Red Rising begins Pierce Brown’s book series of the same name. This science fiction novel, set in a dystopia on the planet Mars, was a New York Times bestseller as well as a critical success. It was originally published in 2013; this guide refers to the 2014 Del Rey paperback edition. Brown followed Red Rising with the sequels Golden Son, Morning Star, Iron Gold, and Dark Age, respectively. 

Plot Summary

Brown sets Red Rising on the planet Mars several hundred years in the future. The Society, a harsh governing body, forces a caste called the Reds to mine helium-3 underneath the planet’s surface. The novel’s narrator, sixteen-year-old Darrow, is an accomplished miner. His wife Eo argues that he should fight against their oppression. After singing a forbidden song, Eo is hanged by order of ArchGovernor Nero au Augustus. This tragic event motivates Darrow’s actions for the remainder of the novel. Darrow buries Eo’s body in the forest and, for this act, is hanged as well. 

Darrow wakes in a shallow grave and is approached by agents of a liberation front called the Sons of Ares. Their leader, Dancer, tells Darrow he wants to transform him into a member of the Society’s ruling class, the Golds, so Darrow can ascend the ranks and foment a revolution from within. A Violet named Mickey gives Darrow a reinforced skeleton, golden eyes and hair, and stronger muscles. Darrow passes a difficult test for admission to the Institute, the training program for young Golds. 

Among twelve Houses at the Institute, House Mars chooses Darrow first in the Draft. In a one-on-one fight to the death called the Passage, Darrow kills Julian, the brother of his new friend Cassius. House Mars’s Proctor, Fitchner, orients his new students to the Institute, which places teenaged Golds in a simulated ground war on the terraformed surface of Mars. To win, students must conquer other Houses by enslaving classmates.

The students of House Mars dispute who will lead the group and divide into warring factions. Darrow wars with House Minerva, led by a brilliant girl nicknamed Mustang. Darrow negotiates with Mustang to win his castle back and reunite his House. Darrow discovers a carved Red like himself within House Mars. Darrow allows Cassius to kill the Red, named Titus, at a public trial. Darrow conspires with House Diana to capture Minerva’s castle then enslaves students.

Fellow Mars member Antonia endangers and kills Darrow’s friends to entrap him. A fearsome student named the Jackal sends Cassius footage of Darrow killing his brother in the Passage. After viewing evidence of Darrow’s betrayal, Cassius stabs Darrow through the abdomen and leaves him to die. 

Mustang nurses Darrow back to health. Darrow decides to form his own army of defected slaves. Fitchner tells him the Jackal is the son of ArchGovernor Augustus, who has rigged the game to favor him. Now going by the nickname Reaper, Darrow and his new army capture House Ceres’s castle. Darrow conducts a second and more equitable public trial after a member of his army attempts to rape a classmate. 

Apollo’s Proctor attempts to murder Darrow, since Apollo has accepted a bribe for helping the Jackal win. Darrow’s army conquers Apollo’s castle. Darrow meets the Jackal at Jupiter’s castle, and the Jackal flees. Darrow follows him and kills Apollo’s interfering Proctor. Darrow and his band of Howlers travel to the Proctors’ headquarters, Olympus, in the climactic sequence of Red Rising. They imprison several Proctors. During a pivotal fight with Jupiter’s Proctor, Darrow defeats him with his friend Sevro’s help. 

In the falling action of the story, Darrow kisses Mustang before learning the Jackal is her twin brother. Darrow conquers Mars, and Cassius declares Darrow his mortal enemy. Mustang does not betray Darrow and captures her brother on his behalf. Darrow is declared the ArchPrimus of the game. During the denouement, Darrow accepts a prestigious apprenticeship from ArchGovernor Augustus. 

Pierce Brown’s action-packed story explores themes such as oppression and the important responsibilities that come with power. Darrow’s radical character transformation, which is physical as well as emotional, also demonstrates the value of sacrifice and the limitless potential in all people.