The Recommended Reading Order
Edward W. Robertson's Breakers series combines a global pandemic with a terrifying alien invasion. To experience the story's scale and escalating stakes, we recommend reading the books in their publication order. While there is a prequel novella, Outcome, starting with the first full-length novel, Breakers, is the best entry point for most readers as it establishes the main mystery and central characters.
Breakers Books in Reading Order
Here is the recommended reading path for the core series:
- Outcome (Book 0.5) - A prequel novella set during the initial outbreak of the plague. Can be read first, or saved for after Book 3 or 4 to fill in backstory.
- Breakers (Book 1) - The main entry point. Follows Walt Lawson in New York and Raymond and Mia James in Los Angeles as the plague hits and alien "Swimmers" arrive.
- Melt Down (Book 2) - Shifts the perspective to Idaho, focusing on Ness Hook and Tristan Carter as they fight to survive in the post-apocalyptic ruins.
- Knifepoint (Book 3) - Introduces Raina in Los Angeles, embarking on a quest for vengeance against a local tyrant.
- Reapers (Book 4) - The first major convergence point, bringing the survivors' separate threads together as they face the extraterrestrial threat.
- Cut Off (Book 5) - Set six years later. Tristan and her brother Alden hide in Maui, while Ness and his alien ally Sebastian track a conspiracy.
- Captives (Book 6) - Follows Walt Lawson's rescue mission in San Jose, while dealing with a vendetta from Thom James.
- Relapse (Book 7) - Features Raina leading a guerrilla campaign from Catalina Island while Ness and Sebastian discover a new threat in the Pacific.
- Blackout (Book 8) - The explosive series finale, uniting Walt, Ness, and Raina to make a final stand against the alien invaders.
Chronological vs. Publication Order
The main debate in the reading order centers around the prequel novella, Outcome. Because it is set at the very beginning of the virus outbreak, reading it chronologically (first) is completely viable. However, starting with Breakers lets you uncover the mystery of the plague alongside the characters, making Outcome a great flashback read after you are already invested in the universe.
Spin-off Series: Rebel Stars
If you finish Blackout and want more of this universe, Edward W. Robertson wrote a follow-up space opera series called Rebel Stars. Set 1,000 years in the future of the Breakers timeline, it follows a new set of characters in a colonized solar system. The books in the Rebel Stars series include:
- Outlaw (Book 1)
- Rebel (Book 0.5 / Prequel)
- Traitor (Book 2)
- Ronin (Book 3)
- Freefall (Book 4)
- Stardust (Book 5)