The executioner's pyre smoldered as Mercury's wrath ignited a rebellion.
Silas only narrowly escaped Mars with his life and now the Pandora Fleet hails him as king. He knows he can lead on a battlefield, but questions if he's prepared to lead a nation. In the fragile refuge of space, his fleet lies damaged, forcing him to make a critical decision: Bow to the lords of Mercury or travel to Luna and beseech the help of cold-hearted pirates.
Still in shock from discovering Hex's identity, Kaya decides to remain in the fight and forego reuniting with her family on Mercury. In the rearguard of the fleet, her ship comes under enemy fire. The crew's only hope of survival is an emergency landing on the desolate Earth, but the Iron Cage orbits menacingly between them and salvation. No one survives the Iron Cage.
Meanwhile, Aron and the Prometheus Group are left struggling on Mars, the untrustworthy Children of Men their only remaining allies. Will they find a way to hold off the Republic's quest for retribution or will they succumb to the machinations of their would-be allies?
Ashen Dawn is the second book in the Midnight War series, an action-filled epic set long after the destruction of Earth.