Finish Red Rising and choose it above to read this guide. Later-book sections remain hidden until you select those books.
Who the Sons of Ares are
Spoilers through Red Rising
Darrow first hears about the Sons through Society broadcasts showing their helmet-and-sunburst emblem, blaming them for bombings and offering a bounty for Ares. He has no way to check those accusations. After his execution, members of the organization rescue him and show him what they are working toward.
The Sons have transport, checkpoint codes, hidden safehouses and medical help. Informers watch for recruits in the mines, while Green allies interfere with surveillance and broadcasts. Darrow sees only a small part of a network that already reaches across Colors.
Sources: Red Rising, Chapters 3, 7–8.
Why infiltration comes before open revolt
Spoilers through Red Rising
Dancer expects an immediate mass revelation of the truth about Mars to produce a revolt the Society can crush. His alternative is to place a Red inside the ruling class, where access to rank and military resources could change what a rebellion can achieve.
Mickey’s surgery gives Darrow a Gold body. Matteo teaches him the speech, manners and cultural knowledge he needs to pass as one. He then has to pass the entrance tests, succeed at the Institute and find a patron.
Darrow also has to befriend people whose power he intends to destroy. Dancer warns him to keep Eo’s dream of freedom ahead of his desire for revenge.
Sources: Red Rising, Chapters 10–15.
Disagreements within the Sons
Spoilers through Red Rising
Dancer and Harmony disagree over recruits and tactics. Matteo has loyalties of his own. When Darrow discovers that Titus is another Red infiltrator, he realizes he does not know how many other operations the Sons are running.
Keeping cells separate protects the network if someone is caught. It also leaves members dependent on orders and reports they cannot always verify.
Sources: Red Rising, Chapters 8, 13–14, 28.
Fitchner, Harmony and the meaning of Ares
Spoilers through Golden Son
Harmony tells Darrow that Ares supports her bombings and the plan to destroy the gala. A later message from Ares rejects her approach and supports Darrow’s effort to turn the great Gold houses against each other.
Fitchner reveals himself as Ares. Sevro’s father is also Octavia’s Rage Knight, placing the rebellion’s leader in her inner circle. The Board of Quality Control murdered his Red wife, Bryn, leading him to turn against the Society.
Fitchner’s agents dig beneath Agea, take control of fortress systems and help Darrow while protecting his cover. Fitchner and Dancer want him to gain power through adoption, marriage and succession. Darrow increasingly wants to tear down the hierarchy itself.
Sources: Golden Son, Chapters 9, 23, 39, 42, 45–46.
After Fitchner: from cells to a public Rising
Spoilers through Morning Star
After Fitchner’s murder, Sevro takes the name Ares and struggles to keep the resistance together. Mixed-Color fighters, miners and intelligence contacts help rescue Darrow. The Sons survive, but they have lost people, resources and trust.
Quicksilver reveals his role in founding and financing the Sons. He and Fitchner separated highColor and lowColor networks, creating resources Sevro did not fully understand. On Phobos, Darrow and Sevro turn those resources toward an uprising instead of a destructive escape that would abandon local allies.
Control of power, transport and broadcasts lets the Sons support a public uprising. Darrow reveals himself, Eo’s recording spreads and workers use industrial equipment to take key infrastructure. The rebellion no longer depends on keeping Darrow’s identity secret.
Sources: Morning Star, Chapters 3–8, 14, 20–23, 34–35.
The Rim cells and the price of alliance
Spoilers through Morning Star
Darrow gives the Raa family the locations of 350 Sons cells to secure an alliance against Roque. Evacuation orders have gone out, but he knows many members will not get away before they are captured or killed.
The bargain helps him win the war in the Core by abandoning allies in the Rim. Survivors and former Sons remember that decision long after the victory.
Sources: Morning Star, Chapters 39, 42, 50.
What happens to the organization
Spoilers through Iron Gold
Darrow says the Sons have dissolved. Dancer argues that their days of operating above the law are over: the Republic now has an elected Senate, and Darrow must answer to it.
Dancer also resents the sacrifice of the Rim cells. Their old friendship cannot settle their disagreement about the choices Darrow made for the movement.
Sources: Iron Gold, Chapters 2.
The Daughters of Ares
Spoilers through Light Bringer
Athena reveals that Fitchner helped create the Daughters as a separate organization in the Rim. Darrow never knew about them, and they survive the purge of the Sons. Aurae works for them inside House Raa, though even she does not know the full size of their fleet.
The Daughters put Darrow on trial for abandoning the Rim Sons and destroying Ganymede’s dockyards. He has to admit what he did and face their judgment before they can become allies. Their forces later help rescue civilians and fight for the Rim.
The Covenant gives the Daughters indefinite amnesty and extends due process across Colors. It leaves some reforms unfinished, including the end of the Rim’s hierarchy. Athena stays to organize relief as allied forces prepare to leave for the Core.
Sources: Light Bringer, Chapters 11, 39, 42, 58–62, 85–89.