The Red Rising books must be read in chronological order, by following this sequence:⁠[1]

Order Cover Title First published Notes
1 Book cover of Red Rising. Red Rising Year of
publication: 2014⁠[9-12] 		Introduces Darrow, the Society, and the rebellion.
2 Book cover of The Book of Lorn. The Book of Lorn Year of
publication: 2025⁠[13-15] 		Focuses on Darrow’s training under Lorn au Arcos and Lorn’s past.
3 Book cover of Golden Son. Golden Son Year of
publication: 2015⁠[16-17] 		Continues Darrow’s infiltration into political war.
4 Book cover of Morning Star. Morning Star Year of
publication: 2016⁠[18-19] 		Follows from the collapse and conflict of the previous book.
5 Book cover of Iron Gold. Iron Gold Year of
publication: 2018⁠[20-23] 		Moves the story into the aftermath of the Rising.
6 Book cover of Dark Age. Dark Age Year of
publication: 2019⁠[24-26] 		Continues the Republic, Society, and Rim conflicts.
7 Book cover of Light Bringer. Light Bringer Year of
publication: 2023⁠[27-30] 		Follows the unresolved wars and alliances after the previous book.
Reading order of the Red Rising books.
Reading order of the Red Rising books.

Works in sequence

The essential reading path consists of the main novels that carry Darrow’s story, the fall of the Society, the rise and strain of the Republic, and the later wars among the Core, Rim, and rebel factions. These books should be read in order.⁠[2-8]

The Book of Lorn expands the world by returning to the period after Darrow’s success at the Institute and before Golden Son. Its focus on Darrow’s training under Lorn au Arcos, with episodes from Lorn’s past, makes it useful background rather than a required step in the main sequence.⁠[3-4]

Readers who want the core story may skip The Book of Lorn. However, readers seeking fuller coverage may add The Book of Lorn after Red Rising as optional background.⁠[2-3]

1. Red Rising

Main bookRequired reading
Book cover of Red Rising.
Book cover of Red Rising.

Red Rising (2014)⁠[9-12] establishes the series’ central premise through Darrow, a Red miner who learns that his people have been enslaved beneath a terraformed Mars.⁠[2]

His transformation into a Gold and entry into the Institute introduce the Color hierarchy, the political order of the Society, and the rebellion’s strategy of infiltration from within.⁠[2]

2. The Book of Lorn

CompanionOptional reading
Book cover of The Book of Lorn.
Book cover of The Book of Lorn.

The Book of Lorn (2025)⁠[13-15] takes place between Red Rising and Golden Son, during Darrow’s early years as a lancer to Nero au Augustus. The story follows Darrow as he seeks Lorn au Arcos, the Society’s greatest razormaster, to train him in combat, discipline, and leadership.⁠[3]

The narrative also explores episodes from Lorn’s past, examining the experiences that shaped him into a legendary figure. While not essential to the main storyline, this book expands the world of the series. It is available to those who subscribe to Pierce Brown’s Patreon.⁠[3]

3. Golden Son

Main bookRequired reading
Book cover of Golden Son.
Book cover of Golden Son.

Golden Son (2015)⁠[16-17] expands the conflict beyond the Institute into the political and military world of the Gold ruling class. Darrow’s position inside House Augustus grows more dangerous as rival houses, the Sovereign, the Sons of Ares, and old personal loyalties collide.⁠[4]

This book depends on the identities, alliances, and consequences established in Red Rising.⁠[4]

4. Morning Star

Main bookRequired reading
Book cover of Morning Star.
Book cover of Morning Star.

Morning Star (2016)⁠[18-19] continues from Darrow’s defeat at the end of Golden Son. It follows the rebellion as it tries to recover its leadership, rally lower Colors, and confront the ruling powers of the Society.⁠[5]

This book completes the first major arc of Darrow’s war against the old order while carrying forward many of the central relationships and conflicts from the first two books.⁠[5]

5. Iron Gold

Main bookRequired reading
Book cover of Iron Gold.
Book cover of Iron Gold.

Iron Gold (2018)⁠[20-23] begins after the fall of the old regime and shifts the series into the difficulties of governing, rebuilding, and continuing war. The narrative broadens through multiple points of view, including Darrow, Lyria, Ephraim, and Lysander.⁠[6]

It should not be treated as a standalone, because its political situation and character tensions grow out of the earlier trilogy and into the next phase.⁠[6]

6. Dark Age

Main bookRequired reading
Book cover of Dark Age.
Book cover of Dark Age.

Dark Age (2019)⁠[24-26] continues the conflicts opened in Iron Gold, especially the war on Mercury, the instability of the Republic, the ambitions of Lysander, and the crises affecting Mars and the Obsidians.⁠[7]

This book assumes knowledge of the new viewpoint structure and the unresolved events of the previous volume, making it a continuation rather than an independent entry.⁠[7]

7. Light Bringer

Main bookRequired reading
Book cover of Light Bringer.
Book cover of Light Bringer.

Light Bringer (2023)⁠[27-30] follows the aftermath of the defeats, divisions, and shifting alliances that dominate Dark Age. Darrow, Virginia, Lysander, Lyria, Sevro, Cassius, Diomedes, and other major characters remain tied to ongoing military and political struggles across the Core, Rim, and Republic.⁠[8]

It depends on the accumulated context of the earlier main novels.⁠[8]

References

  1. Red Rising Series. Penguin Random House.
  2. Red Rising. Del Rey. ISBN: 9780345539809.
  3. The Book of Lorn. Pierce Brown.
  4. Golden Son. Del Rey. ISBN: 9780345539830.
  5. Morning Star. Del Rey. ISBN: 9780345539861.
  6. Iron Gold. Del Rey. ISBN: 9780425285930.
  7. Dark Age. Del Rey. ISBN: 9780425285961.
  8. Light Bringer. Del Rey. ISBN: 9780425285992.
  9. Red Rising by Pierce Brown: 9780345539809. Penguin Random House.
  10. Red Rising by Pierce Brown. Hachette UK.
  11. Red Rising by Pierce Brown. Penguin Random House Canada.
  12. Red Rising: enter the explosive first book in the globally bestselling dystopian space opera series by Pierce Brown – Books. Hachette Australia.
  13. HOME. Shit Escalates.
  14. Shit Escalates. Patreon.
  15. The Book of Lorn: AVAILABLE NOW. Pierce Brown. Archived.
  16. Golden Son by Pierce Brown: 9780345539830. Penguin Random House.
  17. Golden Son by Pierce Brown. Penguin Random House Canada.
  18. Morning Star by Pierce Brown: 9780345539861. Penguin Random House.
  19. Morning Star by Pierce Brown. Penguin Random House Canada.
  20. Iron Gold by Pierce Brown: 9780425285930. Penguin Random House.
  21. Iron Gold by Pierce Brown. Hachette UK.
  22. Iron Gold by Pierce Brown. Penguin Random House Canada.
  23. Iron Gold: the epic fourth book in the globally bestselling dystopian science fiction series RED RISING by Pierce Brown – Books. Hachette Australia.
  24. Dark Age by Pierce Brown: 9780425285961. Penguin Random House.
  25. Dark Age by Pierce Brown. Hachette UK.
  26. Dark Age by Pierce Brown. Penguin Random House Canada.
  27. Light Bringer by Pierce Brown: 9780425285992. Penguin Random House.
  28. Light Bringer by Pierce Brown. Hachette UK.
  29. Light Bringer by Pierce Brown. Penguin Random House Canada.
  30. Light Bringer: the utterly addictive sixth book in the globally bestselling dystopian science fiction series RED RISING by Pierce Brown – Books. Hachette Australia.