Starship’s Mage Books in Order

How to Read the Starship's Mage Series

Glynn Stewart's Starship's Mage universe is an expansive science-fantasy space opera where interstellar travel relies on the magical powers of Jump-Mages. As the series has grown to encompass several major story arcs, spin-offs, and companion novellas, readers often wonder whether it is better to read the books in the order they were published or to follow a strict chronological timeline.

Whichever route you choose, there is unanimous agreement from both the author and the fanbase: you should start with the very first book, Starship's Mage (2014). This volume introduces Damien Montgomery, the primary protagonist of the first several arcs, and establishes the essential rules of magic, space travel, and the political landscape of the Mage King's Protectorate.

The Core Story Arcs

The main series is structured into distinct narrative arcs, each representing a major chapter in the history of the galaxy. Understanding these arcs helps place the spin-offs and novellas in context.

Arc 1: The Damien Montgomery Arc

This initial arc follows Damien Montgomery's rise from a struggling, freshly graduated Jump-Mage on a run-down freighter to a central figure in galactic politics and military strategy. It consists of the first five novels:

• Starship's Mage (2014) – Originally released in five serialized episodes, this volume introduces Damien and the crew of the freighter Blue Jay.
• Hand of Mars (2015) – Damien is appointed as a Hand of the Mage King, representing Mars's authority across the human colonies.
• Voice of Mars (2016) – Damien handles interstellar diplomacy and tries to avert a devastating civil war.
• Alien Arcana (2016) – Humanity makes first contact with an alien species, threatening the fragile balance of power.
• Judgment of Mars (2017) – The climax of the first arc, where Damien faces down internal and external threats to the Protectorate.

Arc 2: The UnArcana Rebellion Arc

This arc shifts the focus toward the tensions between the ruling magical class of Mars and the ordinary citizens (UnArcana) who populate the frontier colonies, leading to open rebellion and war.

• UnArcana Stars (2018)
• Sword of Mars (2019)
• Mountain of Mars (2020)
• The Service of Mars (2020)

Arc 3: The Mage-Officer of Mars Arc

This block focuses on the military organization of the Martian Navy, introducing Mage-Captain Roslyn Chambers as she rises through the ranks and deals with the fallout of the UnArcana conflict and new conspiratorial threats.

• A Darker Magic (2021)
• Mage-Commander (2021)
• Beyond the Eyes of Mars (2022)
• Nemesis of Mars (2023)

Arc 4: The Frontier Magic Arc

The fourth major arc continues Roslyn Chambers's story as she pursues the shadowy "Nemesis" conspiracy into the untamed frontier of the galaxy, managing diplomatic crises and new colony defenses.

• Chimera's Star (2024)
• Ambassador for Mars (2024)
• Chimera's Fall (2025)
• The Lies Arcana (2026)
• Shadow of Mars (2026)

Chronological Reading Order (Recommended)

If you want to follow the timeline of events exactly as they unfold in the universe, the author recommends integrating the Red Falcon spin-off trilogy directly into the main series. The Red Falcon books follow Captain David Rice and his crew, exploring the mercenary and smuggling underbelly of the Protectorate. Reading chronologically prevents you from going backward in the political timeline of the galaxy.

1. Starship's Mage (Book 1)
2. Interstellar Mage (Red Falcon #1) – Takes place immediately after the events of the first book.
3. Mage-Provocateur (Red Falcon #2)
4. Hand of Mars (Book 2)
5. Agents of Mars (Red Falcon #3)
6. Voice of Mars (Book 3)
7. Alien Arcana (Book 4)
8. Pulsar Race (Novella) – A standalone side-story following retired Mage-Captain Ivan Halloway, best read here.
9. Judgment of Mars (Book 5)
10. UnArcana Stars (Book 6)
11. Sword of Mars (Book 7)
12. Mountain of Mars (Book 8)
13. The Service of Mars (Book 9)
14. A Darker Magic (Book 10)
15. Mage-Commander (Book 11)
16. Beyond the Eyes of Mars (Book 12)
17. Mage-Queen's Thief (Novella) – Centered on Kiera Alexander, the Mage-Queen of Mars, taking place chronologically just before the events of Nemesis of Mars.
18. Nemesis of Mars (Book 13)
19. Chimera's Star (Book 14)
20. Ambassador for Mars (Book 15)
21. Chimera's Fall (Book 16)
22. The Lies Arcana (Book 17)
23. Shadow of Mars (Book 18)

Publication Reading Order

If you prefer to read the series in the order Glynn Stewart wrote and published them, you will complete the first main arc (Books 1–5) before diving into the Red Falcon trilogy, then proceed back to the UnArcana Rebellion arc. This order preserves how early fans experienced the expanding lore.

1. Starship's Mage (2014)
2. Hand of Mars (2015)
3. Voice of Mars (2016)
4. Alien Arcana (2016)
5. Interstellar Mage (2017)
6. Judgment of Mars (2017)
7. Mage-Provocateur (2018)
8. Agents of Mars (2018)
9. UnArcana Stars (2018)
10. Sword of Mars (2019)
11. Mountain of Mars (2020)
12. The Service of Mars (2020)
13. Pulsar Race (2020)
14. A Darker Magic (2021)
15. Mage-Commander (2021)
16. Beyond the Eyes of Mars (2022)
17. Nemesis of Mars (2023)
18. Mage-Queen's Thief (2023)
19. Chimera's Star (2024)
20. Ambassador for Mars (2024)
21. Chimera's Fall (2025)
22. The Lies Arcana (2026)
23. Shadow of Mars (2026)

What to Know Before You Start

The universe of Starship's Mage combines the hard science-fiction mechanics of orbital trajectories, gravity, and vacuum physics with a rigid, rune-based system of magic. Jump-Mages are biologically capable of focusing spatial teleportation magic, but they are limited to jumping one light-year at a time. The central government, the Protectorate of Mars, is led by an immortal Mage-King who maintains order with an iron fist, making magic both a tool of liberation and an instrument of imperial control. Because the books rely heavily on sequential plotlines, character growth, and escalating political stakes, it is not recommended to read them as standalones.