The gods have spoken. The medallions are gone. And the darkness… is rising. Months have passed since the Vanguard’s harrowing victory over the Void. The heart of darkness may have been destroyed, but the world is far from safe. Without the power of the god-forged medallions, balance has crumbled, and an ominous silence lingers in the aftermath of war. Peace, fragile as glass, threatens to shatter again. In Rise of the Dark , the third book in Brian Stein’s explosive Mythic Vanguard Series , the stakes soar to new heights as the young heroes—Leo, Alex, Kayla, Ethan, and Mira—face their most impossible challenge yet. The gods of Olympus summon them to the sacred mount, warning of a cosmic imbalance too great to ignore. The medallions that once fueled their power are lost, and in their place, a new trial awaits. To restore balance, the Vanguard must complete three divine quests—each more treacherous than the last. But the path to godhood demands more than strength; it calls for sacrifice, trust, and unshakable unity. As the team sets out across perilous realms—from haunted ruins and shifting labyrinths to the very depths of Tartarus—their bonds are tested, secrets are unearthed, and old wounds resurface. At the center of it all stands Leo, once the hesitant hero, now haunted by a darkness deeper than the Void. Whispers of Chaos cling to him, growing louder with each heartbeat. Chaos is watching. Chaos is waiting. And Leo, unbeknownst to his friends, might be the key to its return. As his internal battle grows, so does the risk that he may no longer be fighting for the Vanguard—but against them. Alex, ever the leader, carries the burden of keeping the team together as the gods weigh their every step. Her strategies must outpace the unraveling of reality. Kayla’s sword may be sharp, but her temper threatens the group’s unity. Ethan masks his fear with humor, but even he cannot joke away the growing shadows. And Mira, grounded by empathy and insight, senses what none of the others are willing to say aloud: Leo is changing. The gods have not abandoned them. But their silence grows cold, distant. And the deeper the Vanguard delves into the ancient powers that bind the realms, the more they begin to question the truth behind the gods’ purpose—and their own. Every trial carries a price. Every victory comes with a cost. As the Vanguard fights against ancient monsters, manipulative gods, and a world teetering on collapse, they must confront their deepest fears and unravel the tangled threads of prophecy and destiny. Will they complete the quests in time to reclaim their power? Or will the darkness already growing within one of their own consume everything they’ve fought for? In this breathtaking continuation of the Mythic Vanguard Series , Rise of the Dark blends the mythological richness of Rick Riordan with the emotional complexity and high-stakes urgency of Brandon Sanderson. With unforgettable characters, pulse-pounding action, and a story that challenges the very concept of fate, Stein delivers a masterwork of fantasy that will leave readers breathless and desperate for more. Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, The Heroes of Olympus , The Witcher , and The Magicians , this novel explores the heavy weight of legacy, the duality of light and dark within us all, and the price of heroism in a world ruled by immortal expectations.