20 Brutal and Shocking Moments from Red Rising (books 1-6)

This series is an emotional roller coaster. There are moments that are shocking, dark, violent, and downright distressing. Here's a list of 20 of the most shocking and brutal moments so far in the 4 books. Of course, there are many many more, but these are some standouts along with some cool fanart! Warning- spoilers ahead up to the end of Lightbringer.

1. Darrow kills Julian

   Gold's cruel logic is introduced here: the weakest are culled. Darrow killing sweet, innocent Julian sets the tone for everything to come—and breaks him from the inside.

   Sevro being paired with a "stronger" opponent and making it through marked the birth of an icon

   

2. Titus's brutality at the Institute

   The r*pe and brutal treatment of prisoners was hard to stomach. And then discovering that Titus was a Red acting out his anger and vengeance toward the people he blamed for his suffering somehow made it so much worse

   
   

3. Darrow starts a Civil War among Gold

   By turning Bellona and Augustus against each other, Darrow doesn’t just survive the game—he rewrites it. The Reaper was born here, in strategy and shadows.

   

4. Darrow un-brainwashes Ragnar- and gives him a razor

   Once again, the birth of an icon

   
   

5. Darrow's triumph

   Just a shocking twist. The death of Ares (revealed to be Fitchner), Darrow's capture, the death of Augustus, and Roque playing a part of the betrayal was just the icing on top of the carnage

   
   

6. Ragnar's death

   Yeah, still not over this one

   
   

7. Darrow destroys the Ganymede docks

   An example of the Reaper's brutality. We love him...but do we fear him too?

   
   

8. Cassius switches sides

   I, admittedly, was bamboozled here! Maybe I'm gullible but Sevro's faked death nearly gave me a heart attack. Thank god Cassius finally decided to see reason. I wanted so badly to have a reason to love him again

   
   

9. Darrow's a dad

   Really Virginia- hiding a child?! One of the softer twists, but still a big one. And Pax is awesome.

   
   

10. Darrow kills Wulfgar

    At this moment I began to look at Darrow a little sideways- how far is too far?

    
    

11. Lysander is a c*nt

    All those years with Cassius, and you're still a little fascist f*ck. I hate you, Lysander

    
    

12. Orion has a psychotic break and levels Tyche

    Listen.....I get it.....but wow....just, wow

    
    

13. The Day of Red Doves

    What a devastating twist! Hated reading Virginia nearly being beaten to death. And Dancer's death was unexpected and gutting. A scene that makes you realize that serving the people is indeed, overrated. Fickle

    

14. The death of Ulysses

    Yeah...that was dark Pierce.

    
    

15. Ephraim's suicide bombing

    I can honestly say I don't think I've ever read a characters death play out from their perspective before. It was dramatic and absolutely devastating. I did NOT expect Ephraim to die. I miss you, you cynical bastard.

    
    

16. Lysander calls Darrow "slave"

    Might be a small moment but man did this piss me off. The rage it ignited in Darrow to hear that little sh*t call him a slave gave us one of the greatest internal monologues in space opera history

    

17. Victra gets her revenge

    Phew, first of all- Victra's a badass. Bearing witness to her unleash her rage BY HERSELF onto the entirety of the Red Hand was captivating. Also, throwing Harmony to the pit vipers to die painfully and slow felt well deserved

    

18. Darrow hunts down Fá

    A battle and chase sequence that made literary history, and a full circle moment seeing Darrow's journey of pain come to a climax as he masters his own razor technique. If this ever makes it to the big screen, I cannot wait to see how this plays out

    
    

19. The death of Cassius

    We all hate you Lysander.

    
    

    "If it must be guilt that drags you down, brother, I will be your millstone."

    -Cassius, Light Bringer

    
    

20. Io's bombardment & Lysander's propoganda

    This was brutal, and showed just how beyond reach Lysander truly is. Lying to protect his reputation and obtain a biological weapon, and leveling the city nearly murdering a man he claimed to respect. Just when we think he couldn't get any lower he proves us wrong. Sevro was right about you!