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Quick answer: If you loved Red Rising by Pierce Brown, try Golden Son by Pierce Brown, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Dune by Frank Herbert, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, The Will of the Many by James Islington and Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey.
Red Rising follows Darrow, a Red miner on Mars who believes his people are preparing the planet for humanity’s future, until he learns that the ruling Golds have lied to everyone. Joining a brutal school where young Golds fight to the death for power, Darrow plots rebellion from within. It’s often compared to The Hunger Games and Dune, but with more violence and bigger politics. The picks below share its caste systems, deadly competitions, charismatic rebels and relentless pace. Most are adult sci-fi or fantasy with graphic violence.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Red Rising
Readers love Red Rising because it moves like a rocket. Pierce Brown throws Darrow into the Institute, a war game with real stakes, and lets him form alliances, betrayals and rivalries that change everything. The color-based caste system is simple and powerful, the speeches are rousing and the twists keep coming. Many readers say that the series gets better with every book, with Golden Son often called one of the best second books ever written, and the story keeps expanding across more series.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Red Rising: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Son | Pierce Brown | Science fiction | Continuing the saga |
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | Dystopian YA | Deadly competitions |
| Dune | Frank Herbert | Science fiction | Politics and prophecies |
| Ender’s Game | Orson Scott Card | Science fiction | Gifted kids trained for war |
| The Will of the Many | James Islington | Fantasy | Roman-inspired academies |
| Leviathan Wakes | James S.A. Corey | Science fiction | Space politics and mystery |
| Hyperion | Dan Simmons | Science fiction | Epic, intricate stories |
| Battle Royale | Koushun Takami | Thriller | Brutal survival |
| Scythe | Neal Shusterman | Young adult sci-fi | Moral dilemmas |
| The Poppy War | R.F. Kuang | Fantasy | Dark military academies |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire | Brandon Sanderson | Fantasy | Rebellion and clever plans |
| Old Man’s War | John Scalzi | Science fiction | Space military stories |
| A Game of Thrones | George R.R. Martin | Fantasy | Politics and war |
| Gideon the Ninth | Tamsyn Muir | Science fantasy | Weird, witty and violent |
| The Gunslinger | Stephen King | Fantasy | A long, strange quest |
1. Golden Son by Pierce Brown
The second book follows Darrow as he rises through Gold society while planning a rebellion. It’s faster and bigger.
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss volunteers for a televised fight to the death to save her sister.
3. Dune by Frank Herbert
A noble family takes over the desert planet Arrakis, and its heir becomes a legend.
4. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
A brilliant boy is trained through war games to fight an alien enemy.
5. The Will of the Many by James Islington
An orphan enters an elite school in a society where power depends on others’ loyalty. It’s twisty and gripping.
6. Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
A ship’s officer and a detective uncover a conspiracy that could start a war. It begins The Expanse.
7. Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Seven pilgrims tell their stories on a journey to a dangerous shrine. It’s a classic of science fiction.
8. Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
A class of students is forced to fight to the death on an island. It’s brutal and disturbing.
9. Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Two teens train to become scythes who end lives in a world without death.
10. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
A war orphan enters a military academy and discovers her power.
11. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
A street thief joins a crew plotting to overthrow an immortal emperor.
12. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
A 75-year-old joins the military for a new life in space. It’s fast and funny.
13. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Noble families fight for the Iron Throne as winter approaches.
14. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
A swordswoman and a necromancer compete in a deadly trial in a haunted palace.
15. The Gunslinger by Stephen King
A lone gunslinger pursues a man in black across a desert. It starts the Dark Tower series.
How to Pick Your Next Read After Red Rising
- Want to continue? Golden Son and Morning Star.
- Want YA arenas? The Hunger Games and Scythe.
- Want epic sci-fi? Dune and Hyperion.
- Want school settings? The Will of the Many and The Poppy War.
- Want something funny? Old Man’s War.
- Check content notes. Many picks include graphic violence.
Red Rising Reading Order
Start with the original trilogy: Red Rising, Golden Son and Morning Star. Then continue to the second series, Iron Gold, Dark Age and Light Bringer. Brown has said the story is one long arc, so reading in order is important. Content note: graphic violence, torture and the deaths of major characters. The first book has a brutal school section that readers often find hardest, and it gets bigger afterward.
Related: best fantasy books for book clubs and best science fiction books for book clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book is most like Red Rising?
The Hunger Games, Dune and The Will of the Many are the closest matches.
Is Red Rising YA?
No. It’s an adult series with graphic violence, though many older teens read it.
What order are the Red Rising books?
Red Rising, Golden Son, Morning Star, Iron Gold, Dark Age and Light Bringer.