The whole series, boxed.

Both signed hardcovers, two artifacts out of the story itself, and a custom series box built to hold the set. The most complete way to own Against the Red Sky.

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Against the Red Sky: Book Box (PRE-ORDER)

Both books rated 9.75+ out of 10 by The BookLife Prize · funded on Kickstarter in under an hour

$119.00 USD

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ChooseWhich edition do you want?

PaperbackThe complete duologyBoth books in paperback, both eBooks, free shipping. Colony map as a digital file.$29.99 Signed hardcoverSpecial Edition, both booksThe same two hardcovers, colony map printed in. No box, no artifacts.$84.99

Collector's boxThe Book Box, everything includedBoth signed hardcovers, the Academy gala invitation, Maddie's holocard, and a custom series box.$119.00

IncludedWhat arrives in the box

Two signed 5x8 hardcovers, over 600 pages combined, with sprayed edges, full color endpapers, chapter header art, and the map of the Mars colony printed right into the book. Two character art stickers and a series-themed bookmark. Plus two artifacts lifted straight out of the story: the black-tie invitation to the Academy gala from Mission X, and Maddie's holocard from Colony Exposed, on thick plastic with a blank passenger field so you can write your own name. All of it in a custom series-themed collector's box built to hold the set.

Limited print run. Only 25! Ships late October 2026 — order by December 10 for delivery by Christmas in the US. Free shipping, and both eBooks arrive instantly so you can start reading today.

Signed by Kristen, and only sold here
Free shipping, no minimum
Both eBooks delivered instantly, start reading tonight

Enzo Cruz was raised to destroy the system. Maddie Westing was born to inherit it. Together, they'll have to burn it all down to save what matters.

Do you love YA dystopian sci-fi with:

A Mars colony that promises paradise and delivers something far darker
An evil billionaire with no limits and no conscience
Two teens navigating impossible loyalties, to their missions, their families, and each other
Dual POV, two planets, one collision course
Found family forged under pressure
Betrayal disguised as survival
A secret beneath the Martian surface that changes what it means to be human

Then this is the one to own: the complete Against the Red Sky duology, boxed as a collector's set with two artifacts lifted straight out of the story.

Mission X (Book 1): On an Earth running out of water, Enzo is Terra Primera's youngest operative, sent to infiltrate a new facility training recruits for the Martian colony, and sabotage its shuttle before it ever leaves the ground. Maddie is one of thirty elite students chasing her dream of reaching Mars and her mother. When their paths collide, so does everything they thought they knew, and exposing Transcendia founder Augustus Sardeth won't come without a price.

Colony Exposed (Book 2): Enzo and his friends are sent to Mars to die building domes they'll never live in. Maddie has to break out of her uncle's facility and reach Mars before it's too late, only to find a colony built on a secret darker than either of them imagined.

Two objects out of the books, made real.

The gala invitation. The black-tie invitation to the gala celebrating the Mars Ascendance Academy's inaugural class, eight o'clock at the Waldorf Astoria. Anyone who has read Mission X knows what that evening turns into.

Maddie's holocard. Her passage off a dying Earth in Colony Exposed, printed on thick plastic the way the book describes it. In the story it is stolen, chased down and fought over, because it is the only thing standing between her and the ship. The passenger field on yours is blank, so you write your own name and take the pod.

Only available from my store. Only 25 Book Boxes exist. Pre-order now and yours ships in late October, well ahead of Christmas. Order by December 10 for delivery by Christmas in the US. Shipping is free, and both eBooks are delivered instantly, so you can start reading today.

Funded on Kickstarter in under an hour.

42 readers backed Against the Red Sky and the campaign funded in under sixty minutes.

This is the store edition of that set: the same signed hardcovers, sprayed edges, custom endpapers and chapter header art. The ribbon marker and dust jacket were exclusive to Kickstarter backers and are not part of this printing.

Includes:

Two signed hardcover books, Mission X and Colony Exposed
Sprayed edges, custom endpapers, custom chapter headings
The map of the Mars colony, printed into the book, part of the hardcover interior rather than a loose insert. Paperback and eBook readers receive it as a digital file; only the hardcover editions have it bound in.
The Academy gala invitation from Mission X
Maddie's holocard from Colony Exposed, on thick plastic, with a blank passenger field
Two character art stickers and a series-themed bookmark
All in a custom series-themed collector's box built to hold the set

Hardcovers are only sold as a set, never separately.

Prefer the signed hardcovers without the box or the artifacts? Get the Special Edition here.

Details	Two 5x8 hardcovers, over 600 pages combined. Sprayed edges with a custom design, full color end papers front and back, chapter header art, and the printed colony map, packaged in an exclusive branded box.
Ships	Begins shipping late October 2026. Order by December 10 for delivery by Christmas in the US.

