Join a book club that is reading Red Rising!

Sweet Reads Book Club

A club for those who experience thousands of lives and want to talk about them.

Fantasy Galore

We will be diving into Fantasy worlds, from epic adventures to cozy fantasy. This club will be exploring all the different fantasy sub genres.

Red Rising

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Pierce Brown’s relentlessly entertaining debut channels the excitement of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.

“Red Rising ascends above a crowded dys­topian field.”—USA Today

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR—
Entertainment Weekly, BuzzFeed, Shelf Awareness

“I live for the dream that my children will be born free,” she says. “That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father gave them.”
“I live for you,” I say sadly.
Eo kisses my cheek. “Then you must live for more.”


Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he toils willingly, trusting that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.

But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and lush wilds spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.

Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power.  He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society’s ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies . . . even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.

Praise for Red Rising

“[A] spectacular adventure . . . one heart-pounding ride . . . Pierce Brown’s dizzyingly good debut novel evokes The Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies, and Ender’s Game. . . . [Red Rising] has everything it needs to become meteoric.”—Entertainment Weekly

“Ender, Katniss, and now Darrow.”—Scott Sigler

“Red Rising is a sophisticated vision. . . . Brown will find a devoted audience.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch

Don’t miss any of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Saga:
RED RISING • GOLDEN SON • MORNING STAR • IRON GOLD • DARK AGE • LIGHT BRINGER

BUY THE BOOK

416 pages

Average rating: 7.71

655 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

willowjgood
Mar 30, 2025
10/10 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Red Rising completely blew me away. I typically am not a big SIFI fan but this was just exceptional. Set on a colonized Mars, the story follows Darrow, a Red—a miner toiling beneath the planet’s surface, believing his work is vital for making Mars habitable for future generations. The shock comes when he discovers that Mars has been livable for years, and his people have been oppressed and lied to by the ruling Golds.    Darrow’s transformation from a subjugated miner to an infiltrator among the elite Golds is both harrowing and inspiring. The Institute, a brutal training ground for the Gold youth, is reminiscent of the political intrigue and backstabbing seen in Game of Thrones. The alliances, betrayals, and strategic maneuverings kept me on the edge of my seat. Pierce Brown’s world-building is exceptional. The caste system, denoted by colors, is intricate and well-developed, adding depth to the societal structures and conflicts. The action sequences are intense and vividly described, making it hard to put the book down.  What truly sets Red Rising apart is its exploration of themes like sacrifice, loyalty, and the quest for freedom. Darrow’s journey is emotionally charged, and I found myself deeply invested in his struggle against an unjust system. This book is a rollercoaster of emotions, and I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series.
Cconrad
Mar 22, 2025
4/10 stars
Not my cup of tea. The plot moves extremely slow and the fantasy genre elements made it harder for me to get into. I put in a good 10 hours before allowing myself to DNF.
Simba9960
Jan 26, 2025
7/10 stars
Trojan Horse meets Hunger Games. Took more than half the book to pick up but it moved fast after that!
Bookworm_Claire
Nov 26, 2024
10/10 stars
Audiobook listen. I’m normally more of a fantasy reader than sci-fi/dystopian, but I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down. Darrow feels so real and relatable. I’m excited to read the rest of the series.
cch.84
Nov 21, 2024
10/10 stars
I really wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book as it’s totally out of my comfort zone, not something I would typically read. I am so impressed. It was such a good read I can not wit to read the rest!

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