Oct 29, 2026
Red Rising Books in Order
Darrow, a miner at the bottom of a color-coded caste system on Mars, is remade to infiltrate the ruling Golds and bring them down. The series comes in two parts: a tight original trilogy, then a bigger, darker war story set years later.
By Pierce Brown · Ongoing: 6 books so far. Pierce Brown has said a seventh book, Red God, will end the series.
Where to start
Start with Red Rising and read in order. Books 1-3 are the original trilogy and end on a satisfying note; books 4-6 pick up about ten years later, with several narrators instead of one.
The Red Rising books in order
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Book 1
Red Rising Our pick
Darrow, a miner at the bottom of a color-coded caste system on Mars, is remade to infiltrate the ruling Golds and tear them down from the inside. Fast, violent space-opera revenge with a brutal war-school first act.
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Book 2
Golden Son
Darrow has made it inside the Gold elite and now has to survive their politics, duels and wars while keeping his real mission hidden. Bigger in scale than Red Rising, with some of the series' best twists.
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Book 3
Morning Star
The rebellion comes to a head as Darrow gathers unlikely allies for an all-out war against the Society. A huge, satisfying close to the original trilogy.
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Book 4
Iron Gold
Ten years later, the new Republic is fighting to hold together. Darrow shares the stage with new narrators, from a refugee to a thief, as the story widens across the solar system.
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Book 5
Dark Age
The Republic's war turns desperate on several fronts at once. Long, dark and relentless, it's the most intense book in the series so far.
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Book 6
Light Bringer
Darrow and his allies try to turn a losing war around as old enemies make their moves. Sets up the final book with big battles and big character payoffs.
Good to know
- Book one's first act is a brutal war-school competition; the series widens into full space opera from book two on.