“I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war.” ― Pierce Brown, Red Rising
In a dystopian future, Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in a color-coded society. Darrow and his fellow Reds toil all day beneath the surface of Mars, believing that they are humanity’s only hope of survival. They are working to make the surface of Mars habitable for future generations, but despite their horrific living and working conditions, the majority of Reds are happy as they know they will eventually create a better world for future generations.
Humanity has been split into a colored caste system with Golds at the top, Reds toiling at the bottom, and many other colors in-between. Not many other colors are on Mars, but the ones that Darrow meets aren’t especially kind. As Darrow works to terraform Mars, he does so grudgingly, hoping to earn his family and group more supplies with his diligent and nimble work. After a catastrophe destroys Darrow’s future, he learns the truth: all Reds have been fed lies. They have been betrayed. Desperate for justice, Darrow is recruited to infiltrate the Institute, the proving ground for the Golds. As Gold students struggle for power amongst themselves, Darrow is right alongside them, fighting for something much bigger. He wants to destroy the Golds and the very system they represent, but is he willing to give up all he knows? He’ll have to in order to have a chance of survival.
Red Rising, a first in series science fiction debut, was absolutely phenomenal. I was hooked from the start. As I was listening to the audiobook, I kept drawing parallels to Ender’s Game, Lord of the Flies, and The Hunger Games. In fact, I described this book as a bloodier Hunger Games that happens on Mars! Highly, highly recommend you read this book, specifically that you listen to the audiobook if you can as the narrator is amazing (and he sings to you)! This is the start to an epic series that I absolutely cannot wait to keep reading.
“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.” ― Pierce Brown, Red Rising
Red Rising Series
- Red Rising (2014)
- Golden Son (2015)
- Morning Star (2016)
- Iron Gold (2018)
- Dark Age (2019)
- Light Bringer (2023)
Interested in this book? Red Rising is the August 2025 See YA Book Club selection. We will be discussing this book on Wednesday, August 6th at 6:30pm at our Eastern Avenue branch. For more information about future See YA book picks, visit our website.
Join our adult book club with a teen book twist. See why so many teen books are being turned into movies and are taking over the best seller lists.
Registration is not required. Books are available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Eastern Avenue library. We meet the first Wednesday of the month at Eastern at 6:30pm. Stop by the service desk for more information.
August 6 – Red Rising by Pierce Brown
September 3 – Man O’War by Cory McCarthy
October 1 – A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
November 5 – Rez Ball by Byron Graves
December 3 – Uglies by Scott Westerfeld