Books Red Rising Novel by Pierce Brown

Red Rising by Pierce Brown is a gripping dystopian science fiction novel set on a terraformed Mars where society is rigidly divided into a color-coded hierarchy. The protagonist, Darrow, belongs to the lowest caste—the Reds—who work as miners believing they are making Mars habitable for future generations. However, Darrow discovers that Mars has been livable and inhabited by the elite Gold caste for generations, and Reds are essentially enslaved.

Motivated by the death of his wife Eo and a desire for justice, Darrow undergoes a painful transformation to impersonate a Gold and infiltrate their elite Institute, a brutal academy where young Golds compete for power. At the Institute, Darrow must survive deadly trials, forge complex alliances, and face ruthless adversaries while secretly working to overthrow the oppressive social order from within.

The novel explores themes of class struggle, rebellion, loyalty, and sacrifice, blending high-stakes action with deep character development. Praised for its intense pacing, rich world-building, and blending of Roman mythological elements with futuristic settings, Red Rising has drawn comparisons to The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones.

Red Rising is the first book in a bestselling series, setting the stage for an epic saga about revolution and the cost of freedom.

1 BOOK