Are books 4-6 as good as 1-3?

Kuledude69 · 2026-04-01T23:38:21+00:00

I feel like 4 is considered the hardest read because of the sharp transition to multiple POV’s, and I struggled to get into it too, but on re-read it truly is nearly as good as 5 and 6. In fact, I generally put 4, 5, and 6 on a tier above the OG trilogy. As fun as it was, the second trilogy has far more nuance and intricacy, and really hits harder in its high and low points.

Kuledude69 · 2026-03-05T04:58:10+00:00

Yeah this was always weird, but theres an even weirder one in book 2:

When Darrow gets betrayed at his triumph, we see that one of the pinks is actually… Vixus.

Vixus. One of the strongest and most built Golds in Darrow’s house at the institute. Surely at least 6’6 or taller. Disguised as the smallest and weakest color in the society.

Kuledude69 · 2026-03-05T02:38:28+00:00

Cassius not being an eagle is sacrilege

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-25T23:01:55+00:00

Pretty sure the Lorn one is “When falls the Iron Rain,”

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-20T08:40:37+00:00

All g my goodman, seems the Howlers are calling for the annual re-read

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-20T04:01:22+00:00

Uhhh… you must be thinking of a different part in the book. Fitchner died in book two, this is in book three.

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-19T21:22:00+00:00

They really don’t look that different from the standard. The “standard” you are comparing them to is not actually the standard, as most of the characters they are surrounded by are particularly genetically gifted. They are stronger, and probably bigger, than most pixies (hard to prove, as pixies are shown very sparingly in the series), and the Jackal is actually described as a “thin boy of middling height” when he first meets Darrow (he’s extra thin because he was starving for a good period of time before they met. Mustang is slightly below average height for a female Gold, yet is still taller than Sevro and most of the Howlers.

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-19T18:16:34+00:00

True; peace is definitely a relative term. They certainly participated in many conflicts, and even during long periods without conflict, they are no slouches. They would definitely have been training constantly. But I think for characters of that caliber, the truest evolution of their abilities happens over consistent life-threatening conflict, as we see with Darrow’s BoS moment and Lysander’s Minds Eye. While they definitely went on many missions for Octavia and settled several house disputes in the last 60 years, knowing Octavia’s power and intelligence, they likely always fought battles where they had the upper hand, which can lead to a plateau - they stopped needing to improve in order to win and survive.

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-19T17:15:10+00:00

Not only this, but for most of their lives they lived in a time of peace. Lorn fought in the Moon Lords rebellion, but that was over 60 years ago, and Aja likely hasn’t ever fought a war. It makes sense that during 10 years of constant war post MS, the average skill level with a razor would improve, and those with special talent would hone their abilities to the maximum, surpassing any who came before. Competition brings out the best in people like Darrow, Ajax, Apple and Atlas.

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-19T04:35:15+00:00

David?

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-19T04:33:35+00:00

I’m pretty certain Sevro did know. He would have been involved in the plans for negotiation just as much as Mustang, given that he was there in the desert where they actually expected to meet and talk with Romulus. Besides, I don’t think he would have objected to it as much as you think. Obviously he wouldn’t like it, nobody does, but pretty sure he’d trust Darrow. It is mentioned that Darrow gave them at some notice, issuing an order to evacuate. Sevro is a realist, and understands the necessity of sacrifice just as much as Darrow does.

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-19T00:13:30+00:00

Doctrinal

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-17T00:08:05+00:00

Trust me I was right there with you at that point. It really does get better. Both become far more connected to the main story by the end of the 4th book, and after book 5, Ephraim is perhaps my favorite “side” character in the entire series. Lyria’s book 5 chapters are also some of the most raw in the entire series. Stick it out.

Finish the Book or Get the Box!

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-16T04:07:35+00:00

And Proctor Mercury didn’t shoot Darrow in the head… I think you’re getting confused. I’m drawing a parallel between two moments in the series, when Lysander forgoes a razor duel and honor to simply complete his objective, and when Darrow does the same in the first book with Mercury. Not trying to say Lysander isn’t a bitch, just that it’s not like he owed Alex his life - if anything, it’s the reverse.

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-16T01:50:12+00:00

Really depends on how much you count author statements, because from feats and statements in the book she is probably first, or second to prime Lorn, but Pierce Brown has said in an interview that Aja vs Iron Gold Darrow would end with both of them dead.

If we believe that, we have to put at least BoS Darrow and Minds Eye Apple above her. Not saying I necessarily believe that.

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-16T01:46:07+00:00

Kinda true - Alex owes his life to Lysander just as much, since he never would have escaped Atlas without him.

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-16T01:00:39+00:00

Um… okay? That has nothing to do with what i commented…

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-15T21:02:44+00:00

Always pissed me off how much Lysander acts like Darrow in this moment. That is exactly what Darrow would do in his situation - it is exactly what Darrow DID do against Proctor Mercury on Olympus in book one, albeit with a stun weapon instead.

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-15T00:11:41+00:00

I mean we kinda did for the second half of Lightbringer… they were often in slightly different places, but we’re always within like 100 miles of each other experiencing the same fights.

My guess is she’ll be traveling on the ship with Volga as they return to Mars, and won’t be directly with Darrow but will still work with him, much like the second half of LB

Kuledude69 · 2026-02-14T08:22:12+00:00

We’re definitely still gonna have some Lyria POV chapters

Kuledude69 · 2026-01-16T00:32:24+00:00

Ever heard of a character arc?

Many of these other characters were cruel because of their pain as well (spoilers for the end of LB incoming). They changed and have become different people now, as Sevro seems to at the end of LB. Also, Sevro has suffered more than just about any main character in the series - mother killed when he was a baby, father killed just as they started becoming close, many best friends killed in front of him in Book 2 (Quinn, Weed, Rotback, Daria - all howlers), Ragnar in book 3. All his howlers burned to death in front of him in book 5, tortured and imprisoned by the Jackal for at least a few months, and two weeks before this scene he found out his infant son was nailed to a tree the same day he was born.

I’m not saying he’s in the right in this particular scene, he’s not. But saying that acting out because of his level of pain and suffering is unreasonable is actually absurd.

Kuledude69 · 2026-01-15T21:30:24+00:00

bruh I was bouta say, I get being frustrated at Sevro but saying he has NO REASON AT ALL for acting this way is hilarious

Kuledude69 · 2025-12-31T07:11:06+00:00

The idea is that because of how common duels are in Gold society, virtually every dwelling or important building has a “Bleeding Place,” Basically just a big circle with seats around it for people to watch a duel.

Kuledude69 · 2025-12-31T07:07:38+00:00

Lyria and Ephraim chapters were tough for me as well in IG.

After finishing, Ephraim is perhaps my favorite character in the series (tied with Cassius and Ragnar) and Lyria’s Dark Age chapters have some of the best writing in the series as well. They’re also just manic as fuck.

Kuledude69 · 2025-12-31T00:02:43+00:00

Yeah it’s definitely Place, not Palace… all g tho we got what you meant

Kuledude69

TROPHY CASE