Two books. One complete series.

The complete Against the Red Sky duology. One finished story, no Book 3 to wait for. Colony Exposed launches October 13, 2026.

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Against the Red Sky Paperback Bundle

Against the Red Sky Paperback Bundle

Both books rated 9.75+ out of 10 by The BookLife Prize · Quarterfinalist, 2025 BookLife Prize

★ Best Value — Save $5.99 vs. buying separately
$29.99 USD
$29.99 USD
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Shipping calculated at checkout.
Step 1How do you want to read it?
PaperbackBoth books, both eBooks free eBookInstant, delivered by BookFunnel
Step 2How far do you want to go?
Book 1 onlyMission X on its ownEnds on a cliffhanger. Ships now.$17.99
Best valueThe complete duologyBoth books plus both eBooks. Free shipping.$29.99
CollectorBoth books, signed hardcoverThe Special Edition duology. Sprayed edges, custom endpapers, chapter header art, and the Mars colony map printed into the book.$84.99
Step 3Want them signed?

Kristen signs every copy herself, not a stamp, and only here. Signed copies come with character art stickers and a double-sided bookmark.

Signature
This is a pre-order. Your whole bundle ships October 13, 2026, the day Colony Exposed launches. Order before release day and the digital map of the Martian colony lands in your inbox.
  • Free shipping, and both books arrive together
  • Both eBooks included free, so you can start Mission X today
  • Signed copies come with character art stickers and a double-sided bookmark

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.

The complete Against the Red Sky duology — Mission X and Colony Exposed, together.

Mission X (Book 1): 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 (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.

Bundle price: Save up to $9.99 + free shipping. Signed copies come with character art stickers and a double-sided bookmark.

This is a pre-order: Mission X is available now; Colony Exposed launches October 13, 2026. Your whole order ships together once both books are ready. Both eBooks are included, free, and shipping's free too. Pre-order bonus: order before release day and I'll send you the map of the Martian colony as a digital file, straight to your inbox. (In the signed hardcover editions, that map is printed right into the book.)

Prefer eBook only? Get the eBook bundle here.

Includes Mission X paperback + Colony Exposed paperback + both eBooks
Format Paperback + eBook (BookFunnel delivery)
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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

  • ★★★★★

    "I just finished reading Colony Exposed and I think this one was better than the first book, it picked me up and took me on a thrill ride from beginning to end, and the end was the best part!"

    Early reader, Colony Exposed

  • ★★★★★

    "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

Why buy the bundle

  • Cheaper than buying them separately

    Bought one at a time it is $35.98 standard, or $49.98 signed. The bundle is $29.99 and $39.99, and shipping is free either way.

  • Free gift with signed copies

    Every signed bundle comes with character art stickers and a double-sided bookmark.

  • Pre-order bonus: the colony map

    Order before release day and the map of the Martian colony arrives in your inbox as a digital file. In the signed hardcover editions it comes printed into the book.

  • Ships together

    Your whole order ships October 13, 2026, the same day Colony Exposed launches.

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.

Why readers love this series

  • One Mars colony

    Promising paradise. Delivering something far darker.

  • One evil billionaire

    No limits. No conscience.

  • Two teens

    Impossible loyalties, to their missions, their families, and each other.

  • Found family

    Forged under pressure.

  • One secret

    That changes what it means to be human.

Quarterfinalist 2025 BookLife Prize

  • 9.75+ out of 10

    Both books, The BookLife Prize

  • Complete series

    2 books, ready to binge

  • Featured

    Louisiana Book Festival 2025

Have questions? We have answers.

Does the story actually end, or is there another cliffhanger?

Yes, with Book 2 the story reaches a real conclusion. No lingering cliffhanger, no waiting for a Book 3. Mission X is available now, and Colony Exposed is written and locked for release on October 13, 2026, so the ending is already set. You're waiting on the calendar, not on me to finish writing it.

How do I get the map of the Mars colony?

Order the bundle before release day and I'll email you the map as a digital file, yours to keep. If you'd rather have it printed, the map is part of the book itself in the signed hardcover editions, bound into the interior rather than tucked in loose.

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. Buying direct allows me to keep writing stories that keep you turning the pages.

How do I access my eBook?

eBook orders are delivered by BookFunnel immediately to your email after purchase. After several minutes, if you have not received your eBook order, please check your Spam folder. If it's not there you can log into the BookFunnel app directly to access your library, or contact BookFunnel directly at help@bookfunnel.com or check https://getbookfunnel.com/

When will my bundle ship?

Your whole bundle (Mission X and Colony Exposed) ships together on October 13, 2026, so everything arrives at once. Your eBooks are delivered immediately, so you can start reading Mission X today.

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