Pierce Brown’s saga moves fast, hits hard, and doesn’t waste time catching you up if you’ve skipped a step. Reading the Red Rising books in order keeps the character arcs, betrayals, and shifting alliances landing the way they’re supposed to, because each book builds directly on the fallout of the one before it.
This guide lays out the complete series in a clear order so you can start clean and keep rolling without spoilers or confusion. Whether you’re jumping in for the first time or coming back after a break and trying to remember where the story splits into its next phase, this will keep you on track.
Jump to:
- Red Rising Books in Publication Order
- Red Rising Books in Chronological Order
- What is the Red Rising series about?
- Red Rising Books FAQ
Red Rising Books in Publication Order
The main Red Rising novels are the core story and the best place to start. Pierce Brown has also published the optional Sons of Ares prequel comics, so I’ve separated those below.
Red Rising Saga
These are the main Red Rising novels. If you’re not into side stories, this is the series you’re looking for.
- Red Rising (2014)
- Golden Son (2015)
- Morning Star (2016)
- Iron Gold (2018)
- Dark Age (2019)
- Light Bringer (2023)
- Red God (TBA)
Want more than just the order? I’ve also reviewed the original trilogy, so you can read my thoughts on Red Rising, Golden Son, and Morning Star. Those are best saved for after each book, but they’re there if you want a closer look at how the series evolves.
Are all the Red Rising books part of one series?
Yes. The main Red Rising story is usually read as one six-book sequence so far.
That said, many readers mentally split it into two arcs: the original trilogy (Red Rising, Golden Son, Morning Star) and the later continuation (Iron Gold, Dark Age, Light Bringer), which jumps forward about ten years.
Sons of Ares Comics
If you want more Red Rising after the main novels, the Sons of Ares comics expand the backstory of Fitchner au Barca before the birth of Sevro.
To save you from having to buy them all individually, now everything is packaged up in the Sons of Ares: Omnibus.
Red Rising Books in Chronological Order
If you want to include the comics, there’s also a chronological order. That said, publication order is still the best choice for most first-time readers.
- Sons of Ares Vol. 1
- Sons of Ares Vol. 2: Wrath
- Sons of Ares Vol. 3: Forbidden Song
- Red Rising
- Golden Son
- Morning Star
- Iron Gold
- Dark Age
- Light Bringer
- Red God (TBA)
What is the Red Rising series about?
Red Rising is a high-stakes sci-fi saga written by Pierce Brown that’s set in a future where humanity has spread across the solar system and built a brutal, color-coded caste system. The story kicks off on Mars, where the lowest caste does the dirty work while the ruling class lives like gods, and the whole “order” depends on keeping the truth buried.
What makes the series addictive is the blend of propulsive action and nasty politics. You get secret agendas, shifting alliances, and a constant sense that every victory has a cost, especially as the rebellion side of the story starts colliding with the elite power games.
The scale also widens fast, moving from tightly focused survival and strategy into full-on space opera. As a result, it reads like a revolution story that keeps upgrading its battlefield, from personal vendettas to faction warfare with the future of an entire civilization on the line.
Red Rising Books FAQ
What order should I read the Red Rising books in?
The best way to read Red Rising is in publication order, since each novel builds directly on the one before it. That keeps the character arcs and political shifts coherent, and it avoids accidental spoilers.
How many Red Rising books are there, and what is the latest one?
The main saga currently has six novels: Red Rising, Golden Son, Morning Star, Iron Gold, Dark Age, and Light Bringer. Another novel, Red God, has been announced as the next installment, so the series is not fully complete yet.
Where do the Sons of Ares comics fit in?
Sons of Ares is a prequel spin-off that expands the backstory behind the rebellion without being required reading for the main novels. For the smoothest experience, it usually lands best after you finish the original trilogy (Morning Star) so the context is richer.
Is Red Rising YA or adult?
Red Rising is generally shelved as adult science fiction, especially as the series goes on and the scope and brutality ramp up. Even so, the first book has crossover appeal thanks to its fast pacing and survival-focused structure.
Is there a Red Rising movie or TV show?
There have been adaptation discussions around Red Rising for years, but nothing has landed as a publicly released movie or series you can watch. Until there’s an official studio or streamer announcement with a premiere date, it’s safest to treat most “updates” as speculation.
Looking for more reading orders?
If you want more science fiction authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Science Fiction Books in Order index.