The Great and Terrible Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order for The Great and Terrible

The Great and Terrible is a six-book series written by Chris Stewart and published by Deseret Book between 2003 and 2008. The series follows a group of celestial brothers and sisters who fight in the pre-mortal War in Heaven, only to be born onto Earth during the trials of the Last Days, where they must continue their fight against darkness without memory of their pre-mortal bond.

Because the narrative follows a continuous, escalating storyline that moves from the pre-mortal realm to an earthly geopolitical collapse, the series must be read in publication order. Here is the recommended reading path:

1. The Brothers (2003)
2. Where Angels Fall (2004)
3. The Second Sun (2005)
4. Fury & Light (2007)
5. From the End of Heaven (2008)
6. Clear as the Moon (2008)

Detailed Book-by-Book Breakdown

1. The Brothers (2003)

Though structured as a prologue, this first volume is essential for understanding the rest of the series. The Brothers is set entirely in the pre-mortal existence, a theological concept in Latter-day Saint (LDS) doctrine where human souls lived as spirit children of God before being born on Earth. The book introduces the main characters—four siblings named Samuel, Ammon, Luke, and Elizabeth—as they choose to stand with Jehovah (Jesus Christ) against the rebellion of Lucifer. This book establishes their spiritual characteristics, their deep relationships, and the covenants they make, setting the foundation for the trials they will face during mortality.

2. Where Angels Fall (2004)

The second book shifts the setting to the modern mortal world. The protagonists have been born into different lives across the globe and possess no conscious memory of their pre-mortal kinship or covenants. Elizabeth, born as Azadeh Pahlavi into an influential Middle Eastern family, becomes a central figure as geopolitical conflicts escalate. Ammon and Luke navigate military operations and political tension in the Middle East, while spiritual forces (both angelic and demonic) work behind the scenes to guide or corrupt them. The plot also centers on the birth of a special child prophesied to play a pivotal role in the final days.

3. The Second Sun (2005)

In the third volume, the threat of global war looms larger. Unseen demonic forces manipulate political leaders to orchestrate international destruction, while angelic guardians attempt to protect the individuals destined to preserve freedom. The characters are drawn closer together as global instability threatens to plunge the world into darkness, building the suspense and setting up the physical collapse of modern civilization.

4. Fury & Light (2007)

The stakes reach a breaking point in the fourth book, which starts with a catastrophic electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack on the United States and a devastating nuclear strike on Washington, D.C. With the electrical grid down, communication severed, and the government in disarray, society quickly collapses. The narrative split follows different survival tracks: Sara Brighton and her sons Ammon and Luke attempt a perilous trek westward toward Salt Lake City, while Samuel returns to an abandoned home and Azadeh struggles to survive alongside her adoptive family in Chicago.

5. From the End of Heaven (2008)

Volume five details the worsening aftermath of the EMP. Widespread starvation, lawlessness, and societal breakdown grip the United States. While ordinary citizens struggle to survive, corrupt political factions and a dark cartel conspire to exploit the power vacuum, aiming to dismantle the U.S. Constitution and seize control of the nation's remaining resources. The characters must draw upon their spiritual strength and fading mortal resources to resist both physical and spiritual enemies.

6. Clear as the Moon (2008)

The final book brings the series to its dramatic resolution. The battle between the forces of light and darkness comes to a head as the protagonists embark on a high-stakes, dangerous mission to restore the rightful president of the United States and protect the Constitution. This volume concludes the narrative arc, resolving the earthly conflicts of the characters while showing the ultimate triumph of faith and light over global corruption.

Chronological vs. Publication Order

For The Great and Terrible, publication order and chronological order are identical. Because the first book acts as a chronological prologue in the pre-mortal existence and the subsequent books progress linearly through a modern timeline, there is no need to rearrange the reading order. Some fans have experimented with skipping the first book and starting directly with the modern-day action in Where Angels Fall, returning to The Brothers later as a flashback. However, this is not recommended because the pre-mortal relationships and covenants established in the first book provide the necessary emotional weight and spiritual context for the characters' struggles in the subsequent volumes.

What to Know Before You Start

Readers should keep a few unique aspects of the series in mind before diving in:

• Spiritual Warfare: The series alternates between the physical actions of the characters and the spiritual realm. Stewart frequently describes angels and demons fighting over the souls and decisions of the mortal characters, visualizing spiritual battles that mirror earthly geopolitical events.
• LDS Theology: The series is deeply rooted in the beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, drawing on concepts like the pre-mortal life, the War in Heaven, modern prophecy, and the saving of the U.S. Constitution in the Last Days.
• Techno-Thriller Realism: As a former record-setting Air Force pilot, Chris Stewart brings technical and tactical realism to the military scenes. His depictions of flight, geopolitical strategy in the Middle East, and the vulnerabilities of the U.S. electrical grid to an EMP attack are highly detailed and plausible.
• Availability: The series is published by Deseret Book. While individual paperback copies can sometimes be hard to find in standard bookstores, they are widely available online, in complete box sets, and digitally via Deseret Book's Bookshelf Plus subscription.