!! The first couple of chapters, Darrow sounds like Darrow. But then Lysander sounds like Darrow. THEN Darrow sounds unfamiliar. Pretty disappointed.

Keep the Voice Actors!!!!

Where the hell are the voice actors!?? I waited 2 years for this! So incredibly disappointing! What a complete waste. This could have been an amazing audible series. The voice actors MADE this what it was. This is an embarrassment. It takes you out of the story completely.. I was disappointed when Lysander was replaced in IRON GOLD, but now you replace them all?? Having different VAs, playing different parts, emphasized the different views and feelings from different characters, through different inflection and cadence.. Now i have some dude narating Virginia and Lyria. If i wanted to have a monotone man narrating, i would have just read it.

5 stars and not finished but why change the voice actors a third time?!?

Brown is a brilliant writer. But it is surprise how much the voice actor brings to the story. TGR is excellent as Darrow. Not so much as Lysander.

This makes the third change of voice for Lysander. The first one in Iron Gold was perfect. He convey Lysander’s youth, patrician upbringing, and superior intellect by the way the words elegantly and effortlessly came out of his mouth. He was a 10.

Dark Age guy, did the same except not as well and his voice aged Lysander by 20 years. I give him a 6.

TGR doesn’t seem to modify his voice, cadence or intonations at all. Lysander and Darrow sound exactly the same to my ears. Considering reading the book instead.

Brown doesn’t want the demands of his fans to affect his story telling. But I don’t think his continually changing the voice actors is doing just that.

Recording was not as good as previous books.

The story is excellent. Brown has hit his stride by now, and his writing is top notch.

The recording is a problem for me. TGR is an amazing reader. We have heard it in the previous books. This one sounded off though. Like he was an AM talk host speaking into a tin can. This likely falls on the studio and their mixing.

In addition, the previous two books used different readers for different perspectives. Moving away from this was a mistake. Specifically when the story is transferring between Darrow and Lysander, it is hard to distinguish who you are following.

Amazing story so far

Please bring back multiple voice actors! using the same one for Darrow and Lysander is very off putting especially because the other two books use different voice actors.

Production Quality way down from prior books

I'm still reading so no comment on the book itself and provisional 4 stars. But I had to highlight the fact performance is a major step back. Overall quality of the recording is poor and seems to have lots of noise, which appears to get better in later chapters. While Tim is amazing as Darrow (love you Tim), the return to a single narrator is a terrible choice considering the multiple points of view and makes things far more confusing, especially with Lys and Darrow sounding almost the same while also having lots of interwoven chapters. Especially since all the actors from Iron Gold were absolutely perfect in their roles, so it was deeply disappointing to make such a huge step back.

back to its best

not finished but feel compelled to comment since I saw the ridiculous comment by another listener.

tim is the best in the business, I have listened to 300 + audio books, mostly fantasy + sci-fi and he is pure class.

I am well into the book and find his characterisation much more subtle than the previous books. in particular lyria + Lysander who were jarring and lacked depth in previous manifestations.

after watching the red rising loose it's original magic after the first 3 books, I was expecting to be disappointed tbh. i am glad to report pierce has got his mojo back, book 6 has let's just say brought together the characters that we know and love again.

I still can't say it's the best in the series but it's very enjoyable so far, a large part being tim's incredible skill but I feel pierce has recovered the confidence of the original series.

Glang Gang Gang 😤 😂

Can’t wait for the next one. I wish it had more Virginia POVs. Sevro still a beast

Best series ever with another banger

Love it all this does not miss a beat, bring out red god asap please

He’s done it again

Even with all the hype, he delivered. Superb book with all the breathless action, plot twists, and character building that we’ve come to love from Brown, chapeau.

Love it !!

Love having TGR back to do the narration. Loved LB and it’s my new favourite in the saga.

absolutely beautiful

no words its amaculate and tim is a nice touch to have back on the book multiple different readers arent fun

When is the next book.

TGR narrated it superbly. Heartbreak, glee, twists and turn await. A good listen and a good entry in the series

Best in the series

Having one narrator for all POVs was a fantastic decision, it brings the whole story back to Darrow. The best book in the series…so far!

Back with a bang

I have loved this series. Dark age was the only book i felt was distasteful. The voice actors from that book left my mind scared but now Tims back in charge its back to the top. Dark age was a little sickening i felt it went way too far away from the other books.

My only ask is you bed Tim to redo dark age with only his voice.

Lightbringer was brilliant unexpected direction of the story. Characters back to their best.

Please do not make us wait long again for Red God. 2019 to 2023 is an unacceptable wait for a story.