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Quick answer: If you loved Morning Star, try Iron Gold, Red Rising, Golden Son, Dune, The Hunger Games and Ender's Game. Each one delivers epic space battles, political betrayal and a hero leading a revolution.
Pierce Brown's third Red Rising novel finds Darrow, the Red miner who infiltrated the ruling Golds, facing captivity and betrayal before he leads an all-out revolution across the solar system. Readers love its relentless pace, shocking twists and huge battles. These books deliver the same mix of military science fiction, rebellion and high-stakes loyalty.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Gold | Pierce Brown | Science fiction | readers who want more of Darrow |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | Science fiction | readers who want to reread |
| Golden Son | Pierce Brown | Science fiction | readers finishing the trilogy |
| Dune | Frank Herbert | Science fiction | readers who like politics and prophecy |
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | Dystopian | readers who like rebellion |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | Science fiction | readers who like military strategy |
| The Poppy War | R. F. Kuang | Fantasy | readers who like brutal war |
| Leviathan Wakes | James S. A. Corey | Space opera | readers who like solar system politics |
| Hyperion | Dan Simmons | Science fiction | readers who like epic SF |
| Old Man's War | John Scalzi | Military SF | readers who like humor with action |
| The Way of Kings | Brandon Sanderson | Fantasy | readers who like epic battles |
| Gideon the Ninth | Tamsyn Muir | Science fantasy | readers who like snarky heroines |
| Caliban's War | James S. A. Corey | Space opera | readers who like long series |
| The Light Brigade | Kameron Hurley | Military SF | readers who like twisty war stories |
| Scythe | Neal Shusterman | Dystopian | readers who like moral dilemmas |
1. Iron Gold by Pierce Brown
Ten years after the revolution, Darrow fights to keep the new Republic alive.
Best for: readers who want more of Darrow.
2. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Darrow's story begins with his transformation and the Institute.
Best for: readers who want to reread.
3. Golden Son by Pierce Brown
Darrow rises within the Gold elite and plots his rebellion.
Best for: readers finishing the trilogy.
4. Dune by Frank Herbert
A young noble becomes the leader of a desert people.
Best for: readers who like politics and prophecy.
5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss becomes the symbol of a revolution.
Best for: readers who like rebellion.
6. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
A child genius trains to lead humanity's fleet.
Best for: readers who like military strategy.
7. The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
A war orphan becomes a powerful shaman in a war inspired by Chinese history.
Best for: readers who like brutal war.
8. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey
A detective and a ship captain uncover a conspiracy.
Best for: readers who like solar system politics.
9. Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Seven pilgrims tell their stories on a journey across a galaxy.
Best for: readers who like epic SF.
10. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Older people get new bodies to fight in space.
Best for: readers who like humor with action.
11. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Soldiers, scholars and kings face a looming war.
Best for: readers who like epic battles.
12. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
A swordswoman and necromancer compete in deadly trials.
Best for: readers who like snarky heroines.
13. Caliban's War by James S. A. Corey
The second Expanse novel brings war across the system.
Best for: readers who like long series.
14. The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley
A soldier who is broken down into light to travel to battle starts experiencing the war out of order.
Best for: readers who like twisty war stories.
15. Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Two teens train to become scythes.
Best for: readers who like moral dilemmas.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Morning Star: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
Continue with Iron Gold to see what happens after the revolution. If you want more space politics and battles, choose Leviathan Wakes, Dune or Hyperion. For brutal military fantasy, try The Poppy War or The Way of Kings. Readers who loved the academy chapters can revisit Ender's Game or The Hunger Games. Most of these are long, multi-book series, perfect for readers who want to stay in one world for a while. If the twists and betrayals were what hooked you, The Light Brigade and Gideon the Ninth both pull the rug out from under the reader in memorable ways.
Related: The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod: Summary and Key Takeaways · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Morning Star the last Red Rising book?
No. It ends the first trilogy, and the story continues with Iron Gold and later books.
How many Red Rising books are there?
There are six published so far, with a seventh planned.
Is Morning Star violent?
Yes. It includes intense battles, torture and death.
What age is Red Rising for?
It is adult science fiction, best for readers 16 and up.
Is Morning Star the best Red Rising book?
Many fans think so, because of its huge battles and satisfying ending.