“Blood begets blood begets blood...”
This is the grim reality of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising, a space-faring epic that blends the grit of The Hunger Games with the operatic scale of Star Wars, all drenched in Roman mythology.
The story follows Darrow, a Red—the lowest caste in a color coded hierarchy. Toiling in the hellish mines of Mars, Darrow believes he is a pioneer. The shattering truth? The surface was colonized centuries ago. His people are mere slaves fueling the decadence of the Golds, the self proclaimed gods of the solar system.
To dismantle this system, Darrow must undergo a visceral transformation, being surgically altered to pass as a Gold. He is sent to the Institute, a brutal war game where survival requires mastering the very cruelty he hates.
While set on Mars, the novel mirrors real world struggles, particularly in societies like Kenya—where economic inequality and class divisions create vast gaps between the powerful and the marginalized.
Darrow’s journey reflects a universal spirit of resistance against systemic barriers, forcing us to ask: can you retain your soul while playing a monster’s game?
Join us as we unpack the rebellion, betrayals, and the moral costs of Darrow’s journey.
As you wait for the review, rate the Book of the Month from the book page
* 📅 Date: March 28, 2026
* 🕖 Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM EAT
* 💻 Location: Virtual (Google Meet)
Come prepared to debate the Society’s ethics and whether the end justifies the bloody means.
Review the complete event details and add it to your calendar from the Event Page.
Whether you are a Red at heart or possess the ambition of a Gold, we want your perspective. Bring your hot takes and hot moments.
No holds barred. It’s going to be riveting!
Join us this Easter as The Reading Circle partners with Akili Space to take stories to every child. We’re collecting books to give them a second life in the hands of new readers at the Kamiti Youth Correctional Centre.
Additional details can be found on the event page
This April, we are focusing on children's literature, which includes books written for middle graders and younger readers. These stories remind us of a time when life was simpler, before finding ourselves in a random institute on Mars after being curved.
More information and a poll will be shared soon in our WhatsApp group. Join us now to be part of the reading this April!
We're diving into Children of Blood and Bone. Here's everything you need before Saturday's discussion.
