Books On Board

The Warrior Books in Order

  • 20 Books
  • 2021 – 2024 Published

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Reading order
2 of 2 reading orders shown

The Recommended Reading Order

Martha Carr and Michael Anderle’s collaborative fantasy series is highly serialized and follows a strict chronological and publication progression. To experience the story correctly, you should read the original twelve-book arc of The Warrior first, which focuses on Idina Moorfield. Once completed, you should immediately transition into the eight-book sequel series, The Warrior 2, which shifts the spotlight to Emily Trigger and the Prodigal Suns.

Part 1: The Warrior (Idina Moorfield’s Arc)

This initial series introduces us to Idina Moorfield, a young woman fleeing her dysfunctional, elite family. Seeking a normal life away from their expectations, she enlists in the military, only to find her latent, ancient magic manifesting under the pressure of combat training. These twelve books should be read in their exact publication order:

  • Get Smoked Or Go Home (2021) – Idina enters basic training and discovers green sparks of magic.
  • Charlie Foxtrot 101 (2021) – Jump School presents new military and magical hurdles.
  • Chaos and Gunfire (2022) – The magic intensifies as real-world threats emerge.
  • A FUBAR Kind of Day (2022) – Balancing specialized operations with ancient secrets.
  • Chew the Bullet (2022) – Idina begins to understand the scale of her family's heritage.
  • Fight Where I Am (2022) – The conflict with supernatural forces becomes more localized.
  • Win Where I Fight (2022) – Deployments and arcane secrets collide in high-stakes action.
  • Stand with My Unit (2022) – The importance of found family and military camaraderie.
  • Ready For All (2022) – Preparing for a larger, global magical threat.
  • Yielding to None (2022) – Idina embraces her role as a fully realized Warrior.
  • Quell the Storm (2022) – Tensions boil over as ancestral enemies strike.
  • Ride the Thunder (2022) – The epic finale of Idina's journey, taking her to Scotland.

Part 2: The Warrior 2 (Emily Trigger’s Arc)

After the events of the first series, the narrative shifts to a new protagonist, Emily Trigger. Reassigned to the elite Prodigal Suns unit after leaving her previous team, Emily must deal with a massive threat: the return of Heka, the ancient Egyptian god of magic. This sequel series runs for eight books and continues the lore built in the original run:

  • This They Will Defend (2023) – Emily Trigger is introduced and the Prodigal Suns are formed.
  • Adapt, Overcome, Defeat (2023) – The team begins tracking Heka's rising influence.
  • Whatever It Takes (2023) – High-octane combat against Heka's growing army.
  • The Few, The Proud, The Deadly (2023) – Secrets about Emily's specific magical abilities are revealed.
  • Till the Last Breath (2023) – The battle lines are drawn as Heka hunts Emily down.
  • We Rise Again (2024) – Dealing with the fallout of devastating encounters.
  • No Man's Land (2024) – A search for ancient artifacts to neutralize the god of magic.
  • Together We Stand (2024) – The final showdown to protect the world's magic from Heka.

What to Know Before You Start

The Warrior books are set within the Oriceran Universe, a massive collaborative urban fantasy project created by Martha Carr and Michael Anderle. Spanning more than a hundred books across various subseries, Oriceran explores a world where magic has returned to Earth. While the universe is expansive, you do not need to read the other Oriceran series to enjoy The Warrior. It stands perfectly well on its own.

However, it is crucial to clarify a common point of confusion: although Michael Anderle is the co-creator of the sci-fi universe The Kurtherian Gambit, The Warrior series does not belong to that setting. The Kurtherian Gambit is a science fantasy universe beginning with Death Becomes Her, whereas Oriceran is a distinct magic-centric urban fantasy setting. If you want to dive deeper into the Oriceran lore, you can check out The Leira Chronicles (starting with the prequel short story Quest for Magic), but keeping your focus strictly on Idina and Emily's military journeys is a great, self-contained way to experience the world.

Practical Reader Advice

Can these books be read as standalones? The short answer is no. Because of the heavy serialization, starting anywhere other than Get Smoked Or Go Home will leave you confused about the magic system, Idina's family history, and the military terms used throughout. The transition between the first series and the second series is also significant; while the protagonist changes, the world-building, recurring side characters, and overall stakes carry directly over, making The Warrior 2 a true continuation rather than a spin-off. Keep to the release order to enjoy the smooth progression of this military urban fantasy.

Frequently Asked

Can I read The Warrior books as standalones?

No. The series is highly serialized, with each book building directly on the plot, character growth, and magic system established in the previous volumes. You should start with the first book, Get Smoked Or Go Home.

Who is the main character of The Warrior series?

The first twelve books follow Idina Moorfield, a combat engineer who discovers her magical lineage. The sequel series, The Warrior 2, shifts the focus to Emily Trigger and her elite team, the Prodigal Suns.

Is The Warrior connected to The Kurtherian Gambit?

No. While both are co-authored by Michael Anderle, The Warrior belongs to the Oriceran urban fantasy universe, which is separate from the science fiction setting of the Kurtherian Gambit.

What is the order of the two subseries?

You should read all twelve books of The Warrior first, starting with Get Smoked Or Go Home and ending with Ride the Thunder, before starting the eight books of The Warrior 2.

Where is the best place to start if I want to explore the wider Oriceran universe?

If you want to read the main anchor of the universe, start with the short story Quest for Magic and then read the Leira Chronicles, starting with Waking Magic.