Red Rising (Deluxe Slipcase Edition) (Red Rising Series) Hardcover – October 14, 2025

Favorite series, hands down. Pierce Brown did a phenomenal job in writing compelling characters, engaging plot lines, unexpected twists, all with a solid premise. Admittedly, the first 100 pages or so were a bit of a slog but every author deserves some grace for soft starts. But as soon as the carving happened I was sucked in, bought the rest of the series that night, and finished it as fast as possible. This book is a bit violent for those who are squeamish, and involves older teenagers hurting each other in more intense ways than the hunger games, but it also explores far more emotional depth than most YA dystopian books do, and I would not consider the rest of the series YA. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys adventure, Sci-fi, fantasy, twisting plots, and riding on the edge of your seat!

This book is honestly super thrilling and would be a fan favorite for SciFi lovers. The world building is super interesting and detailed. The author does a great job at creating plots with dramatic twist and unexpected moments. The books keeps you at the edge of your seat, constantly wanting to read another chapter. The books keeps also came in very good condition. No bent pages or covers. The product was very pristine from the packaging.

It took me months to get through this book. More than once in that timeframe I picked up and finished a different book. The font seemed tinier than normal which annoyed me, and the plot felt a little slow to me. Even though it was action packed, it was just a bit slow to really develop, in my opinion. That said, I still give it a four star review because by the time I was 2/3 the way through the book it finally felt more addictive and I was eager to know what was going to happen next. It was a pretty unique dystopian plot and had quite a fun variety of characters the last half of the book.

Red Rising is definitely one of those books that improves with re-reading. It’s been touted as the next big thing, a book that will knock you off your feet and fill the void left by The Hunger Games. When I finished my first read of the book, I couldn’t decide whether the hype was justified or not; Brown blew me away in the first few chapters, failed to wow me in the next few, and then alternated between “pretty good” and “outstanding” for the remainder of the book.There were times when I struggled with the believability of Brown’s world, when I felt he wasn’t being consistent with his characterization or was losing the thread of his story. At other times, though, there were moments of true greatness, where I glimpsed the tremendous potential of this trilogy.When six months had gone by and I still couldn’t stop thinking about Red Rising, I decided to buy a copy and read it again. The second time, I was blown away. I found myself describing it to friends as “epic,” “spectacular,” and “out of this world,” and it's become one of my favorite books.Red Rising takes place on Mars hundreds of years in the future, when a person’s station and function are determined by the Color they’re born into. The Reds, for example, are tasked with toiling in the underground mines of Mars to collect the elements that will be used make the planet inhabitable.One of these Reds is Darrow, a young man respected and loved by his people for his quick hands and sharp mind. Working conditions may be hellish, living conditions bleak, but Darrow is proud to do his part for the good of humanity. His wife, on the other hand, views the Reds’ toil as slavery and urges Darrow to use his reputation and talents to free their people. Darrow, head-over-heels in love with his wife and unwilling to risk her safety and the life they’ve built together, resists.It’s only after tragedy strikes that Darrow is forced to rethink his world view and realize his wife’s dream is one worth fighting for. Transmuted by grief and rage, Darrow joins a rebel force in a plot to bring down the Golds, the elite who rule all the other Colors. Darrow undergoes an extensive and painful transformation to pass as a Gold, the plan being for him to fight the Golds from within and rise through the ranks to a position of influence where he can start a revolution.The first step in this ascension is to enroll in the Institute, a training ground for young Golds. Unlike traditional schools, the Institute is less of a college, more of an immense, high-stakes game of Capture the Flag or Risk. The students are divided into 12 houses and thrown into the wilderness, the objective being for one house to conquer all of the others.This is where most people begin comparing Red Rising to The Hunger Games. While there are definite similarities, such as the fact that young people are fighting one another in an arena-like field, there are key differences between the two. The principle way Red Rising differs from The Hunger Games is that the game of Capture the Flag is not a free-for-all where only one can be left standing at the end. To succeed in the Institute you need allies, an army. You need to become a leader, bring people to your side, rally and unite your troops. You need strategy and inspiration. Watching Darrow figure out how to become not just a victor, but a leader and a legend, is one of the biggest selling points of the book.I would say Red Rising feels more reminiscent of Braveheart than The Hunger Games, mostly due to the setting and to Darrow himself. The game of Capture the Flag is played out in a land of castles, highlands, forests, and vales. There are battle cries, ferocious warriors galloping around on horseback, animal pelts, and war paint. And like William Wallace, Darrow is fighting against oppression and has an inner fire and charisma that win people’s hearts and loyalty.Darrow is everything you could ask for in an epic hero. For one thing, he’s self-aware and able to make sacrifices and tough decisions because he knows they are required. He regrets some of the things he must do in order to get ahead but recognizes that those actions must be taken in order to realize his wife’s dream. He’s brilliant and strong but not infallible; a leader, but one who must trust and rely on others for his ultimate success. His victories are epic, but so are his failures. I’m in awe of him and can’t wait to see his meteoric rise continue in the rest of this series.The supporting characters in the Institute also played a huge part in winning me over. Darrow may be the grand hero, but don’t let that fool you into thinking the rest of the story's cast are lesser beings. There are some serious power players in this book, and they each feel like real, distinct, memorable people. They’re not just characters, they’re titans, and without them Red Rising wouldn’t be half so successful.Were there problems with Red Rising? Certainly. It can be overwhelming at times, slow at others, and there are moments when it feels like Brown is writing not a story, but Ideas, with a capital "I." Ultimately, though, this is a brilliant book. It wowed me, moved me, and left me stunned, and I am rabid to know how the trilogy will proceed.This review can also be found on my blog,http://AngelasLibrary.com.

Could not stop reading. Such imagination for a world in the future.Characters were fascinating and lots of twists and turns in the plot.

I put off reading Red Rising for way too long. People kept telling me it was worth the hype, and I shrugged it off, figuring it would be just another trendy sci-fi series. That was a mistake. The book grabs you by the throat from the very first chapter and doesn’t let go. The pace is relentless, scenes bleed into one another without giving you a chance to breathe, and the action is brutal in a way that feels raw and unflinching. Battles are messy, desperate, and violent, not polished or glamorous.What surprised me most was how quickly the story moves. There’s no wasted space, no dragging through filler. One moment you’re caught up in the political games, the next you’re in savage combat where survival feels impossible. It’s ruthless, fast, and completely addictive. Looking back, I can’t believe I waited this long to read it. If you’ve been on the fence like I was, do yourself a favor: don’t wait.