Red RisingRed Rising
Score Modern
What it's about
On Mars, society is divided into castes by color. Darrow is a Red, a miner who believes his people are pioneering the planet's surface for future generations, until he learns that humanity colonized Mars centuries ago and Reds have been kept as slaves underground. After a devastating loss, he's recruited by rebels, remade to look like a Gold, the ruling elite, and sent to infiltrate their brutal academy and destroy them from within.
Why it's worth reading
It's a relentless, thrilling science-fiction epic, The Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones in space, with huge battles, betrayals and an underdog hero. Its fans are passionate, and the series only gets bigger.
You'll love it if you liked
The Hunger Games
Dune
Six of CrowsGood to know
It's violent, including sexual violence, and the first chapters have a lot of slang and world-building. It's the first of a long series.
By the numbers
- Readers88 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller79 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz52 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #13 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #63 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #113 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Thought-provoking, Dark
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Quick answers
Is Red Rising worth reading?
Yes. It's a relentless, thrilling science-fiction epic, The Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones in space, with huge battles, betrayals and an underdog hero. It ranks #113 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 86.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Red Rising about?
On Mars, society is divided into castes by color. Darrow is a Red, a miner who believes his people are pioneering the planet's surface for future generations, until he learns that humanity colonized Mars centuries ago and Reds have been kept as slaves underground. After a devastating loss, he's recruited by rebels, remade to look like a Gold, the ruling elite, and sent to infiltrate their brutal academy and destroy them from within.
How long does it take to read Red Rising?
About 10 hours (382 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Red Rising?
If you liked it, try The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Dune by Frank Herbert or Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.