7 Books Like Red Rising To Read For Your Book Club

Welcome home if you devoured Red Rising and are itching for more tales of rebellions, hazy morality, and heroes scurrying into the stars. High stakes environments, complex characters, and stunning plot twists are all features of these seven games.

Consider them the next worlds to conquer, each with its own unique mix of betrayal, revolution, and surprising hope. To make this feel like a fireside talk with just you, me, and some amazing novels, I’ve thrown in sidebars, bullet points, and personal opinions.

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lluminae — Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

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📆 Pub Date: October 2015
🏢 Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers / Oneworld
🧭 Genre: Space Opera, YA Sci-Fi, Epistolary Format
📚 Goodreads: ~4.24/5 (≈158,000 ratings)
🏆 Awards: Audible ~4.6; Prime Minister’s Literary Award, Aussie Inky, Aurealis

💥 Why It Is Unique

• Immersive and theatrical due to its unconventional format—emails, ship logs, and AI transcripts.
• Spaceship mayhem, AI revolt, and viruses create a breakneck pace.
• Emotional depth, particularly between Kady and Ezra.

❗ Weak Points

• If you prefer traditional narration, the format may feel disorienting.
• Some supporting characters come and go too fast.

📝 Blogger’s Note: A heart-pounding adrenaline rush—perfect for a 2 a.m. binge.

 

The Fifth Season — N. K. Jemisin

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📆 Pub Date: August 2015
🏢 Publisher: Orbit
🧭 Genre: Apocalyptic Epic Fantasy
📚 Goodreads: ~4.29/5
🏆 Awards: Hugo Award (x2); universally acclaimed hardcover

💥 Why It Shines

• A world where geology and magic collide—stunning and dangerous.
• Nonlinear storytelling with masterfully layered characters.
• Emotionally powerful scenes that linger long after reading.

❗ Weak Points

• The shifting timelines may be confusing at first.
• Emotionally intense and relentlessly heavy.

📝 Blogger’s Note: I was breathless by the last 50 pages—mythic and raw.

 

Mistborn: The Final Empire — Brandon Sanderson

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📆 Pub Date: 2006
🏢 Publisher: Tor Books
🧭 Genre: Epic Fantasy, Magic Heist
📚 Goodreads: ~4.38/5 (≈590,000 ratings)
🏆 Awards: Launchpad for Sanderson’s fantasy acclaim

💥 Why It Works

• Allomancy is a brilliantly original magic system.
• Vin’s journey from orphan to elite Mistborn is unforgettable.
• Expertly plotted with high-stakes twists.

❗ Weak Points

• The middle act slows down with crew assembly.
• Romance is dialed down in favor of strategy and magic.

📝 Blogger’s Note: A sharp, satisfying ride for fans of elegant fantasy systems.

 

Leviathan Wakes — James S. A. Corey

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📆 Pub Date: 2011
🏢 Publisher: Tor (UK), Orbit (US)
🧭 Genre: Space Opera, Sci-Fi Thriller, Political Intrigue
📚 Goodreads: ~4.15/5
🏆 Awards: Hugo nomination; series won Best Series Hugo

💥 Reasons to Love It

• Space noir meets galactic power struggles.
• Complex tension between Earth, Mars, and the Belt.
• Great chemistry between Holden and Miller.

❗ Weak Points

• The slow burn at the start may test your patience.
• Quality fluctuates slightly across the series.

📝 Blogger’s Note: Grit, politics, and space dread. Read the book—then binge the show.

 

The Poppy War — R.F. Kuang

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📆 Pub Date: May 2018
🏢 Publisher: Harper Voyager
🧭 Genre: Grimdark Military Fantasy, Historical Allegory
📚 Goodreads: ~4.17/5 (≈400,000 ratings)
🏆 Awards: Nebula nominee; Compton Crook, Crawford winner; lauded by Time, Washington Post, The Guardian

💥 Why It’s Strong

• Unflinching portrayal of war’s horrors: genocide, drugs, chemical warfare.
• Rin is fierce, flawed, and unforgettable.
• Deeply rooted in Chinese history and military theory.

❗ Weak Points

• Incredibly graphic—violence is front and center.
• Brutally emotional, often painful to read.

📝 Blogger’s Note: This book doesn’t pull punches—it punches through you.

 

An Ember in the Ashes — Sabaa Tahir

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📆 Pub Date: April 2015
🏢 Publisher: Razorbill
🧭 Genre: YA Fantasy, Resistance/Rebellion
📚 Goodreads: ~4.21/5
🏆 Awards: TIME Top 100; #2 NYT Bestseller

💥 Why It Sparks

• Dual POV: Elias the soldier, Laia the rebel.
• Oppression by the Martial Empire gives strong Red Rising vibes.
• Builds emotional intensity like a slow-burn fire.

❗ Weak Points

• Some side characters feel underdeveloped.
• Might feel too YA for readers used to grimdark tones.

📝 Blogger’s Note: Think Gladiator meets Hunger Games with magic.

 

Golden Son — Pierce Brown

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📆 Pub Date: January 2015
🏢 Publisher: Del Rey
🧭 Genre: Dystopian Sci-Fi, Epic Warfare
📚 Goodreads: ~4.35/5
🏆 Awards: Goodreads Choice Award (Best Sequel); beloved fan favorite

💥 Why It Elevates

• Raises the stakes from Red Rising with larger-scale rebellion.
• Gut-wrenching betrayals and galaxy-shattering decisions.
• Tactical brilliance and moral complexity dialed to 11.

❗ Weak Points

• Slower political buildup in the first half.
• Demands patience but delivers like a supernova.

📝 Blogger’s Note: It’s Red Rising 2.0—bolder, deeper, and devastatingly good.

🔍 Convenient Comparison Table

📖 Title	🧭 Genre	📚 Goodreads	✅ Emphasize	⚠️ Weak Points
Illuminae	YA Sci-Fi (Epistolary)	~4.24	Thrilling, unique structure	May confuse linear readers
The Fifth Season	Apocalyptic Epic Fantasy	~4.29	Emotional, world-shattering	Dense, nonlinear story
Mistborn	Epic Fantasy + Heist	~4.38	Clever magic system	Slower middle act
Leviathan Wakes	Political Space Thriller	~4.15	Gritty interplanetary drama	Starts slow
The Poppy War	Grimdark Historical Fantasy	~4.17	Brutally honest & intense	Extremely graphic
Ember in the Ashes	YA Rebellion Fantasy	~4.21	Dual POVs, escalating danger	YA tone might feel light
Golden Son	Epic Dystopian Sci-Fi	~4.35	Shocking turns, high emotion	Slow political groundwork

✨ Concluding Remarks

If Red Rising set your heart racing and your brain buzzing, this list will keep that fire blazing. Whether you crave revolutions, moral dilemmas, intense character arcs, or stunning world-building, these books are crafted to shake you to your core.

📌 Your Mood Match Guide:

• 🤯 Feeling chaotic and need a thrill? → Illuminae
• 🧠 Want to dive deep into myth and emotion? → The Fifth Season
• 🪙 Longing for magic with structure and strategy? → Mistborn
• 🌍 Seeking political drama across solar systems? → Leviathan Wakes
• 💣 Ready for emotional devastation and wartime horrors? → The Poppy War
• 🛡 Looking for a rebel uprising in a YA world? → An Ember in the Ashes
• 🚀 Need more Darrow? Bigger risks? → Golden Son

These aren’t just reads—they’re revolutions in print. Every chapter pushes you closer to the edge. Which will you choose next?

Happy reading. And may your favorites haunt you in the best way possible.