This week, Pierce Brown revealed the cover for Light Bringer (Red Rising Book 6). Alas, with that bit of good news, the less good news is that we’ll be waiting just a bit longer for Light Bringer to hit shelves in 2023. It is still expected to arrive next year, but rather than the original May 2023 release date, the sixth novel in the Red Rising series will be arriving on July 25th.

In July 2022, Pierce Brown announced the title for Light Bringer, in addition to the news that Book 6 would not be the final book in the series. Book 7 will follow, and be titled Red God. At that point, May 2023 was the planned release date, but with his recent Instagram post, Brown revealed the new release date, some clues about what’s to come in this book, and the cover. Check it out below:

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A post shared by Pierce Brown (@piercebrownofficial)

At first glance, I thought perhaps we were seeing a nod to Virginia, with the sight of what appears to be a golden mustang galloping forward. However, that horse looks like it may very well be on the verge of taking flight, with what might be wings rising at its back. A Pegasus could be just as fitting, right? Either way, it’s impossible for me not to feel a sense of hope at the sight of that cover right now. I know there’s a good chance that’s just my excitement for this book overshadowing my nervousness at the what could go wrong at any given time for our beloved characters in this story… Whatever, I’m choosing to indulge this feeling of optimism right now.

Regardless of what’s coming in this book, Light Bringer is undoubtedly on the way. And as Pierce Brown notes in his caption, the new release date is July 25, 2023.

The caption also gives us plenty of intriguing hints about what will fill the pages of what Brown refers to as a “beastly tome.” Among the words he uses:

• Twists
• Turns
• Space battles
• Labyrinths
• Poisons
• Carvlings
• Wars
• Duels
• Savagery
• Hope
• Fear
• Redemption
• Desolation
• Minotaurs
• Pinks
• Foxes
• Friendship

Words brimming with potential for what could be another thrilling installment in this excellent saga. Among my favorites is redemption, duels and friendship. As for the ones that give me chills: poisons, savagery and desolation…

Reset your countdowns for July 23rd. That’s plenty of time to enjoy the excitement and anticipation of the new book… and probably reread the whole series to prepare!

Penguin Random House’s website for the book has links to places where you can pre-order. For those who shop at Barnes & Noble, they have an exclusive edition available for pre-order. The B&N exclusive edition description mentions that it’ll include a mini fold-out poster that shows Darrow in the castle of Lorn au Arcos.