View full details

The BookLife Prize · 9.75 out of 10

“Illarmo is a natural storyteller, developing polished, smooth prose that builds a creeping dread along with nail-biting suspense.”

“Mars feels like a tangible place here, built on rigid systems and orders enforced by guards, prison labor... Forced labor on Mars is a chilling premise, and the experiences Illarmo’s characters undergo are vividly real.”

Perfect scores for Plot, Prose and Character. Reviewed by The BookLife Prize, a Publishers Weekly property.

And what readers are saying

Nick Wilford ★★★★★
"One of the best YA sci-fi tales I have read in some time. The book keeps up a lively pace throughout and is easy to read quickly."

Goodreads review, Mission X
Chad Barrus ★★★★★
"This is one of the best books I have read this year and I have read over a hundred so far. A nail biting, page turning masterpiece that will completely have you mesmerized and under its spell by the first few chapters."

Goodreads review, Mission X
★★★★★
"This was an absolutely perfect conclusion to the Against the Red Sky saga. More action packed than the first, the character development was stellar all the way through."

Early reader, Colony Exposed

What makes the Book Box different

The box itself
A custom series-themed collector's box built to hold both hardcovers, and the only way to get the set boxed.
The gala invitation
The black-tie invitation to the gala for the Academy's inaugural class, the night everything in Mission X goes wrong. Printed as a real invitation, from a story where thirty were chosen.
Maddie's holocard
Her passage off a dying Earth in Colony Exposed, on thick plastic like the one in the book. The passenger field is blank, so you write your own name and take the pod.
Signed, with swag
Both hardcovers hand-signed, plus two character art stickers and a series-themed bookmark.

Mission X

Enzo is Terra Primera's youngest operative, sent to infiltrate the Mars Ascendance Academy, sabotage the shuttle, and disappear. Maddie is one of thirty elite students chasing her dream of reaching Mars, and her mother. When their paths collide, so does everything they thought they knew.

Colony Exposed

Enzo and his friends are sent to Mars to die building domes they'll never live in. Maddie has to break out of her uncle's facility and reach Mars before it's too late, only to find a colony built on a secret darker than either of them imagined.

Questions readers ask before buying

When will my Book Box ship?

Shipping begins in late October 2026. Order by December 10 for delivery by Christmas in the US. Your card is charged at checkout, and both eBooks are delivered immediately so you can start reading.

What are the gala invitation and the holocard?

Two objects out of the books, made real. The invitation is to the black-tie gala celebrating the Mars Ascendance Academy's inaugural class in Mission X, at eight o'clock at the Waldorf Astoria. Anyone who has read Book 1 knows what that evening turns into.

The holocard is Maddie's passage off Earth in Colony Exposed, printed on thick plastic the way the book describes it. In the story it is stolen, chased down and fought over, because it is the only thing standing between her and the ship. The passenger field on yours is blank so you can write your own name on it.

Both are exclusive to the Book Box and are not included with the Special Edition.

Is the map of the Mars colony included?

Yes, and in the hardcover it is part of the book itself. The map is printed into the interior of both hardcovers, so it is always there when you open them, not a loose sheet to lose. Paperback and eBook pre-orders get the map as a digital file sent to your inbox instead. The printed version exists only in the hardcover editions.

What's the difference between this and the Special Edition?

The books are identical: the same two signed hardcovers with sprayed edges, custom endpapers, chapter header art, and the colony map printed inside. The Book Box adds three things the Special Edition does not have: the custom series-themed collector's box, the Academy gala invitation, and Maddie's holocard.

Is this the same as the Kickstarter edition?

Almost. This is the store edition of the set that funded on Kickstarter in under an hour: the same signed hardcovers, sprayed edges, custom endpapers and chapter header art. The ribbon marker and dust jacket were exclusive to the 42 Kickstarter backers and are not part of this printing.

Can I buy just one book in hardcover?

No. The hardcovers are produced and sold as a two-book set only. If you want a single book, Mission X and Colony Exposed are both available in paperback.

Why should I buy direct?

Buying direct supports me as an author. I receive a larger portion of the royalties from purchases made here than from purchases made at other retailers, and the Book Box is not sold anywhere else at all.

Hi, I'm Kristen

Even as the world burns, my characters remind us: you don't have to be perfect, you just have to keep fighting for what's right.

More about Kristen

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Kristen Illarmo Books

The whole series, boxed.

Both signed hardcovers, two artifacts out of the story itself, and a custom series box built to hold the set. The most complete way to own Against the Red Sky.

Against the Red Sky: Book Box (PRE-ORDER)