If you are a fan of science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian genres, the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown is right up your alley. And since you are on this page, you must be curious about how to read the Red Rising series in order!
In this article, we will guide you through the correct reading order of the Red Rising series.
The Red Rising series is a thrilling YA sci-fi series that has captured the hearts of many readers worldwide. With multiple books and a prequel series, it can be confusing to know where to start. Luckily, the correct reading for this series is also the order of publication, which is how each book in the series is numbered.
How to Read Red Rising Series in Order?
In a hurry? Here’s how you can start reading Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series in order, starting from the first book, titled Red Rising!
Apart from the main series, Pierce Brown has also written several Sons of Ares comics, which serve as a prequel to the main series. But we’ll talk about that later!
A Beginner’s Guide to Red Rising Series:
If you’re interested in reading the Red Rising series, you might be wondering where to start and also be curious about what to expect from this well-loved book series.
The Red Rising series is a science fiction dystopian series set in a future where society has been divided into a color-coded hierarchy consisting of 14 different “Colors.” Each Color is responsible for a particular job, and this structure is followed strictly.
A person belonging to a particular Color can only do the job their color has been specified to do. This is possible because humanity has been genetically modified to not only be good at their particular designation but also physically represent what color they belong to.
For example, Yellows are doctors and researchers, Oranges are mechanics and engineers, Pinks are pleasure slaves, Coppers are administrators, lawyers, and bureaucrats, etc. Out of these Colors, the Golds are at the top of the pyramid, being the rulers of the Society and often considered Gods by most. The lowest of the Colors are the Reds, the manual laborers and miners.
The series follows the story of Darrow, a Red, who discovers that his entire life has been a lie. The Society has lied to a section of the Reds into mining the surface of Mars to obtain the precious materials that will be used to terraform the planet for human survival.
However, the terraforming already happened centuries ago, and there’s a thriving civilization on Mars. But most of the Reds who slave away in the mining colonies have no idea about this.
But when Darrow discovers the truth, he embarks on a journey to overthrow the oppressive ruling class and create a new world order.
The series is written by Pierce Brown and currently consists of six published novels. The first three books, Red Rising, Golden Son, and Morning Star, form a complete trilogy.
The series continues with a follow-up series currently consisting of Iron Gold, Dark Age, and Light Bringer. The next book in the follow-up series and the final book in the Red Rising Saga, Red God, is expected to come out early to mid-2026.
All Books in the Red Rising Series in Order:
1. Red Rising (2014)
The first book in the series, titled Red Rising, introduces us to a thrilling dystopian world set on Mars. It focuses on Darrow, a Helldiver who lives underground and toils to provide resources for the privileged Gold ruling class. However, Darrow’s life takes a drastic turn when he discovers the truth about the oppressive society he lives in.
After a devastating loss, he joins a rebellion and undergoes intense genetic manipulation to become a Gold himself. After his transformation, Darrow enters the Institute, a brutal training ground where young Golds compete for power and dominance. He does this to infiltrate the Golds’ ranks, participating in brutal tests and battles to dismantle the corrupt system from within.
With its gripping plot and intense action, Red Rising sets the stage for an epic tale of revolution and revenge. The plot of Red Rising follows Darrow’s journey from a lowly Red to a formidable Gold warrior.
2. Golden Son (2015)
Golden Son is Pierce Brown’s second book in the Red Rising series, published in 2015. This magnificent installment in the trilogy focuses on adult military sci-fi/space opera. It has nonstop action, thrilling politics, bloody space and ground warfare, and several twists and turns.
The story follows Darrow, a lowborn who infiltrated the Gold ruling class to bring about a revolution. In Golden Son, he has graduated from the Institute and now finds himself in the cutthroat world of the Golds, where alliances and enemies can change within moments.
He faces new challenges, makes new allies, and confronts new enemies. The stakes are higher, and the risks are more significant. The series relies on the foundation laid by the first book to propel the plot and setting to become a massive sci-fi and space opera.
The book’s ending is so mind-blowing that you will start reading the next book as soon as you finish this one!
3. Morning Star (2016)
In the third book of the Red Rising series, Morning Star, the story picks up a year after the events of Golden Son. Darrow’s identity as a lowly Red has been revealed, and he’s been captured and tortured for several months.
