Recommended Reading Order for The Blacklight Chronicles
The Blacklight Chronicles is a highly serialized young adult fantasy series written by John Forrester. Because the story follows a single continuous timeline with significant character growth and cumulative plot developments, you must read the books in their order of publication. Reading them out of order is not recommended, as later installments provide very little recap and assume you are already familiar with the magic system, the city of Naru, and the ongoing war against the Jiserian Empire.
Here is the recommended reading order for the main series:
- Fire Mage (also published as Fire Mage Reborn) (2011)
- Sun Mage (2012)
- Shadow Mage (2012)
- Dragon Mage (2013)
- Star Mage (2014)
- Death Mage (2015)
- Origin Mage (2017)
The Blacklight Chronicles Books in Detail
1. Fire Mage / Fire Mage Reborn (2011)
The series begins with Fire Mage, introducing readers to the free city of Naru. The city is protected by the Order of the Dawn, a group of mages who wield fire, wind, and storm magic. The protagonist, Talis Storm, is a novice who unexpectedly unleashes wild, unrefined fire magic during a sudden aerial invasion by the Jiserian Empire—a terrifying force of flying necromancers and undead soldiers. Alongside his close friend Mara Lei, Talis escapes into the temple crypts. With the help of a fallen champion and a legendary map, they embark on a quest to locate the lost Temple of the Sun, where Talis must unlock the magic required to save his homeland.
2. Sun Mage (2012)
In the second book, Talis and Mara's journey takes them across the sea to the ancient city of Darkov on a mysterious island. They are guided by the immortal sorcerer Aurellia. Their quest to harness light magic at the Temple of the Sun is fraught with danger, forcing them to survive jungle treks, escape captivity, and fight off hordes of the undead. Talis must learn to channel light magic to keep the Jiserians from destroying Naru and enslaving his family.
3. Shadow Mage (2012)
Returning to Naru, Talis finds himself cast out by the Order of the Dawn for bringing a volatile black crystal into the city. He is isolated and forced to study rune magic, a discarded and obscure discipline. Meanwhile, political tensions between the royal houses of Naru threaten to tear his friend group apart. When Jiserian sorcerers invade again, and a mysterious magic-user from the Tarasen Islands attempts to use the black crystal to open a World Portal, Talis is tempted by forbidden shadow magic to save those he loves.
4. Dragon Mage (2013)
The stakes expand beyond Naru in the fourth volume as Talis and Mara travel to the foreign world of Vellia. They seek to forge an alliance with powerful dragons residing in the mountains of Ghaelstrom to combat the growing dark forces. While Talis focuses on negotiating with the dragons, Mara undergoes intense training in assassination and magical stealth under the guidance of Elder Relech, transforming her into a lethal protector.
5. Star Mage (2014)
Following the rebuilding of Naru, Talis and Mara head south into the heart of the unstable Jiserian Empire. During their travels, Talis begins to hear the voice of the "Nameless" echoing from the ancient Ruins of Elmarr. Concurrently, their companion Nikulo suffers from a mysterious mental affliction, prompting a desperate journey to the legendary City of Ursula to find a cure.
6. Death Mage (2015)
In Death Mage, Talis and Mara find themselves trapped in a Starwalker sanctuary. They are caught in the middle of a civil war between two opposing Starwalker factions, one of which has sworn allegiance to dark, ancient gods. Talis and Mara must navigate the sanctuary's dangers and find a way back home to protect Naru from being overrun in their absence.
7. Origin Mage (2017)
The final book in the series takes place a year after the Nameless was successfully sealed in the Underworld. While Naru is enjoying a brief period of peace and reconstruction, a new threat arises. Temples dedicated to the dark deity Zagros begin appearing, and citizens who worship there are driven to madness. Talis and Mara must uncover the source of this dark influence to secure the future of Naru once and for all.
What to Know Before You Start
The Blacklight Chronicles is best suited for readers who enjoy fast-paced young adult fantasy with dark themes. Unlike typical high fantasy, which may spend dozens of pages on exposition, John Forrester's writing is action-oriented and moves quickly from one set piece to the next. The series deals with heavy themes, including class struggles, the corrupting nature of magical power, political betrayals, and the consequences of war. There are no official prequels or spin-offs, making the seven-book sequence a straightforward, self-contained epic.