Reading orders / Red Rising
Red Rising reading order
Publication order, no exceptions: Red Rising, Golden Son, Morning Star, Iron Gold, Dark Age, Light Bringer. The first three are one trilogy, the rest a second arc.
- Red Rising2014
- Golden Son2015
- Morning Star2016Closes the original trilogy cleanly.
- Iron Gold2018Second arc. Ten years later, four points of view.
- Dark Age2019
- Light Bringer2023
Why the order is argued about
No order debate. The only question is whether to continue past Morning Star, which is a real ending. The second arc is bleaker, wider, and told from multiple perspectives rather than one voice. Readers who loved the tight first-person drive sometimes bounce off Iron Gold.
Give Iron Gold a hundred pages before deciding. The structure change is the whole point.
Settling in for all 6? A page marker you do not mind losing track of helps. We like these handmade bookmarks, and Pierce Brown's site is worth a look for release news.
Questions readers ask
Can I stop after Morning Star?
Yes. It is a complete trilogy ending.
Is Iron Gold a different series?
Same world, second arc, same numbering. Book four of six.
Is the series finished?
No. A sixth book is out and at least one more is planned.