Spend enough time among fans of dystopian sci-fi, and you'll hear "Red Rising" enter the conversation.
Penned by Pierce Brown, the six-book series has sold over 6 million copies since the first book came out a little over a decade ago. When it was first published in 2014, our reviewer said it "ascends above a crowded dystopian field," calling it a cross between the Occupy Movement, "The Lord of the Flies" and a "really serious game of 'Risk.'"
If you couldn't get enough of "Red Rising" either, we've got a list of eight more novels to check out next. But first, check out more about the series that started it all:
"Red Rising" centers on a society with a color-coded caste system. Darrow and the other members of the lowest caste, the Reds, work all day to make Mars' surface livable for generations to come. But then the Reds discover humanity already reached the surface generations ago and that their work has been in vain, only to be kept under the thumb of the ruling class. Hell-bent on seeking justice for his peers and haunted by his wife's death, Darrow will sacrifice everything to infiltrate the Gold caste, competing for his life to bring down his enemies.
There are six books in the "Red Rising" series so far, but book seven, called "Red God," is in the works. Here are all the available "Red Rising" books in order:
Troubled by the lack of release date for "Red God" and can't wait to get your hands on more? Try one of these eight books, which all have themes of dystopian society and rebel uprisings.
A juggernaut of contemporary fantasy, the "Mistborn Saga" from Brandon Sanderson and first book "Mistborn: The Final Empire" centers on a world that's a desolate wasteland, ruled for a thousand years by a terrible, invincible tyrant. When an unlikely hero discovers unknown powers, he recruits the underworld's elite to embark on a high-stakes heist to bring down the empire.
Practically required reading for dystopian fans, "Brave New World" follows an authoritarian, technologically advanced society where humans are genetically bred and children are indoctrinated to maintain a predetermined intelligence-based hierarchy. In the "World State," mass production, homogeneity and quick consumption (all principles of Henry Ford's assembly line) are revered. Our protagonist, Bernard Marx, is a sleep psychologist and an Alpha, a member of the upper class of society.
In "Empire of Silence," Hadrian Marlowe is a contradiction - a hero to some, murderer to others. He is the man who burned every alien from the sky, but also who went rogue and destroyed a sun, costing four billion human lives, including the Emperor. Stranded and misunderstood, Marlowe finds himself fighting in a war he neither wants, nor understands.
This science fiction dystopia is about a world ending - a mighty empire falls, its citizens murdered, and a giant red rift tears across a continent known as the Stillness, spewing ash that darkens the sky for the foreseeable future. At the same time, protagonist Essun comes home to find her husband has murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. Even as a war wages around her, she will risk everything to find her daughter.
Like spice to Arrakis in "Dune," jade is the lifeblood of the island Kekon in "Jade City" - it enhances magical abilities and defends the island from foreign invasion. Generations of the Kaul family, who come from a long line of honorable warriors, are vying for control of Kekon's capital to corner the jade market. But soon a powerful new drug emerges that allows even foreigners to wield jade, sparking a violent clan war.
The world in "A Darker Shade of Magic" comprises several parallel Londons that range from highly magical to dull. Protagonist Kell is one of the few remaining magicians who can travel between the parallel Londons and he works unofficially as a smuggler to bring people to other worlds they'd otherwise never seen.
In "The Will of the Many," a young fugitive enters a prestigious school under the guise of training to be one of the ruling Catenan Republic leaders, or the Hierarchy. But he's hiding many secrets, like his plan to uncover the layered mysteries and schemes that lie within the Academy, including a murder and an ancient weapon. "Percy Jackson" author Rick Riordan called this fantasy novel a "compelling, unputdownable read."
This post-apocolyptic novel follows Lilith, a woman tasked with rebuilding humanity after a nuclear war. Centuries ago, the seemingly benevolent alien race Oankali intervened in humanity's fateful hours, saving the remaining survivors and putting them in a deep sleep aboard their spaceship. Now that they've healed the planet and cured most moral ailments, the humans awaken and the Oankali want Lilith to lead her people back to her home planet.
Set in a dystopian London in the year 2059, "The Bone Season" follows a society under the thumb of the Republic of Scion, who is running a centuries-long oppressive campaign against clairvoyants. Paige Mahoney is one such clairvoyant, a dreamwalker, and is highly ranked in the criminal underworld. When she's arrested for murder, she'll have to come face-to-face with the founders of Scion.
Taste is subjective, and USA TODAY Books has plenty of genres to recommend. Check out the 15 new releases we're most excited about in 2025. Is dystopian your thing? Check out these books that are similar to "The Hunger Games" and "1984." Or if you want something with lower stakes and loveable characters, see if a "cozy mystery" or "cozy fantasy" book is for you. If you want the most popular titles, check out USA TODAY's Best-selling Booklist.
Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, check out her recent articles or tell her what you're reading at [email protected].
Contributing: Brian Truitt