Darrow is a red, a slave, living under the surface of mars. He is the Helldiver of Lycos, the youngest person anyone in his family can remember running the drill to mine helium3 so that the other members of society can terraform and live on mars. The society is broken in to 3 different levels of color.
High Colors
- Golds: Rulers of society
- Silvers: Financiers and businessmen
- Whites: The clergy
- Coppers: Administrators, lawyers and bureaucrats
- Mid Colors
- Low Colors
Darrow's wife is hanged for singing a forbidden song in the face of their masters, the reds are not allowed to bury their dead but he cuts down her dead body and does it anyway. His actions cause him to be hung, and just when you think the story is over before it even starts.
Darrow awakens buried underground and is thrust into a struggle he had never wanted any part of. The sons of Ares are a rebel group fighting for the freedom of the low colors and their leader has an idea.
Darrow is trained and cut into a Gold, The greatest of golds and infiltrates their school so he can gain a position of power in order to take down the society from within. The book is well written and a real page turned with 3 sequels that keep you guessing and wanting for more.
links above to the red rising wiki page for anyone who wants more info on the series.