Red Rising

Synopsis

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, BUZZFEED, GOODREADS AND SHELF AWARENESS

Pierce Brown's heart-pounding debut is the first book in a spectacular series that combines the drama of Game of Thrones with the epic scope of Star Wars.

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'Pierce Brown's empire-crushing debut is a sprawling vision . . . Ender, Katniss, and now Darrow' - Scott Sigler, New York Times bestselling author of Pandemic

'[A] top-notch debut novel . . . Red Rising ascends above a crowded dystopian field' - USA Today

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Darrow is a Helldiver. A pioneer of Mars.

Born to slave beneath the earth so that one day, future generations might live above it.

He is a Red - humankind's lowest caste. But he has something the Golds - the ruthless ruling class - will never understand.

He has a wife he worships, a family who give him strength. He has love.

And when they take that from him, all that remains is revenge . . .

Summary

Chapter 1: The Carve

* Introduces Darrow, a young Red living in the Helius mines on Mars.
* Reds are the lowest caste in society and work in the mines to extract helium-3 for the higher castes.
* Darrow is chosen to participate in the Institute's "Carve," a deadly trial that selects candidates from the lower castes for a chance to become leaders.

Chapter 2: The Auction

* Darrow arrives at the Institute and is sold as a slave to Julian Au Bellona, a Gold, or member of the highest caste.
* The Golds use the Reds as pawns in a deadly game of politics and manipulation.
* Darrow learns the brutal realities of the Society and the systemic oppression faced by the Reds.

Chapter 3: The Trials

* Darrow and other candidates undergo a series of physical and mental challenges to prove their worth.
* Darrow excels in combat and strategy, but struggles with the social and academic aspects.
* He faces challenges from other candidates, including Pax, a fearsome Obsidian, and Cassius, a skilled Gray.

Chapter 4: The Cabal

* Darrow uncovers a secret society within the Institute known as the Cabal.
* The Cabal is a group of high-ranking Golds who manipulate the Society for their own gains.
* Darrow learns that the Carve is a rigged game designed to maintain the Golds' power.

Chapter 5: The Betrayal

* Darrow confronts Julian about his knowledge of the Cabal.
* Julian betrays Darrow and attempts to kill him.
* Darrow is forced to kill Julian in self-defense, an act that sets him on a path of rebellion.

Chapter 6: The Exodus

* Darrow and a group of fellow candidates escape from the Institute and join forces with Mustang, a high-ranking Silver.
* Together, they form the Sons of Ares, a rebel group that fights for the liberation of the Reds.
* Darrow becomes the Reaper, a symbol of hope and resistance for the oppressed.

Chapter 7: The War

* The Sons of Ares launch a series of attacks against the Golds, disrupting their supply lines and rallying more Reds to their cause.
* Darrow and his allies face overwhelming odds, but they are determined to change the course of the Society.
* The war escalates into a bloody conflict that threatens the stability of Mars and the future of humanity.