Daniel Faust Books in Order

How to Read the Daniel Faust Series

Craig Schaefer’s Daniel Faust series is a masterclass in urban fantasy noir, following a morally gray sorcerer, thief, and conman who operates in the shadows of Las Vegas. However, the Daniel Faust books do not exist in a vacuum. They are the anchor of a massive, interconnected multiverse known as the First Story universe, sharing continuity with the Harmony Black series, the epic fantasy Revanche Cycle, and the climactic crossover event of the Wisdom’s Grave trilogy.

While you can read the Daniel Faust novels strictly as a standalone series, you will get the most out of Schaefer’s intricate world-building by following the official hybrid chronological/publication order. Below, we lay out the recommended reading path, the standalone Faust order, and details about the companion series that you won’t want to miss.

The Ultimate Chronological "First Story" Reading Order

This is the definitive, author-recommended path. It weaves together the historical foundation, the parallel tracks of Daniel Faust and federal agent Harmony Black, and the explosive events of the crossover series. Following this order ensures that character developments, cameos, and universe-altering magic events land with maximum impact.

1. Winter's Reach (Revanche Cycle #1)
2. The Instruments of Control (Revanche Cycle #2)
3. Terms of Surrender (Revanche Cycle #3)
4. Queen of the Night (Revanche Cycle #4)
5. The Long Way Down (Daniel Faust #1)
6. The White Gold Score (Daniel Faust #1.5 - Novella)
7. Redemption Song (Daniel Faust #2)
8. The Living End (Daniel Faust #3)
9. A Plain-Dealing Villain (Daniel Faust #4)
10. The Killing Floor Blues (Daniel Faust #5)
11. Harmony Black (Harmony Black #1)
12. Red Knight Falling (Harmony Black #2)
13. The Castle Doctrine (Daniel Faust #6)
14. Glass Predator (Harmony Black #3)
15. Double or Nothing (Daniel Faust #7)
16. Cold Spectrum (Harmony Black #4)
17. The Neon Boneyard (Daniel Faust #8)
18. Sworn to the Night (Wisdom's Grave #1)
19. Right to the Kill (Harmony Black #5)
20. Detonation Boulevard (Wisdom's Grave #2)
21. Bring the Fire (Wisdom's Grave #3)
22. The Locust Job (Daniel Faust #9)
23. Black Tie Required (Harmony Black #6)
24. Down Among the Dead Men (Daniel Faust #10)
25. Never Send Roses (Harmony Black #7)
26. Dig Two Graves (Daniel Faust #11)

Daniel Faust Publication Order

If you prefer to focus solely on the Las Vegas sorcerer-thief without diving into the broader FBI investigations or ancient fantasy history, you can follow the core Daniel Faust publication order. Note that The White Gold Score is a companion novella that was published later but chronologically fits early in the sequence.

• The Long Way Down (2014)
• Redemption Song (2014)
• The Living End (2014)
• A Plain-Dealing Villain (2015)
• The Killing Floor Blues (2015)
• The White Gold Score (2016 - Novella #1.5)
• The Castle Doctrine (2016)
• Double or Nothing (2017)
• The Neon Boneyard (2018)
• The Locust Job (2020)
• Down Among the Dead Men (2022)
• Dig Two Graves (2024)

What to Know Before You Start

Understanding the structure of Craig Schaefer’s multiverse makes reading the books a much richer experience. Here is a breakdown of the three key series surrounding Daniel Faust:

The Revanche Cycle

Though it reads like a political, grimdark epic fantasy set in a Renaissance-style world, this four-book cycle details the ancient history of the gods, magic rules, and cosmic forces that govern the modern-day urban setting of Daniel Faust. Reading it first is highly recommended, as it pays off significantly during the crossover events later in the timeline.

Harmony Black

Harmony Black is a federal agent and a witch working for a black-ops government division tasked with hunting monsters and occult threats. She is introduced in Daniel Faust's fourth novel, A Plain-Dealing Villain, before launching into her own companion series. Her books are lighter on crime-capers and heavier on procedural action, offering a fascinating parallel perspective to Faust's criminal underworld.

The Wisdom's Grave Trilogy

This is the endgame crossover event where the storylines of the Revanche Cycle, Daniel Faust, and Harmony Black directly collide. While you can read it independently, having the context of both Faust and Harmony's series makes the trilogy incredibly satisfying, explaining major status quo shifts that affect subsequent Faust novels like The Locust Job.

Practical Reader Advice

Where is the best starting point? If you want to jump straight into urban fantasy noir, start with The Long Way Down. It immediately introduces Daniel Faust’s character, his crew, and the occult underworld of Las Vegas. If you are a reader who loves deep lore and want to see how the cosmic strings are pulled from the very beginning, start with Winter's Reach.

Can the books be read as standalones? The individual Daniel Faust novels feature self-contained heist plots and criminal cases, but they are driven by a long-term, overarching narrative arc. Skipping books is not recommended, as the emotional consequences, character alliances, and supernatural stakes carry over from one book to the next.

Are there order disagreements? Some readers suggest skipping the Revanche Cycle entirely if epic fantasy is not their preferred genre. However, the general consensus is that doing so makes the events of the Wisdom’s Grave trilogy feel sudden and less impactful. The safest bet for the optimal narrative journey is sticking to the interleaved chronological guide.