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Quick answer: If you loved Iron Gold, read the rest of Pierce Brown's Red Rising saga, then try Ender's Game, Dune, The Hunger Games and Leviathan Wakes. All combine war, politics and charismatic leaders in a harsh future.
Iron Gold begins the second Red Rising arc, ten years after the first trilogy, with new viewpoints and a world at war. Fans love the brutal action, betrayals and rebellion against a caste system. The books below share that scale and intensity, from Brown's own novels to classic and modern science fiction. They are mostly adult, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | Adult | the series starter |
| Golden Son | Pierce Brown | Adult | early Red Rising |
| Morning Star | Pierce Brown | Adult | trilogy finale |
| Dark Age | Pierce Brown | Adult | continuing the saga |
| Light Bringer | Pierce Brown | Adult | latest Brown |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | Teen and adult | military sci-fi |
| Dune | Frank Herbert | Adult | epic worlds |
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | Teen and adult | arena survival |
| Leviathan Wakes | James S.A. Corey | Adult | space politics |
| Hyperion | Dan Simmons | Adult | story-within-story sci-fi |
| Old Man's War | John Scalzi | Adult | snappy military sci-fi |
| Ancillary Justice | Ann Leckie | Adult | ideas and intrigue |
| Foundation | Isaac Asimov | Adult | big-idea classics |
| Skyward | Brandon Sanderson | Teen and adult | space pilots |
| The Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu | Adult | hard science |
1. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
A miner on Mars discovers his people are slaves and infiltrates the ruling Golds. If you haven't read it, begin here.
Best for: the series starter.
2. Golden Son by Pierce Brown
Darrow climbs the Gold ranks through battles and betrayals. Fast and bloody.
Best for: early Red Rising.
3. Morning Star by Pierce Brown
The first trilogy concludes with revolution and a final stand. Intense and satisfying.
Best for: trilogy finale.
4. Dark Age by Pierce Brown
The fifth book escalates the war on Mercury and Luna. A big, bleak and fast sequel.
Best for: continuing the saga.
5. Light Bringer by Pierce Brown
The sixth book pushes Darrow's war to the stars and tests his allies. Dense and action-heavy.
Best for: latest Brown.
6. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
A child genius trains in a space war school. Clever, cold and influential.
Best for: military sci-fi.
7. Dune by Frank Herbert
A noble family takes over a desert planet and its spice. Political, philosophical and vast.
Best for: epic worlds.
8. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss fights in a televised death match. Tense and widely read.
Best for: arena survival.
9. Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
A detective and a ship's officer uncover a conspiracy across the solar system. First of The Expanse.
Best for: space politics.
10. Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Seven pilgrims tell their stories on the way to the Time Tombs. Literary and inventive.
Best for: story-within-story sci-fi.
11. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Seniors join the army and get new bodies. Funny, fast and clever.
Best for: snappy military sci-fi.
12. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
A starship AI in a human body seeks revenge. Intricate and thoughtful.
Best for: ideas and intrigue.
13. Foundation by Isaac Asimov
A mathematician predicts the fall of the Galactic Empire. A cornerstone of sci-fi.
Best for: big-idea classics.
14. Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
A girl dreams of being a starfighter pilot. Energetic and heartfelt.
Best for: space pilots.
15. The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
A physicist's contact with aliens changes human history. Big, strange and hard science.
Best for: hard science.
How to Choose
If you want more Red Rising, continue in order. For war and strategy, Ender's Game and Old Man's War. For politics and legacy, Dune. For action in space, Leviathan Wakes. For big ideas, Foundation or The Three-Body Problem. Red Rising is violent, so read these with that in mind. Because Red Rising is a long saga, check the reading order before buying. The first trilogy tells one complete story, and the second arc begins with Iron Gold. If you finished the series and want more of the same intensity, look at the other science fiction on this list. Each Red Rising book ends on a cliffhanger, so buy the next one before you finish the last.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read Red Rising first?
Yes. Iron Gold continues the story, and you will miss key events without the first trilogy.
What order are the Red Rising books?
Red Rising, Golden Son, Morning Star, Iron Gold, Dark Age, Light Bringer, then later books.
Is Red Rising YA?
It is often shelved with teen books, but it is violent and best for older readers.
Is Iron Gold told by one narrator?
No. It has four narrators, including Darrow, Lyria, Ephraim and Lysander.
Which book is closest to Red Rising?
The Hunger Games and Ender's Game share its themes of youth in a harsh system.
How violent is Red Rising?
Very. The series includes battles, torture and character deaths, so it suits adult readers.
Is Iron Gold a good place to start the series?
No. Start with Red Rising, because Iron Gold depends on events in the earlier books.
Is Dune similar to Red Rising?
Both have rigid class systems, political schemes and a hero who rises through them, though Brown writes at a much faster pace.
Are there audiobooks?
Yes. Tim Gerard Reynolds narrates the series and is a fan favorite.
Where does Iron Gold fit in the timeline?
It takes place about ten years after Morning Star, with new characters and a wider war.