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Nate Temple / Temple Chronicles Books in Order

19 Books
2012 – 2022 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start Reading the Temple Chronicles

For readers who want to experience the snarky, high-stakes magical world of Nate Temple, the absolute best starting point is the first full-length novel, Obsidian Son. Written by Missouri-based author Shayne Silvers, this book introduces Nate Temple as a wealthy, rule-breaking wizard hiding in plain sight in St. Louis. It establishes his sarcastic personality, his loyal allies, and the explosive magic system that forms the foundation of the series.

While there is a prequel novella titled Fairy Tale (listed as Book 0.5), it is generally recommended that you read Obsidian Son first to fall in love with the characters and the setting before going back to the prequel events. Starting with the first novel ensures you understand the core relationships and urban fantasy dynamics before diving into shorter companion stories.

The Core Temple Chronicles: Publication Order

If you prefer to follow the main storyline of Nate Temple without branching immediately into spin-off series, you can read the 16 core books in the order they were published. This list includes both the primary novels and the mid-series novellas that the author integrated directly into the series numbering:

  • Obsidian Son (2012) – The debut novel where Nate investigates dragon murders in St. Louis.
  • Blood Debts (2015) – A stripped-of-power Nate must dodge angels and wizards in a high-stakes mystery.
  • Grimm (2016) – The Brothers Grimm emerge as lethal supernatural assassins.
  • Silver Tongue (2016) – Nate deals with ancient magic and legendary beasts.
  • Beast Master (2017) – The scales of power tip as mythological monsters clash in the city.
  • Tiny Gods (2017) – Nate faces gods and ancient entities that challenge his sanity.
  • Daddy Duty (2017) – A key novella (often labeled Book 6.5) focusing on a side mission.
  • Fairy Tale (2017) – The prequel novella (Book 0.5) detailing Nate's early supernatural encounters.
  • Wild Side (2017) – Nate explores the wilder, shape-shifting side of the St. Louis underbelly.
  • War Hammer (2017) – Norse mythology and heavy action collide.
  • Nine Souls (2018) – Nate's soul is on the line as old debts come due.
  • Horseman (2018) – The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse enter the fray.
  • Beerlympian (2018) – A fun, action-packed anthology contribution (Book 10.5) featuring a magical drinking contest.
  • Legend (2018) – Nate chases Mordred into the Fae realm, dealing with deep personal fractures.
  • Knightmare (2019) – Arthurian legends and dark nightmares threaten the city.
  • Ascension (2019) – The cosmic stakes reach new heights as Nate faces his destiny.
  • Carnage (2020) – Brutal battles and devastating consequences for Nate's inner circle.
  • Savage (2021) – The aftermath of carnage forces Nate to tap into primal magical forces.
  • Dark Horse (2022) – The sixteenth full novel, pushing Nate to his absolute limits in the Temple of Reverie.

The Expanded Templeverse: Why Order Matters

As the series grew, Shayne Silvers expanded his world into a massive shared universe known as the Templeverse. Because of this, reading only the Nate Temple books will eventually leave you confused. Characters from Nate's books cross over into two companion series, and major overarching plots develop concurrently across all three storylines. To fully appreciate the continuity, readers are highly encouraged to read the books in chronological order.

The two major companion series in the Templeverse are:

  • Feathers and Fire: This series follows Callie Penrose, a young wizard working for the Vatican in Kansas City. Her story begins with the novel Unchained (2017) and runs for 11 books, culminating in Angel Dust.
  • The Phantom Queen Diaries: Co-authored with Cameron O'Connell, this series follows Quinn MacKenna, a cynical, whiskey-drinking monster hunter operating out of Ireland. It begins with Whiskey Ginger (2018) and features 14 books, ending with Boilermaker and the crossover event Reverie.

