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Red Rising Saga Books in Order

Red Rising Saga is a 3-book series by Pierce Brown for ages 13+, at a grades 6–7 reading level, with intense content (HootRated intensity 4/5).

Books
3
In series order
Reading level
Grades 6–7
Average grade level 6.5
Recommended ages
Ages 13+
From HootRated age ratings
Content intensity
Intense
HootRated 4/5

Red Rising Saga Reading Order

All 3 Red Rising Saga books, numbered in series order.

# Title Reading Level Ages Content
1 Red Rising
2014
Level 6-7 13+ Intense
2 Golden Son
2015
Level 6-7 13+ Intense
3 Morning Star
2016
Level 6-7 13+ Intense

Content Intensity Across the Series

Consistent

Content stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.

#1
#2
#3
First book Latest book

Series books grow with readers — but that's also the trap. Most series start at one reading level and one content intensity and drift upward over the course of the run. Red Rising Saga (3 books by Pierce Brown) lands at a grades 6–7 reading level, with average content intensity 4/5. Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.

The reading-order table above lists every book with per-volume reading level, age and intensity ratings so you can spot any escalation before it catches your reader off guard. For a deeper dive into how we score text difficulty vs. emotional weight separately — and why series readers especially benefit from that split — see our methodology page.

Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.

Questions about the Red Rising Saga series

What reading level is the Red Rising Saga series?
Red Rising Saga books are at a grades 6–7 reading level (average grade level 6.5), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 13+. There are 3 books in the series.
What order should I read the Red Rising Saga books?
Read the Red Rising Saga books in series order: Book 1: Red Rising; Book 2: Golden Son; Book 3: Morning Star.
What age is the Red Rising Saga series appropriate for?
HootRated recommends Red Rising Saga for ages 13+. Content is intense (HootRated intensity 4/5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.