In a stratified society where humanity dwells beneath the surface of a terraformable Mars, Darrow is a Helldiver—a miner in the planet's deepest mines, toiling in the belief that he is paving the way for future generations to inhabit the surface. The Reds, his caste, are the labor force of a color-coded hierarchy unaware that the surface has been habitable all along, monopolized by the opulent Golds. Upon discovering the truth, Darrow's life is shattered, and his sole purpose becomes infiltrating and overthrowing the Golds. With the assistance of a band of rebels, Darrow undergoes a harrowing transformation to pass as a Gold and enters the Institute, where society's future leaders are forged through cruel tests of power and survival. In this brutal proving ground, Darrow must navigate a treacherous battlefield of alliances and betrayals, redefining his mission with a resolve to incite a revolution that will free his people from servitude.