The War Shelf

Books Like Red Rising

16 books Every card says who recommends it

Finished Pierce Brown's saga and looking for the same brutal stakes? Every book below has been recommended to Red Rising readers by Instagram book creators, or is regularly read alongside it by readers on Goodreads. Each card says which. Red Rising is science fiction, but its readers move freely between science fiction and fantasy, so this list has both. Each card also says how the recommended book is different to Red Rising. The list is spoiler-free.

The closest matches

The books recommended most often.

Empire of Silence

Christopher RuocchioStart with The Sun Eater, book 1 (seven books, complete)

Like Red Rising
a nobleman's son in an interstellar empire tells how history came to see him as a monster.
The difference
a slower, reflective first-person memoir; it does not have Red Rising's momentum.

Recommended by

Dune

Frank HerbertStart with Dune

Like Red Rising
a noble heir is betrayed and fights for a desert planet where one resource ties together religion, ecology and imperial power.
The difference
denser and slower, with a lot of terminology and political exposition.

Recommended by

The Poppy War

R. F. KuangStart with The Poppy War trilogy, book 1 (complete)

Like Red Rising
a war orphan tests into an elite military academy, and the school story turns into brutal war.
The difference
fantasy drawn from the Second Sino-Japanese War, not science fiction. See our page of books like The Poppy War.
Awards
Compton Crook Award, 2019; Nebula and World Fantasy Award nominee; named in TIME's 100 Best Fantasy Books (2020).

Recommended by

Deadly contests and war games

The Hunger Games

Suzanne CollinsStart with The Hunger Games trilogy, book 1

Like Red Rising
a teenager from an oppressed district is forced into a televised death contest run by the capital.
The difference
young adult, and the arena is about survival rather than building an army.

Recommended by

Battle Royale

Koushun TakamiStandalone

Like Red Rising
a class of students in an authoritarian alternate Japan is forced to fight to the death.
The difference
a large student cast and graphic violence; no rebellion arc.

Recommended by

  • Instagram: @judgingby_thecover (recommends both Red Rising and Battle Royale to Hunger Games fans)

Ender's Game

Orson Scott CardStart with Ender's Game (the novel)

Like Red Rising
a gifted child is put through brutal war games at an orbital Battle School.
The difference
a much younger lead, and no caste rebellion.
Awards
Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novel.

Recommended by

Iron Widow

Xiran Jay ZhaoStart with Iron Widow, book 1

Like Red Rising
a girl signs up to pilot a giant war machine to avenge her sister, then turns on the system that uses up its women.
The difference
young adult; giant robots powered by their pilots instead of a war game.

Recommended by

Gideon the Ninth

Tamsyn MuirStart with The Locked Tomb, book 1

Like Red Rising
a sword-fighter escorts a necromancer to a decaying house where competing heirs face deadly trials.
The difference
gothic horror, puzzles and irreverent humor; much stranger than Red Rising.

Recommended by

Fantasy with the same brutality

The Blade Itself

Joe AbercrombieStart with The First Law trilogy, book 1

Like Red Rising
morally gray people, sharp humor and power that corrupts.
The difference
fantasy, slower to reach its battles, and its endings are bleak rather than triumphant.
Awards
Compton Crook Award finalist, 2008.

Recommended by

The Rage of Dragons

Evan WinterStart with The Burning, book 1

Like Red Rising
an underdog soldier's relentless training and fight to become stronger inside a violent hierarchy.
The difference
revenge drives it, in an African-inspired world with a Bronze Age feel.
Awards
Named in TIME's 100 Best Fantasy Books (2020).

Recommended by

Ironbound

Andrew GivlerStart with Ironbound, book 1

Like Red Rising
soldiers, training and political competition in a Roman-inspired society, with a strong sense of brotherhood.
The difference
progression fantasy: getting stronger is the main draw, and it is not a realistic Roman military novel.

Recommended by

Mistborn: The Final Empire

Brandon SandersonStart with the Mistborn trilogy, book 1

Like Red Rising
a young woman from the bottom of an oppressive empire joins a plot to overthrow its immortal ruler.
The difference
a crew and a precise magic system at its heart, not armies.

Recommended by

  • Instagram: @noahsbriskreviews (recommends Red Rising to Mistborn fans)
  • Readers on Goodreads

Malice

John GwynneStart with The Faithful and the Fallen, book 1

Like Red Rising
aspiring warriors and rival rulers caught in a spreading war, with constant action and momentum.
The difference
traditional epic fantasy with a clear fight between good and evil.
Awards
David Gemmell Morningstar Award for best debut, 2013.

Recommended by

Rebellions and power struggles

The Grace of Kings

Ken LiuStart with The Dandelion Dynasty, book 1 (four books, complete)

Like Red Rising
a rebellion against an island empire, and what it takes to start a movement.
The difference
slower and broader, with many viewpoints and competing philosophies.
Awards
Locus Award for Best First Novel, 2016; Nebula Award nominee; named in TIME's 100 Best Fantasy Books (2020).

Recommended by

Jade City

Fonda LeeStart with Jade City (trilogy complete)

Like Red Rising
clan war, political drama and betrayal, with loyalty that costs everything.
The difference
a modern city and martial-arts magic, not a caste rebellion.

Recommended by

FAQ

What should I read after Red Rising?

The Will of the Many by James Islington is recommended most often, followed by Dune, The Blade Itself, Empire of Silence and The Poppy War.

Is Red Rising science fiction or fantasy?

Science fiction: it is set on a colonized Mars. Its readers often come from fantasy and go on to it, which is why this list mixes both.

Are there books like Red Rising with a deadly contest?

Yes: The Hunger Games, Battle Royale, Ender's Game, Iron Widow and Gideon the Ninth all put their characters through deadly trials or war games.

Sources

  • Recommendations: the Instagram posts linked on each card; reader signals from the Goodreads "Readers who enjoyed Red Rising also enjoyed" list and the matching lists for Dune, Ender's Game and Mistborn.
  • Book descriptions: publisher descriptions and reviews collected in the site's book catalog.

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