Lysander au Lune

The heir of the old Sovereign who would end the war by any means, even betrayal.

Lysander au Lune is a central figure in Pierce Brown's 2023 novel Light Bringer, the third installment of a tetralogy continuing the Red Rising saga. Eight months after the Republic loses Mercury to the Society, Lysander is celebrated as Mercury's savior and transforms the Morning Star into the Lightbringer. Though he serves the Society under Atalantia, she discovers the ships and soldiers he has been funnelling to Apollonius and summons him to her summit on Earth. Rejecting her authority, he preaches that Golds must reclaim their role as shepherds by defeating the Republic on Mars, rallying allies like Cicero and Julia despite Atalantia killing his mentor Glirastes in retribution.

Quick Facts

Caste: Gold

Lore & Background

Lysander's arc pivots on Phobos, where he attacks while Society and Republic fleets battle overhead. Thousands die; Kavax and Cicero are gravely injured, forcing Virginia to retreat deeper into the moon. Lysander parleys with her, securing safe passage for her forces and a prisoner swap of Kavax for Cicero in exchange for Phobos' dockyards. However, at a celebration, he reveals his plan to launch an Iron Rain on Mars within days before being poisoned by his own Dux, Rhone, who allies with Atlas. Lysander falls into a coma, only to recover and join Diomedes on the flagship as Volsung Fá's forces draw Dominion troops away from Mars. His loyalty fractures when he learns Rhone orchestrated his poisoning.

Reader's Guide

Lysander's final acts define his tragedy: he lies remotely to claim Cassius attempted assassination, using it as pretext to devastate Io and destroy the Rim's capacity to feed itself. This act enriches the Core while Lysander ponders using Eidmi on Red or Gold before fleeing for the Core with his forces. He fails to show at a summit where Gaia, Diomedes, and others prepare an alliance against Atalantia and Atlas. His transformation from Mercury's savior to a lie-spreading antagonist stems from his belief that controlling chaos—via Eidmi—is the only path to end the war, even if it requires murdering friends and destroying moons.

Did You Know?

Lysander kills Cassius Bellona when Cassius tries to destroy the biological weapon Eidmi.
Atlas reveals Lysander is using Cassius solely to obtain Eidmi before dying.