Recommended Chronological Templeverse Reading Path

For the ultimate reading experience, fans and the official Templeverse Fandom Wiki recommend interweaving the three series. This chronological order avoids major spoilers and helps you track character development as the groups crossover:

  1. Fairy Tale (Nate Temple #0.5)
  2. Obsidian Son (Nate Temple #1)
  3. Blood Debts (Nate Temple #2)
  4. Grimm (Nate Temple #3)
  5. Silver Tongue (Nate Temple #4)
  6. Beast Master (Nate Temple #5)
  7. Tiny Gods (Nate Temple #6)
  8. Unchained (Feathers & Fire #1)
  9. Daddy Duty (Nate Temple #6.5)
  10. Rage (Feathers & Fire #2)
  11. Wild Side (Nate Temple #7)
  12. Whispers (Feathers & Fire #3)
  13. War Hammer (Nate Temple #8)
  14. Whiskey Ginger (Phantom Queen #1)
  15. Angel's Roar (Feathers & Fire #4)
  16. Nine Souls (Nate Temple #9)
  17. Cosmopolitan (Phantom Queen #2)
  18. Sinner (Feathers & Fire #5)
  19. Horseman (Nate Temple #10)
  20. Beerlympian (Nate Temple #10.5)
  21. Black Sheep (Feathers & Fire #6)
  22. Old Fashioned (Phantom Queen #3)
  23. Legend (Nate Temple #11)
  24. Dark and Stormy (Phantom Queen #4)
  25. Godless (Feathers & Fire #7)
  26. Knightmare (Nate Temple #12)
  27. Moscow Mule (Phantom Queen #5)
  28. Anghellic (Feathers & Fire #8)
  29. Ascension (Nate Temple #13)
  30. Witches Brew (Phantom Queen #6)
  31. Trinity (Feathers & Fire #9)
  32. Salty Dog (Phantom Queen #7)
  33. Carnage (Nate Temple #14)
  34. Sea Breeze (Phantom Queen #8)
  35. Halo Breaker (Feathers & Fire #10)
  36. Hurricane (Phantom Queen #9)
  37. Savage (Nate Temple #15)
  38. Brimstone Kiss (Phantom Queen #10)
  39. Angel Dust (Feathers & Fire #11)
  40. Moonshine (Phantom Queen #11)
  41. Dark Horse (Nate Temple #16)
  42. Yuletide Punch (Phantom Queen #12)
  43. Snakebite (Phantom Queen #13)
  44. Boilermaker (Phantom Queen #14)
  45. Reverie (Crossover event following the events of Dark Horse and Boilermaker)

What to Know Before You Start

The Nate Temple series is known for its fast-paced action, heavy incorporation of world mythologies (combining Greek, Norse, Celtic, and Abrahamic lore), and a high level of snark. The main character, Nate, is a billionaire, which provides a unique spin on the classic "struggling private investigator" urban fantasy trope. However, he is highly flawed, impulsive, and frequently makes mistakes that put his friends in danger.

Readers who enjoy the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher or the Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne will feel right at home with the tone. While the books can technically be read as standalone series, the massive crossovers that occur in the later books (especially starting around the tenth books of each series) make the unified chronological reading order the most rewarding path. It is also worth noting that the series maintains an active community on the official Fandom wiki, which is a great place to double-check timeline questions as you read.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the best book to start with in the Nate Temple series?

The best starting point is Obsidian Son, the first full-length novel. While there is a prequel novella called Fairy Tale, starting with the first novel introduces the characters and world in the most natural way.

QDo I need to read the spin-off series like Feathers and Fire?

While not strictly mandatory for the early books, it is highly recommended to read Feathers and Fire and The Phantom Queen Diaries. The series become deeply interconnected later on, with character crossovers that affect the main plot.

QIs the Nate Temple series completed?

As of mid-2026, the core Nate Temple series concludes its major narrative arc with the sixteenth novel, Dark Horse, and the subsequent Templeverse crossover titles like Boilermaker and Reverie. No standalone Book 17 has been officially scheduled.

QWho are the main crossover characters in the Templeverse?

The three main characters who crossover are Nate Temple (the wizard), Callie Penrose (the Vatican wizard from Feathers and Fire), and Quinn MacKenna (the Irish monster hunter from The Phantom Queen Diaries).

QWhat is the setting of the Temple Chronicles?

The Temple Chronicles is primarily set in a supernatural version of St. Louis, Missouri, though the story later expands to other realms like the Fae wildness, and spin-offs take place in Kansas City and Ireland.