NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Pierce Brown’s relentlessly entertaining debut channels the excitement of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. “Red Rising ascends above a crowded dystopian field.”—USA Today ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR—Entertainment Weekly, BuzzFeed, Shelf Awareness “I live for the dream that my children will be born free,” she says. “That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father gave them.” “I live for you,” I say sadly. Eo kisses my cheek. “Then you must live for more.” Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he toils willingly, trusting that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children. But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and lush wilds spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class. Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society’s ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies . . . even if it means he has to become one of them to do so. Praise for Red Rising “[A] spectacular adventure . . . one heart-pounding ride . . . Pierce Brown’s dizzyingly good debut novel evokes The Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies, and Ender’s Game. . . . [Red Rising] has everything it needs to become meteoric.”—Entertainment Weekly “Ender, Katniss, and now Darrow.”—Scott Sigler “Red Rising is a sophisticated vision. . . . Brown will find a devoted audience.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch Don’t miss any of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Saga: RED RISING • GOLDEN SON • MORNING STAR • IRON GOLD • DARK AGE • LIGHT BRINGER
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About the author
Pierce Brown
Author
Pierce Brown is an American science fiction author who writes the Red Rising series, consisting of Red Rising (2014), Golden Son (2015), Morning Star (2016), Iron Gold (2018), Dark Age (2019), and Light Bringer (2023). He also has written a six-issue prequel comic book series, Red Rising: Sons of Ares, that was published in 2015.
Red Rising
by Pierce Brown
Books Like Red Rising
If you're looking for books similar to Red Rising, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
Ender's Game
Orson Scott Card
A young prodigy is recruited into a military training program to fight an alien threat. Like Darrow, Ender Wiggin must navigate a brutal competitive system and prove his strategic brilliance. The novel explores themes of manipulation, survival, and the moral complexities of warfare. It features a young protagonist thrust into a high-stakes environment where survival depends on intelligence and adaptability.
Skyward
Brandon Sanderson
A young woman dreams of becoming a pilot in a world under constant alien attack. Like Red Rising, the novel features a protagonist fighting against systemic limitations. The story explores themes of personal growth, strategic competition, and challenging established social norms. The protagonist must prove herself in a high-stakes, competitive environment.
Scythe
Neal Shusterman
A dystopian world where death is controlled by selected individuals called Scythes. Like Red Rising, the novel explores themes of social control and individual rebellion. The protagonists must navigate a complex system that determines life and death. The story features moral complexity and challenges to established social structures.
The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
A dystopian story where young people are forced to compete in a deadly arena controlled by an oppressive government. Katniss Everdeen, like Darrow, rises from a lower social class to challenge the system's brutal hierarchy. The novel features intense competition, social rebellion, and a protagonist who must transform to survive. Themes of inequality, resistance, and personal sacrifice are central to the narrative.
Wool
Hugh Howey
A post-apocalyptic story set in a massive underground silo where society is strictly controlled. Similar to Red Rising, the novel explores themes of social stratification and hidden truths. The protagonist must challenge the existing power structure and uncover the secrets of their world. The narrative features intense world-building and a protagonist fighting against systemic oppression.
Legend
Marie Lu
A dystopian novel featuring two protagonists from different social classes who become unlikely allies. Like Red Rising, the story explores themes of social inequality and rebellion against a oppressive government. The protagonists must navigate a complex system and challenge the status quo. Themes of personal growth, resistance, and social justice are prominent.
The Maze Runner
James Dashner
A group of teenagers trapped in a mysterious maze must fight for survival and uncover the truth about their world. Similar to Darrow's journey, the protagonist must use strategy and determination to escape a controlled environment. The novel features high-stakes competition, mysterious social structures, and a young hero fighting against a seemingly insurmountable system.
Red Queen
Victoria Aveyard
A world divided by blood, where those with silver blood have supernatural abilities and rule over the powerless Reds. Similar to Darrow's journey, the protagonist must infiltrate the ruling class to spark a revolution. The novel features themes of social inequality, rebellion, and personal transformation. Intense competition and strategic maneuvering are central to the plot.
Divergent
Veronica Roth
A dystopian society divided into factions based on personality traits. The protagonist, Tris Prior, must navigate a complex social system and challenge its fundamental structures. Like Red Rising, the novel features a young hero who must infiltrate and ultimately rebel against a rigid social hierarchy. The story explores themes of identity, rebellion, and personal transformation.
Arena
Holly Jennings
A futuristic novel about competitive virtual reality gaming where contestants fight to the death. Similar to Red Rising's competitive elements, the story features high-stakes competition and social commentary. The protagonist must navigate a brutal system and challenge its fundamental structures. Themes of survival, personal transformation, and rebellion are prominent.
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