Welcome to the Federal Witch Universe
Imagine an alternate United States where the existence of magical beings—witches, werewolves, vampires, and elves—became public knowledge in 1914. Decades later, tension between humans and paranormals remains high, with magical citizens relegated to reservations and navigating a system loaded with discrimination. In this complex urban fantasy setting, the late T.S. Paul built a fast-paced, humorous, and action-packed universe centering on the Magical Crimes Division of the FBI.
At the heart of the series is Agatha Blackmore, a prodigy witch who doesn't quite fit the mold of a standard federal agent. Armed with chaotic, unpredictable magic (which occasionally turns suspects into pink chickens) and accompanied by her werecat roommate Cat and her pizza-obsessed micro-unicorn Fergus, Agatha takes on rogue magic users, ancient conspiracies, and systemic prejudice. To experience Agatha's growth from a draft-dodging academy student to a formidable leader, readers need a clear guide to navigating the main novels, universe stories, and holiday novellas.
The Recommended Reading Order
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to follow a chronological path that integrates the essential novellas directly into the main series. While publication order is a viable alternative, the chronological flow ensures that key character introductions—such as how Agatha was drafted, or how her roommate Cat gets her own spotlight—make the most narrative sense.
Here is the recommended chronological reading order for the core Federal Witch story:
- Born a Witch... Drafted by the FBI! (Book 0.5): This prequel novella serves as the perfect introduction to Agatha Blackmore, explaining her backstory, her unique magical heritage, and the events that forced her into the FBI's service.
- Conjuring Quantico (Book 1): The official start of the main series. Agatha is a second-year student at the FBI Academy at Quantico, where she is thrown into a case involving the mysterious disappearances of magical academy students.
- Magical Probi (Book 2): Now a probationary agent (a "probi"), Agatha goes out into the field under her mentor, Jack. This entry raises the stakes with assassination attempts and internal betrayal.
- Cat's Night Out (Book 2.5): A fun, character-focused novella that shifts the spotlight to Agatha's roommate, Cat, a werecat. It is best read here to understand Cat's role in the wider paranormal community before Agatha's next major promotion.
- Special Agent in Charge (Book 3): Newly promoted, Agatha leads her own team of paranormals to investigate the murder of a werewolf child, highlighting the deep-seated prejudice in the alternate US.
- Witness Enchantment (Book 4): Agatha is assigned to a chaotic witness protection detail, protecting high-profile magical witnesses from lethal assassins.
- Darkness Revealed (Book 4.5): A companion novella that bridges the gap after Witness Enchantment, showing the escalating threats facing the Magical Crimes Division.
- The Path to Otherwhere (Book 4.5): Another critical universe novella that occurs during Agatha's summer break, introducing multidimensional elements and setup for the next books.
- Night of the Unicorn (Book 5): Agatha and her team deal with high-stakes paranormal threats while dealing with the fallout of previous missions, with Fergus the micro-unicorn taking a central role.
- Serpent Con! (Book 5.5): A universe novel that takes a slightly lighter tone, focusing on conventions, magical artifacts, and chaotic public relations disasters.
- Invisible Elder (Book 6): Agatha must navigate vampire politics and the sudden disappearance of ancient, powerful vampires that threaten the fragile peace between species.
- Blood on the Moon (Book 7): A werewolf-centric entry focusing on packs, reservations, and legal battles that test Agatha's loyalties.
- Child of Darkness (Book 8): Darker forces emerge as Agatha deals with demonic conspiracies that target the FBI directly.
- Draft of Dragons (Book 9): Dragons enter the political and magical landscape of the alternate US, presenting Agatha with her largest diplomatic and physical challenge yet.
- Death Awaits (Book 10): The final installment of the main Agatha Blackmore saga, bringing her journey to a dramatic, action-filled conclusion.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
T.S. Paul was an exceptionally prolific writer who frequently published main novels, side novellas, and holiday tales in quick succession between 2016 and 2020. If you prefer to read the series strictly in the order it was released to the public, the main series books and holiday tales followed this sequence:
- Born a Witch... Drafted by the FBI! (2016)
- Conjuring Quantico (2016)
- Magical Probi (2016)
- Cat's Night Out (2016)
- Special Agent in Charge (2017)
- Witness Enchantment (2017)
- Darkness Revealed (2017)
- Watch Where You Dig (2017)
- Night of the Living Turkeys (2017)
- Reindeer Don't Fly (2017)
- Night of the Unicorn (2017)
- Serpent Con! (2017)
- Invisible Elder (2017)
- The Path to Otherwhere (2018)
- Blood on the Moon (2018)
- Child of Darkness (2018)
- Draft of Dragons (2019)
- Death Awaits (2020)
For most readers, the chronological path is preferred because novellas like Cat's Night Out and The Path to Otherwhere contain character relationships and world details that feed directly into the numbered books that follow them. However, if you choose the publication order, you will still easily follow the core FBI investigations.
The Holiday Tales and Where They Fit
In addition to the main storylines, T.S. Paul wrote three holiday-themed stories in 2017 under the Federal Witch: Holiday Tales banner: Watch Where You Dig (Halloween), Night of the Living Turkeys (Thanksgiving), and Reindeer Don't Fly (Christmas). These stories are brief, humorous, and focused on festive shenanigans rather than the main FBI conspiracy plots.
If you want to read them chronologically, they fit best after Book 4 (Witness Enchantment) and before Book 5 (Night of the Unicorn). They offer a fun, low-stakes look at how magical beings celebrate human holidays, featuring plenty of Fergus the unicorn's humor.
Expanding the Universe: Spin-offs and Collaborations
After the success of the core series, the Federal Witch universe expanded with collaborations and spin-offs written by other authors, notably Taki Drake and Bradford Bates. These series flesh out the alternate world but are not mandatory for understanding Agatha’s main story arc. They are excellent next steps for readers who want to stay in the universe:
- Familiar Magic (by Taki Drake): Focuses on the magical familiars of the universe, their intelligence, and how they navigate their partnerships with witches.
- Standard of Honor (by Taki Drake): Explores other divisions of the magical law enforcement world, bringing in new characters and different regions.
- The Wild Hunt (by Bradford Bates): Explores Celtic mythology, druids, and ancient magic within the modern US setting.
- Jack Dalton, Monster Hunter: A spin-off series focusing on Jack Dalton, exploring the grittier, bounty-hunting side of the paranormal world.
- Arcane Corps: A military-focused science-fantasy series by T.S. Paul set within the same universe, expanding on how the military uses magical drafts.
What to Know Before You Start
The Federal Witch series is known for its lighthearted, fast-paced narrative voice. While it deals with serious themes like discrimination and systemic injustice, it balances them with a heavy dose of humor, cozy roommate dynamics, and quirky animal companions. It reads like a hybrid of an episodic police procedural and an urban fantasy adventure. If you are starting the series, keep in mind that it was self-published during a period of rapid release, meaning the editing can occasionally be rough, but the high-energy storytelling and lovable cast have earned it a dedicated cult following in the urban fantasy community.