When it comes to 21st-century science fiction, few series have captured readers' imaginations quite like Pierce Brown's Red Rising. Debuting in 2014, the novel blended dystopian YA sensibilities with hard-hitting sci-fi, becoming an instant bestseller and spawning a trilogy that stands as one of the genre's finest achievements. Three additional books have since expanded the universe, but the original trilogy remains the core of the saga.
Each installment in the trilogy shines in its own right, offering rich worldbuilding, tense political maneuvering, and compelling character arcs—especially for protagonist Darrow. But when the dust settles, one book clearly rises above the rest. Here's our ranking of the Red Rising trilogy, from good to epic.
3. Red Rising (2014)
The series opener introduces us to a society stratified by color, with the gold-skinned elite ruling over the red-skinned slaves. Darrow, a Red helldiver on Mars, sees his world shatter when his wife is murdered by the despotic governor. After a presumed-death escape, he's recruited by the Sons of Ares, a rebel group that transforms him into a Gold to infiltrate and dismantle the system from within.
Red Rising kicks off with one of the most memorable opening lines in modern sci-fi: "I would've lived in peace, but my enemies brought me war." It's a promise of ruthless, unfair, and brutal storytelling—and it delivers. However, the book's YA trappings—a school, a competition, a faction system—keep it from reaching the epic heights of its successors. Still, it's a gripping debut with a compelling hero and a rebellion story that feels as urgent today as it did a decade ago.
2. Morning Star (2016)
The trilogy's finale finds Darrow broken and imprisoned by The Jackal, only to be freed by his loyal friend Sevro, who has taken up the mantle of Ares. What follows is a relentless, brutal war that spans the solar system, with alliances shifting and betrayals lurking at every turn.
Morning Star had the unenviable task of closing out the saga while delivering the epic, sprawling action fans expected. It largely succeeds, painting a grim but gripping portrait of a universe at war. The pacing is breakneck, and the action is explosive, though the rapid-fire plot shifts can feel jarring. Character fates feel earned, especially for Darrow and his inner circle, but the book's reverence for certain figures—particularly Roque—feels misplaced and is one of its few weak points.
1. Golden Son (2015)
The middle chapter is the undeniable peak of the trilogy. Set years after the first book, Golden Son sees Darrow fall out of favor with Mars's governor, only to exploit his feud with the Bellona family to ignite a full-scale civil war. As the Society fractures, Darrow and his allies launch an open assault on the Sovereign, while the Sons of Ares reveal more of their plan, forcing Darrow to finally reconcile his Red and Gold identities.
Thrilling, ruthless, and packed with so many twists it's almost disorienting, Golden Son is a masterclass in narrative escalation. It's here that Brown fully sheds the YA skin, diving into mature, introspective sci-fi. Darrow's struggle with his dual identity yields some of the series' most insightful passages. And then there's the war itself: friends die, betrayals cut deep, and the book ends with one of the most devastating twists in modern literature. Golden Son is everything epic sci-fi should be—a true evolution of the series.
For more rankings and deep dives into the worlds of sci-fi and beyond, check out our take on Chuck Palahniuk's best books or explore the boldest documentaries ever made.
