Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Arguably my favorite series of all time.
I’m pretty sure it took me less than a week to finish the first trilogy of the Red Rising series. It started one weekend when I didn’t have a book to read and was in the mood for sci-fi, so I downloaded the first book on my Kindle. Five days later, I was finishing the last book on my phone in class. Honestly, I probably got just about zero work done during that time period.
Darrow is a hell-diver in the Helium-3 mines beneath Mars. He and the other Reds have been told they’re working to make the surface habitable for future humanity. Life in the mines is brutal, and generations of Reds have grown up knowing nothing else. But an inciting event forces Darrow to confront the truth: the story he’s been told is a lie and humanity has reached the surface centuries ago. He risks everything to infiltrate the Institute – the elite training ground for young Gold rulers – hiding his identity while plotting to overthrow the oppressive hierarchy.
While very fast-paced and entertaining, the themes are still relevant and meaningful. The rigid Color hierarchy provides a lens to examine systemic oppression, while the close, personal perspectives let the story explore more intimate, introspective ideas – revenge, loyalty, grief, etc. I won’t go into too much detail here, but you can check out my full post, Exploring the Themes of Red Rising.
I think the series only gets stronger as it goes on. The first book is more contained, choosing to focus on the Institute in order to develop the characters. Over time, Brown’s writing evolves (this was his debut), new perspectives are introduced, and the universe becomes more developed. The story’s complexity ramps up, layering in fresh details that pull you along.
Fans of high-energy sci-fi with rich world-building, social commentary, and complex characters will enjoy Red Rising. Think Dune, Ender’s Game, or Game of Thrones: political scheming, rigid hierarchies, uprisings, and dramatic fight scenes. Comparisons to The Hunger Games make sense in some ways – especially the first book’s focus on the Institute, reminiscent of the arena – but the series differ in setting, style, and societal structure.
Due to the action and violence, many assume this is a “boys-only” book. While it features plenty of fighting, several main characters are women. Ironically, the first quarter of the book gives all the agency to Darrow’s wife, Eo. Her decisions drive the plot and push Darrow into action. For me, the heart of the story is always the characters. If you care about them, you’re invested in the plot, whether fast-paced or not.
Some label it young adult, mainly because Darrow is 16 at the start of the first book. While accessible for younger readers, I would definitely say it’s still an adult book when looking at the intensity of his experiences and increasing violence.
Like I said at the beginning, once I started, I couldn’t stop. It’s one of my favorite series and I can’t wait for the final book to come out soon. The first book is shorter than the others (I explain why here), so it’s not a huge commitment. The writing might feel a bit dramatic at first, but once you’re immersed and investing in the characters, it hits.
If you want to dive deeper into Red Rising, check out our special feature on the series here!
