Looking for Red Rising books in order? Start with the main novels in publication order: Red Rising, Golden Son, Morning Star, Iron Gold, Dark Age, and Light Bringer. Red God is still TBA, and Pierce Brown has also released optional Red Rising universe material through the Sons of Ares comics and The Book of Lorn.
Below, I’ve laid out two ways to read the series: publication order for first-time readers and chronological order for readers who want to fold the prequel material into the larger timeline. I’ll also explain where the story changes after Morning Star, because that jump is the part that tends to confuse people most.
Jump to:
- Red Rising Books in Publication Order
- Red Rising Comics and Bonus Stories
- Red Rising Books in Chronological Order
- Red Rising Series Explained
- Red Rising Books FAQ
Red Rising Books in Publication Order
For most readers, this is the best way to read the Red Rising books in order. The main novels are the spine of the story, and publication order lets the character arcs, reveals, and political fallout land the way Brown wrote them.
Main Red Rising Novels
These are the core Red Rising books. Not interested in comics or bonus material? This is the list you need.
- Red Rising (2014)
- Golden Son (2015)
- Morning Star (2016)
- Iron Gold (2018)
- Dark Age (2019)
- Light Bringer (2023)
- Red God (TBA)
Are all the Red Rising books part of one series?
Yes, but this is where the series gets a little more complicated. Iron Gold is absolutely the next main novel after Morning Star, but the story changes shape in a noticeable way after the original trilogy.
The first three books form the original Red Rising trilogy: Red Rising, Golden Son, and Morning Star. Then Iron Gold jumps forward about ten years, widens the cast, and opens the story into a bigger, messier political conflict.
So yes, it’s one continuing saga, but many readers mentally split it into two arcs because the tone and scope shift so much after the trilogy ends.
Red Rising Comics and Bonus Stories
The main novels are the core story, but Red Rising has a few pieces of side material worth knowing about. They’re not required before the novels, but they’re useful if you want a more complete Red Rising reading order.
Sons of Ares Comics
The Sons of Ares comics go backward and expand Fitchner au Barca’s story before the events of Red Rising. They add background on the early roots of the rebellion, but they’re still optional prequel material, not required reading before Book 1.
The cleanest way to read the prequel comics now is to grab Volumes 1 through 3 or pick up the collected omnibus.
The Book of Lorn
The Book of Lorn is not one of the numbered main novels, so it fits better as bonus Red Rising universe material than as part of the core novel list.
Chronologically, it sits between Red Rising and Golden Son, making it relevant for readers who want the most complete Red Rising universe timeline.
Red Rising Books in Chronological Order
There is a chronological order once you include the prequel comics and The Book of Lorn, but this is better as a reread than a first trip through the series. Publication order is still the smoother starting point because the novels were written to unfold that way, and the prequel material works better once you already know the world.
- Sons of Ares Vol. 1
- Sons of Ares Vol. 2: Wrath
- Sons of Ares Vol. 3: Forbidden Song
- Red Rising
- The Book of Lorn
- Golden Son
- Morning Star
- Iron Gold
- Dark Age
- Light Bringer
- Red God (TBA)
Chronological order works best for rereads or for placing every Red Rising universe story on the timeline. For a first read, publication order is cleaner.
Red Rising Series Explained
Red Rising is a science fiction saga set in a future where humanity has spread across the solar system and divided itself into a rigid caste system based on color. The story begins with Darrow, a Red laborer on Mars, who discovers that the world he’s been told to die for is built on a lie.
The first book has some strong survival-game energy, which is part of why it gets compared so often to dystopian YA. But the series doesn’t stay there. It quickly grows into a much bigger war story filled with shifting alliances, class conflict, backroom politics, and full-scale space opera.
Original Red Rising Trilogy
The original trilogy is made up of Red Rising, Golden Son, and Morning Star. This is the first major arc of Darrow’s story, and it is the cleanest place to start because it introduces the Society, the color hierarchy, the rebellion, and the emotional core of the series.
Readers sometimes stop after Morning Star because the trilogy has a strong arc of its own. But the larger Red Rising saga continues with Iron Gold, and that later arc is still mainline story, not a spinoff.
Iron Gold Era
Iron Gold, Dark Age, Light Bringer, and the upcoming Red God form the later era of the saga. This part of the series jumps forward, expands the point-of-view cast, and deals more directly with the consequences of revolution.
That shift is why some readers talk about Red Rising as if it has two separate arcs. It does, but those arcs still belong to one continuing series.
Quick Book-by-Book Guide
Red Rising introduces Darrow, the color system, and the brutal world he has to infiltrate. This is where the series starts, even if you eventually decide to read the prequel comics later.
Golden Son widens the story beyond the setup of the first book and pushes Darrow deeper into the political and military conflict at the heart of the series.
Morning Star completes the original trilogy and brings the first major arc of the Red Rising saga to its conclusion.
Iron Gold begins the second major era of the series. It takes place years later, expands the cast, and shows that winning a revolution and building something better are two very different problems.
Dark Age continues that broader conflict and is one of the darkest, heaviest books in the series. It is not a casual side adventure. It’s a major turning point in the later saga.
Light Bringer follows Dark Age and continues the long march toward the end of the saga. It is currently the most recent published main novel.
Red God is the planned next main book. There is no confirmed publisher release date yet, so it remains TBA.
Red Rising Books FAQ
What order should I read the Red Rising books in?
Read the main Red Rising novels in publication order: Red Rising, Golden Son, Morning Star, Iron Gold, Dark Age, and Light Bringer. Then continue with Red God when it is released. Save the prequel comics and The Book of Lorn for later unless you’re doing a reread.
Do I need to read Sons of Ares to understand the main story?
No. The Sons of Ares comics add useful background, especially around Fitchner and the early rebellion, but the main novels stand on their own.
Where does The Book of Lorn fit in Red Rising?
The Book of Lorn takes place between Red Rising and Golden Son. It’s not required before the main novels, but it belongs there if you’re building a complete chronological Red Rising timeline.
Is Red Rising one series or two?
It’s one continuing saga, but a lot of readers naturally split it into two arcs: the original trilogy and the later continuation that begins with Iron Gold. That second arc is still mainline canon, but it feels broader and more politically complex than the first three books.
How many Red Rising books are there?
There are six published main Red Rising novels right now: Red Rising, Golden Son, Morning Star, Iron Gold, Dark Age, and Light Bringer. Red God is TBA. There are also three Sons of Ares prequel graphic novel volumes and the newer hybrid prose/comic story The Book of Lorn.
Is Red Rising YA or adult?
Red Rising is usually shelved as adult science fiction, especially once the series widens and gets more brutal. That said, the first book has strong crossover appeal because it moves fast and has an immediate survival-story hook.
Is there a Red Rising movie or TV show?
There isn’t a released Red Rising movie or TV series right now. The property has had adaptation movement over the years, but nothing has made it to screens, so the books are still the only place to get the full story.
Looking for similar books in order?
If you want more science fiction authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Science Fiction Books in Order index.