Powder Mage Trilogy Books in Order

Where to Start Your Powder Mage Journey

If you are new to Brian McClellan's flintlock fantasy universe, the best place to start is with the original novel that launched it all: Promise of Blood. While there are several prequel novellas and short stories set decades before the main events, the author himself recommends diving into the core trilogy first. Reading the main novels allows you to familiarize yourself with the unique magic systems, the political landscape of Adro, and the central characters before filling in the gaps with supplemental prequels.

Once you finish the original Powder Mage Trilogy, you should proceed to the sequel trilogy, Gods of Blood and Powder, which continues the story in a new corner of the world with both fresh and returning characters.

The Core Powder Mage Trilogy

The original trilogy is a complete, high-stakes epic focusing on the immediate aftermath of a military coup against a corrupt monarchy, the threat of foreign invasion, and the return of ancient, vengeful gods. The books should be read in their strict publication order:

1. Promise of Blood (2013) – Field Marshal Tamas stages a bloody coup against the King of Adro, executing the royalists and inadvertently triggering a conflict that threatens the stability of the entire nation.
2. The Crimson Campaign (2014) – With the nation of Kez invading and the gods active in the mortal realm, Tamas is forced to fight a grueling defensive campaign while his son Taniel faces impossible odds.
3. The Autumn Republic (2015) – The thrilling conclusion brings the war to its climax, forcing characters to make ultimate sacrifices to protect Adro's future and forge a new republic.

The Sequel Series: Gods of Blood and Powder

Set nine years after the events of the original trilogy, this sequel series moves the setting to the colony continent of Fatrasta. It expands the lore, introduces new factions, and continues the story of several key figures from the original books. Read them in the following order:

1. Sins of Empire (2017)
2. Wrath of Empire (2018)
3. Blood of Empire (2019)

Navigating the Novellas and Short Fiction

Brian McClellan has written a wealth of short fiction that enriches the lore, details the pasts of major characters, and explains historical conflicts. Because these stories were written out of chronological order, readers often debate the best way to approach them. The author suggests reading them as standalone pieces whenever you want a break between the main novels. However, for structured reading, two primary approaches exist: chronological order and publication order.

Chronological Reading Order

If you want to read the events exactly as they occur in the timeline, the complete chronological order (including the main novels) is as follows:

1. Siege of Tilpur (Novella) – Follows a young Tamas and his friend Vlora during a brutal siege.
2. Forsworn (Novella) – Set 35 years before the main trilogy, focusing on Erika, a young powder mage and future wife of Tamas.
3. Servant of the Crown (Novella) – Follows Erika and Tamas as they navigate military and political struggles in their youth.
4. Murder at the Kinnen Hotel (Novella) – A mystery involving Investigator Adamat prior to the revolution.
5. Hope's End (Short Story) – Explores a younger Field Marshal Tamas and a military mutiny.
6. The Girl of Hrusch Avenue (Short Story) – Focuses on a young Vlora growing up in an orphanage.
7. Green-Eyed Vipers (Short Story) – Explores the political tensions and early conflicts before the coup.
8. The Face in the Window (Short Story) – A brief, character-focused story set shortly before the revolution.
9. The Mad Lancers (Novella) – Details the origins of the legendary Fatrastan military unit.
10. Ghosts of the Tristan Basin (Novella) – Set during a historical conflict involving Taniel Two-Shot and Ka-poel.
11. Promise of Blood (Main Novel)
12. Return to Honor (Novella) – Takes place immediately after the events of the first novel.
13. The Crimson Campaign (Main Novel)
14. The Autumn Republic (Main Novel)

Novella Collections

To make finding these stories easier, McClellan has released them in compiled formats:

• In the Field Marshal's Shadow (2015) – Includes the stories Hope's End, The Girl of Hrusch Avenue, Green-Eyed Vipers, The Face in the Window, and Return to Honor.
• Powder Mage Novella Collection #1 – Compiles four of the longer novellas: Forsworn, Servant of the Crown, Murder at the Kinnen Hotel, and Ghosts of the Tristan Basin.

Reader Advice and Disagreements

While some fans advocate for reading all prequels chronologically before the main series, the general consensus is that doing so can spoil the mystery of certain characters' pasts or make the initial world-building overwhelming. Starting with the core trilogy provides the necessary narrative hook, while the prequels are best enjoyed as rewarding background details that flesh out characters like Erika, Vlora, and Adamat. The novellas are entirely optional and can be skipped if you only wish to follow the main novels, but they are highly recommended for fans who want to immerse themselves fully in McClellan's rich universe.