The Red Rising is a Science Fiction / Fantasy series by Pierce Brown, made up of 6 books published between 2014 and 2023. It begins with Red Rising (2014), and is best read in publication order. The most recent entry is Light Bringer (2023), spanning 9 years of storytelling.
| # | Title | Year | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | |||
| 1 | Red Rising ★ NYT 2w · peaked #6 Goodreads Choice Award 2018Full award history → | 2014 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 2 | Golden Son ★ NYT 1w · peaked #6 🏆 Goodreads Choice Award 2015Prometheus Award 2016Full award history → | 2015 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 3 | Morning Star ★ NYT 2w · #1 🏆 Goodreads Choice Award 2016🏆 Reddit r/fantasy Stabby Award 2016ITW Thriller Award 2017Full award history → | 2016 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 4 | Iron Gold ★ NYT 1w · peaked #3 Goodreads Choice Award 2018BookNest Award 2018Full award history → | 2018 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 5 | Dark Age ★ NYT 1w · peaked #4 | 2019 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 2020s | |||
| 6 | Light BringerLatest | 2023 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
Red Rising series: frequently asked questions
What order should I read the Red Rising series?
Start with Red Rising (2014), the first book in the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown. Follow the books in publication order for the best reading experience.
How many books are in the Red Rising series?
There are 6 books in the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown, published between 2014 and 2023.
What is the first book in the Red Rising series?
The first book in the Red Rising series is Red Rising, published in 2014 by Pierce Brown.
What is the latest book in the Red Rising series?
The most recent book in the Red Rising series is Light Bringer (2023) by Pierce Brown.
About the Red Rising series
Pierce Brown's Red Rising is a savage, propulsive blend of dystopia, space opera and epic tragedy. In a rigidly colour-coded future, Darrow is a "Red" — the lowest caste, toiling beneath Mars — until grief and a clandestine rebellion remake him as one of the ruling "Golds" to bring the system down from within.
The first trilogy is often pitched as "Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones in space," but Brown's relentless plotting, battlefield betrayals and Roman-tinged worldbuilding give it a flavour all its own. It is brutal, emotional, and genuinely unpredictable.
Start with "Red Rising." The original trilogy forms a complete arc; the later books jump forward in time to a darker, more political second saga. Read in publication order for the full gut-punch.