Books On Board

Ancient Dreams Books in Order

  • 5 Books
  • 2017 – 2019 Published
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Reading order
01
Ancient Ruins
Ancient Ruins
2017
Amazon
02
Spells of Old
Spells of Old
2017
Amazon
03
Halls of Power
Halls of Power
2017
Amazon
04
Marin's Codex
Marin's Codex
2018
Amazon
05
Crisis of Faith
Crisis of Faith
2019
Amazon
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Recommended Reading Order

While the prequel novellas are set thousands of years before the main story, we recommend starting with the main trilogy. Reading in publication order ensures that the world's lore and character origins are revealed naturally as mysteries unfold.

  1. Ancient Ruins (2017) – The first book of the series, introducing the sentient dungeon Sistina and Princess Phynis.
  2. Spells of Old (2017) – The second book, exploring Sistina's defense of her dungeon and her history as a succubus.
  3. Halls of Power (2017) – The third book, escalating the conflicts between warring nations and divine forces.
  4. Crisis of Faith (2019) – An extended epilogue and Book 4 that resolves character arcs and conflicts.
  5. Marin's Codex (2018) – A prequel companion containing stories like Into the Eternal Wood. Though chronologically first, it is best read after the trilogy to avoid early spoilers and fully appreciate the background lore.

Chronology and the Godsrage Timeline

Benjamin Medrano anchors the history of the world around a cataclysmic event known as the Godsrage. Dates are tracked as Before Godsrage (BG) or After Godsrage (AG). Chronologically, the backstory spans thousands of years:

  • 8,000 BG: Marin is born in the elven kingdom of Pharos.
  • 7,100 BG: Marin is captured and transformed into the succubus Avendrial.
  • 5,500 BG: Avendrial is betrayed and trapped inside a soul-gem.
  • 5,200 BG: The elven noble Sistina Constella is born in Everium.
  • 5,175 BG: Sistina Constella buys the pendant containing Avendrial's soul-gem.
  • 5,170 BG: The events of the prequel novella Into the Eternal Wood occur.
  • Present Day: Avendrial awakens as the sentient dungeon spirit Sistina, initiating the main plot of Ancient Ruins.

The author developed this timeline to ground the massive scale of Avendrial's imprisonment and the deep history of Everium. Because of the vast time differences and lore dependency, the chronological order is best enjoyed as a retrospective read rather than a starting path.

Multiverse Connections

While the Ancient Dreams saga is a self-contained story, Benjamin Medrano's works exist within a shared multiverse. He often references names, deities, and events across his different series. However, you do not need to read his other works (such as Through the Fire, Soul Bound, or the Lilith's Shadow series) to fully understand and enjoy the Ancient Dreams books.

Frequently Asked

What is the best reading order for Ancient Dreams?

The best reading order is the publication order: start with Ancient Ruins, followed by Spells of Old, Halls of Power, and then the epilogue novel Crisis of Faith. Read the prequel collection Marin's Codex last.

Should I read Marin's Codex first since it is a prequel?

No. Even though Marin's Codex takes place thousands of years before the main series, reading it first can spoil mysteries regarding the nature of the main characters and the magic system. The author recommends reading it after the main trilogy.

Who is the main protagonist of Ancient Dreams?

The main protagonist is Sistina, a sentient dungeon spirit (genius loci). She was originally an elven archangel named Marin, who was transformed into the succubus Avendrial, and eventually became trapped in a soul-gem for millennia before awakening.

Is the Ancient Dreams series complete?

Yes, the series is complete. The main story is resolved across the trilogy, and Crisis of Faith serves as a comprehensive extended epilogue to wrap up the character arcs.

Does Ancient Dreams connect to other books by Benjamin Medrano?

Yes. The books share a loosely connected multiverse with his other works, such as Through the Fire and Lilith's Shadow. However, the connection is thematic, and Ancient Dreams can be read entirely as a standalone series.

What is the Godsrage in the series timeline?

The Godsrage is a cataclysmic historical event used as the calendar anchor in the series timeline. Dates are designated as Before Godsrage (BG) or After Godsrage (AG) to chart the world's ancient history.