Red Rising Book Series

Red Rising Book Series exists in a future world where there are strong class distinctions and revolt is the only way to achieve justice. As a dystopian sci-fi, readers are engrossed in Pierce Brown’s skillfully written story from the first page to the thrilling, nail-biting finish.

Brown presents us to Darrow right away. He is a member of the lowest caste in a society that is color-coded and resembles the social structure of classical Rome. In his society, where the governing Golds uphold their dominance via coercion and terror, laborers must perform backbreaking labor under cruel persecution.

However, as tragedy befalls and Darrow realizes just how cruel the Golds really are, he sets out on a revenge mission that will change the course of the solar system.

Red Rising Book Series

1. Red Rising (Red Rising Series Book 1)

Darrow belongs to the lowest caste in the future color-coded society; he is a Red. Like his fellow Reds, he works nonstop because he thinks that he and his people are preparing Mars’ surface for habitability in the future. Nevertheless, he works hard, believing that eventually his blood and sweat would create a better future for his kids.

But Darrow has been betrayed, as have his kind. He soon learns that humans have been on the surface for many generations. The earth is dotted with enormous cities and verdant wilderness. Darrow and other Reds who resemble him are merely tools of a decaying governing class.

Darrow gives everything up to enter the fabled Institute, a testing ground for the ruling Gold caste where the next generation of human overlords competes for dominance, motivated by a desire for justice and the memory of a love lost.

He will have to fight the finest and most vicious members of Society’s ruling elite for both his life and the very future of civilization. There, he will do everything it takes to defeat his adversaries, including turning into one of them.

2. Golden Son (Red Rising Book 2)

Growing up as a Red, Darrow endured backbreaking labor in the mines located well below Mars’ surface, all the while dreaming of the better future he was creating for his offspring. But lies were the foundation of the Society he dutifully served.

The only way for Darrow’s type to find freedom is through revolt since their elite overlords, the Golds, have deceived and rejected them. Thus, Darrow gives up his life for the greater good, which is why Eo—his genuine love and inspiration—left her own life behind.

He transforms into a Gold and enters their exclusive domain with the intention of destroying it from within.

In a harsh world where he is a lamb among wolves, Darrow discovers love, companionship, and respect—but he also faces the anger of formidable adversaries.

In order to lead and prevail in the conflict that will alter the course of human history, Darrow must face the betrayal he faces, get over his all-too-human thirst for vengeance, and work toward a hopeful resurrection rather than a bloody uprising. To set his people free, Darrow must decide to adhere to Eo’s values of justice and love despite the peril and treachery that lie ahead.

He has to have one more chance to survive.

3. Morning Star (Red Rising Series Book 3)

If Darrow hadn’t had enemies, he would have been able to live in peace. The rulers of Gold commanded him to obey, executed his spouse, and took his people as slaves. Darrow, though, is resolved to fight back.

Darrow has fought to survive the vicious competitions that produce Society’s greatest fighters, ascended the ranks, and patiently waited to unleash the revolution that will rip the hierarchy apart from within. Darrow has risked everything to transform himself and shatter Gold society.

At last, the moment has arrived.

However, there is a strong sense of honor and a desire for retribution on all sides. Darrow and his allies take no prisoners when it comes to taking on formidable foes. Some that Darrow formerly thought to be friends are among them.

In order to triumph, Darrow must motivate those imprisoned in the dark to break free from their bonds, destroy the world that their ruthless overlords have created, and seize a destiny that has been too long postponed and too glorious to give up.

4. Iron Gold (Red Rising Series Book 4)

Ten years prior, Darrow was the leader of the revolution that he thought would free society from its bonds. However, everything has been destroyed by the Rising, which brought unending conflict in place of freedom and peace. On one final, desperate mission, he must now sacrifice everything he has battled for. Though can he save himself? Darrow continues to think he can save everyone.

Additionally, other destinies from different worlds combine with Darrow’s to permanently alter his fate:

A young Red girl escapes disaster in her camp of refuge and succeeds in building a life she never would have dreamed of.

Grieving and driven to steal the most valuable item in the galaxy, an ex-soldier must pay the price with his life.

And devastated by the loss of the world that Darrow altered and dreaming of what may rise from its ashes, Lysander au Lune, the Sovereign’s heir in exile, explores the heavens with his mentor, Cassius.

5. Dark Age (Red Rising Series Book 5)

He severed the bonds. Then the world broke for him.

Darrow spearheaded a revolution and established the framework for a brand-new planet ten years ago. He’s an outlaw now.

He launches a rogue war on Mercury after being expelled from the very Republic he established and losing half of his fleet. Is he still the hero who broke the bonds, even though he is outnumbered and outgunned? Or will he turn into the very evil that he battled to vanquish?

A new hero emerges from his gathering shadows.

The exiled heir of the former empire, Lysander au Lune, has returned to heal the rift between the Golds of the Rim and Core. If they banded together, their combined power might prove disastrous for the young Republic.

Virginia du Augustus, the beleaguered Sovereign of the Republic, battles to protect her cherished democracy and her husband’s banishment on Luna. Her son hasn’t returned yet, and one could cost her the other.

Pax au Augustus, kidnapped by enemy operatives, has to rely on a Gray thief named Ephraim to save him.

With the assistance of two unexpected new allies, Lyria, a Red refugee who is suspected of treason, makes a valiant attempt to gain her freedom across the vast emptiness.

The Rising’s dreams are dashed by fear, and the planets continue to spin toward a new Dark Age as power is taken, lost, and restored.

6. Light Bringer (Red Rising Series Book 6)

As the leader of the Rising, the breaker of bonds, and the rescuer of worlds, The Reaper is a legend—more myth than human.

However, the Reaper is also Darrow—a husband, a father, and a friend—born of the crimson soil of Mars.

After suffering a terrible loss on Mercury’s battlefields, Darrow finds himself stranded far from his home and yearns to return to his wife and ruling queen, Virginia, in order to protect Mars from Lysander, the ruthless assailant.

Lysander will destroy the planets in order to fulfill his desire to end the Rising and reinstate Gold’s hegemony.

The Reaper was once needed by the worlds. However, in order to protect the Republic, Darrow needs Virginia, Cassius, and Sevro, the people he loves.

This marks the start of Darrow’s protracted journey home, an interplanetary journey on which long-lost friends will rejoin, new alliances will be formed, and rivals will engage in combat.

Because Eo’s dream is still alive and a new age of light, victory, and hope will usher in after the dark age.