Begin with Darrow
Start with Red Rising and finish the opening trilogy before moving to Iron Gold's later era.
Book Series · 6 Books
Red Rising Books
In order from Red Rising to Light Bringer.
Pierce Brown's science-fiction saga follows Darrow from an uprising against a color-based caste system into the wars, compromises, and political consequences of revolution.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Red Rising Books
Read the six published novels in numbered order. Red Rising, Golden Son, and Morning Star form the opening trilogy; Iron Gold then begins a later, multi-viewpoint continuation followed by Dark Age and Light Bringer.
Red God is planned as the next novel but has not been published, so it is not counted on this page. The Sons of Ares comics are separate prequel stories rather than numbered Red Rising novels.
Sources: Penguin Random House's official series order, Pierce Brown's official series and comics overview.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
Despite beginning with a teenage protagonist, this is unusually violent science fiction that moves firmly into adult territory. It includes executions, torture, enslavement, sexual violence and coercion, mutilation, warfare, mass casualties, cannibalism, suicide, pregnancy loss, and frequent major deaths.
There is strong language, alcohol and drug use, sexual material, and morally complicated political decision-making. Later books are longer, darker, and told from several adult perspectives; parents should not assume the whole series has the same audience as a typical YA dystopian novel.
Where to start
Where Should a New Reader Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$2849
Book #1 · Chapter Book · 2014
Red Rising
By Pierce Brown
A low-caste worker infiltrates a brutal elite to ignite a revolution on Mars.
382 pages· 128,483 words
$29.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Darrow, a Red in a color-coded society, discovers his people are enslaved on Mars. Betrayed and driven by lost love, he infiltrates the Golds' Institute, where future rulers vie for power. To dismantle the oppressive regime, Darrow must compete against the elite, risking everything to become one of them. Will he succeed in his quest for justice, or lose himself in the process?
In reading order
Red Rising Series
6 books · Published 2014–2023
#1
Sale price
$2849
Red Rising
Chapter Book · 2014
A low-caste worker infiltrates a brutal elite to ignite a revolution on Mars.
#2
Sale price
$2849
Golden Son
Chapter Book · 2015
A rebel infiltrates the elite to ignite a revolution and free his people.
#3
Sale price
$2849
Morning Star
Chapter Book · 2016
A rebel fights to dismantle a tyrannical society from within, facing betrayal and fierce enemies.
#4
Sale price
$2849
Iron Gold
Chapter Book · 2018
A war hero's mission could save or doom a fractured universe.
#5
Sale price
$3040
Dark Age
Chapter Book · 2019
An outlaw fights a rogue war as new heroes rise and empires clash.
Sale price
$3040
Light Bringer
Chapter Book · 2023
A legendary hero battles to save Mars from a ruthless conqueror.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Red Rising series?
There are 6 books in the Red Rising series. It began with Red Rising in 2014, and the newest book, Light Bringer, was published in 2023.
What order should you read the Red Rising books in?
Start with Red Rising and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #6.
The people
The Creative Behind the Books
The people who bring Red Rising to life.
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