However, Darrow is not alone, as he still has friends and allies who are keeping the rebellion alive until Darrow can return and take charge once again. But the revelation of his identity has also made him lose some of his most precious friends, who have now joined hands with the Sovereign of the Society to eradicate the rebellion once and for all.
The story of Morning Star is packed with action, but it is also an emotional rollercoaster as you witness the characters face heartbreak, loss, and betrayal. The story also tackles complex themes such as morality, loyalty, and the power struggle.
If Darrow wants to win and topple the oppressive rule of the Golds, he must gather his allies, forge new alliances, and make harsh sacrifices that will surely haunt him for his whole life. The ending is satisfying and ties up the trilogy nicely without resorting to cheap plot devices or deus ex machina endings.
4. Iron Gold (2018)
Iron Gold is the fourth book in the Red Rising series and a follow-up to the original trilogy that ended with Morning Star.
The book is set 10 years after Darrow destroyed the Society by successfully leading the revolution and becoming the hero of the New Republic. He thought destroying the Golds’ oppressive rule would bring peace and freedom. Instead, it brought endless war as the rest of the Society waits to make their move!
As new characters are introduced, each with their own goals and motivations, the older characters, too, are setting their plans in motion to take revenge on the Reaper, who took everything they knew from them.
5. Dark Age (2019)
Dark Age has Darrow questioning all his actions, as he’s now been outlawed by the very Republic he founded. Even after waging war against his enemies, he only leaves death and destruction in his wake, wondering whether he is still the hero everyone claims him to be!
Even though Darrow managed to take down the Sovereign, Octavia au Lune, to bring an end to Gold’s rule, her grandson, Lysander au Lune, has returned to the Core. He aims to unite the remaining Gold families to face off against Darrow to bring back the peace and hierarchy that humanity has grown accustomed to over the past centuries.
While on Luna, Mustang tries to rally the Republic behind her husband, Darrow, to help him in his war. The children of Darrow and Mustang face their own perils as they find themselves in a dangerous situation and an unexpected alliance.
6. Light Bringer (2023)
Light Bringer is the sixth and latest book in the Red Rising Saga, released in 2023. It continues the story of Darrow that we saw in Dark Age.
Darrow is known as The Reaper throughout the Core; he is a legendary figure who rose from the mines to climb to the top of the hierarchy, breaking the chains of his oppressors and saving entire worlds and races. He is feared by his enemies and those who choose to oppose him.
But there is another side of Darrow, who is a friend, a father, a son, and a husband. It seems that Darrow needs to understand this if he wants to leave the path of destruction and bring an age of light and hope to the world.
7. Red God (Expected 2026)
The highly anticipated seventh and final book in the Red Rising Saga, “Red God,” is expected to be published next year.
Although there is no information regarding the release date or an official synopsis, we can guess what the book will be about based on the events in Light Bringer.
As the culmination of this epic science fiction fantasy series, the final book will deliver a thrilling conclusion to the gripping storylines and complex characters that have captivated readers. A massive battle will take place for the control of Mars, and the other plot lines from different worlds will also see a fitting resolution.
What About the Sons of Ares Graphic Novels?
Apart from the main series, Pierce Brown has also worked on a series of graphic novels that serve as prequels to the main books. These graphic novels focus on the creation of the Sons of Ares, the revolutionary organization rebelling against the Society.
There are three volumes released, which are as follows:
Although the events in these graphic novels are set before the events in the Red Rising Saga, you can read them whenever you want. I personally think that you should read the Sons of Ares series after finishing the original trilogy, i.e., Red Rising, Golden Son, and Morning Star.
FAQs on the Red Rising Series:
How Many Books Are in the Red Rising Series?
The Red Rising series has seven books, six of which have been published, and the seventh, Red God, will be released soon.
Who is the Author of the Red Rising Saga?
Pierce Brown is the author of the Red Rising Saga. He has crafted a fascinating world filled with interesting characters and masterfully combined the themes of a dystopia and a futuristic society to deliver an unputdownable series.
Should I Read the Red Rising Saga in Order?
Yes, it is supposed to be read in order, as it is one massive story, not individual stories in different books. So, read the Red Rising series in order of publication.
Will There Be A New Book in the Red Rising Series?
Next, a seventh book, Red God, which will also be the final book in the series, will be released. No details about the release date have been announced, but it is expected to come out early to mid-2026.
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