Books On Board
series Reading Order

Black Tide Rising Books in Order

12 Books
2013 – 2024 Published
Jump to reading order
Affiliate links: We may earn a commission on purchases made at no extra cost to you.
Reading order

How to Read the Black Tide Rising Series

John Ringo's Black Tide Rising series is a refreshingly realistic, high-octane military science fiction take on the zombie apocalypse. Instead of magic or unexplained curses, the plague is caused by a man-made, dual-phase virus. Because the timeline features multiple parallel stories happening at the same time as the initial outbreak, readers have a few options for how to tackle the series.

1. The Recommended Path: Core Tetralogy First

For the best reading experience, start with the original four novels written entirely by John Ringo. This core saga follows the Smith family—parents Steve and Stacey, and daughters Sophia and Faith—as they take to the sea on a sailboat, rescue survivors, and eventually spearhead the military campaign to retake the American mainland. The order is simple:

  • Under a Graveyard Sky (2013) – The outbreak begins; the Smiths escape to the sea.
  • To Sail a Darkling Sea (2014) – The Smiths build a maritime rescue fleet and train survivors.
  • Islands of Rage & Hope (2014) – The fleet launches large-scale island-clearing operations.
  • Strands of Sorrow (2014) – The final push to reclaim the U.S. mainland.

2. The Parallel Timelines (Spin-off Duologies)

Once you finish the core tetralogy, you can dive into the parallel spin-offs, which start at the beginning of the virus outbreak but focus on different characters and regions:

  • The Wall Street / New York Arc (with Mike Massa): Consisting of The Valley of Shadows (2018) and River of Night (2019), this duology follows Steve Smith's brother, Tom Smith (a former Australian SAS officer turned corporate security chief), as he and his financial sector team survive the NYC collapse and attempt to build a secure inland settlement.
  • The Cruise Ship Arc (by Charles E. Gannon): Comprising At the End of the World (2020) and At the End of the Journey (2021), this duology follows six teenagers and a taciturn British captain on a senior summer cruise who find themselves stranded in the South Atlantic when the world ends.

3. The Shared Universe Anthologies

Edited by John Ringo and Gary Poole, these anthologies feature short stories from various authors that fill in the gaps of how the rest of the world dealt with the fall of civilization and the subsequent rebuilding efforts:

  • Black Tide Rising (2016)
  • Voices of the Fall (2019)
  • We Shall Rise (2021)
  • United We Stand (2024)

4. Newer Additions and Expanding Universe

The universe continues to expand with new standalone novels by different authors exploring other corners of the globe:

  • Across an Ocean of Stars (2025) by Robert E. Hampson – Focusing on survivors trying to rebuild in the Hawaiian Islands.
  • Perdition's Storm (2025) by Brian Trent – Following a former Mafia hitman protecting survivors in post-apocalyptic Italy.

Frequently Asked

QWhere is the best place to start reading Black Tide Rising?

You should start with the first novel, Under a Graveyard Sky, and read the first four books (the core Smith family saga) in publication order before moving on to the spin-offs or anthologies.

QDo the spin-off novels happen at the same time as the main books?

Yes. Both The Valley of Shadows (by Ringo & Massa) and At the End of the World (by Gannon) begin chronologically at the same time as Under a Graveyard Sky, showing how the outbreak hit Wall Street and a South Atlantic cruise respectively.

QAre the anthologies necessary to understand the main story?

No, they are not necessary, but they are highly recommended. Anthologies like Voices of the Fall and We Shall Rise flesh out the lore and show what is happening to other survivors around the globe.

QWho is the main character in the Black Tide Rising series?

The core series centers on the Smith family, particularly the younger daughter Faith Smith, who becomes a legendary, highly skilled zombie hunter at just thirteen years old.

QAre there any graphic novels in the Black Tide Rising universe?

Yes, John Ringo teamed up with comic book veteran Chuck Dixon to create a graphic novel adaptation of the first book, Under a Graveyard Sky.

QWhich books did John Ringo write with Mike Massa?

John Ringo co-authored The Valley of Shadows (2018) and River of Night (2019) with Mike Massa, centering on Steve's brother, Tom Smith.