Twenty Palaces Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start

When diving into Harry Connolly’s acclaimed urban fantasy series, readers are faced with a classic choice: do you begin with the first published novel, or do you start with the prequel novel that sets up the protagonist's backstory? For the best experience, there are two primary paths you can take.

Path A: The Author's Recommendation (Chronological Entry)

Author Harry Connolly notes that readers can start with either the first published novel, Child of Fire, or the self-published prequel novel, Twenty Palaces. However, starting with the prequel Twenty Palaces is highly recommended if you want to understand protagonist Ray Lilly's origins, his troubled past, and how he first got mixed up with the secretive and ruthless Twenty Palace Society. It explains the mechanics of the world and Ray's status as a 'wooden man'—a disposable assistant to a full sorcerer—before the high-stakes action of the main books begins.

Path B: The Publication Order (Traditional Entry)

If you prefer to be thrown directly into the deep end of the mystery without knowing the full backstory right away, start with Child of Fire. Originally published in 2009 by Del Rey, this book introduces Ray Lilly and the sorceress Annalise Powliss mid-assignment. It builds an immediate sense of tension and confusion that matches Ray's own experience of the magical world, letting you piece together the rules of the universe as you go. You can then read the prequel novel, Twenty Palaces, after the initial trilogy to fill in the gaps.

The Twenty Palaces Book List in Recommended Reading Order

To experience the narrative continuity seamlessly, follow this sequence, which covers the prequel, the main novels, and key pieces of short fiction:

• Twenty Palaces (Prequel Novel, 2011): Often labeled as Book 0 or Book 0.5. It tells the story of Ray Lilly's entry into the supernatural world, explaining the tragic gun accident involving his friend Jon Burrows and his subsequent arrest and recruitment by the Twenty Palace Society.
• Child of Fire (Book 1, 2009): The debut novel of the series. Ray accompanies sorceress Annalise Powliss to a small town in Washington state to hunt down a rogue magician sacrificing children to summon an extradimensional predator.
• Game of Cages (Book 2, 2010): Ray and Annalise find themselves in a deadly race against multiple sorcerers at a secret auction where a dangerous, otherworldly creature is being sold to the highest bidder.
• Circle of Enemies (Book 3, 2011): Ray returns to his hometown in California to confront a magical outbreak, only to find that his old friends and criminal associates are infected by host-taking magic.
• 'The Homemade Mask' (Novelette, 2011): A short story included in Connolly's collection Bad Little Girls Die Horrible Deaths. Although not essential to the main plot, it takes place chronologically after Game of Cages and is best read before The Twisted Path. It features a unique perspective shift, told partially from the point of view of one of the series' terrifying magical predators.
• The Twisted Path (Novella, 2017): A bridge novella funded by fans that brings Ray back into the fold after the events of Circle of Enemies. This story marks a shift where the overarching narrative becomes much tighter and less standalone.
• The Iron Gate (Book 4, 2022): The fourth full-length novel, funded via a highly successful Kickstarter campaign. Ray and Annalise must investigate a mysterious gate that threatens the balance of the magical world, escalating the conflict with the Society.
• The Flood Circle (Book 5, 2022): The fifth novel, also released during the 2022 crowdfunding revival. It follows the immediate aftermath of The Iron Gate and pushes Ray and Annalise's alliance to its absolute breaking point.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

While the chronological order places the prequel novel first, looking at the publication order reveals how the series evolved in the real world:

1. Child of Fire (2009)
2. Game of Cages (2010)
3. Circle of Enemies (2011)
4. Twenty Palaces (Prequel novel, 2011)
5. 'The Homemade Mask' (Novelette, 2011)
6. The Twisted Path (Novella, 2017)
7. The Iron Gate (Book 4, 2022)
8. The Flood Circle (Book 5, 2022)

If you choose to read in publication order, the transition from the climax of Circle of Enemies to the retrospective history of the prequel Twenty Palaces can feel like a breather, giving you valuable context before diving into the self-published era starting with The Twisted Path.

What to Know Before You Start: Lore and Tone

Unlike many urban fantasy series of the late 2000s, Twenty Palaces deliberately avoids the lighthearted, romance-heavy, or quip-filled tropes popularized by other series. Instead, Harry Connolly delivers a bleak, noir-infused, and horror-leaning setting. Here are the core concepts that define this universe:

• The Magic System: Magic in this world is not a generic utility. It is rare, highly dangerous, and involves summoning ravenous, extradimensional predators. Anyone who tries to cast spells risks losing their mind, their life, or transforming into a monster.
• The Twenty Palace Society: A ruthless, ancient organization of sorcerers dedicated to keeping magic out of the hands of the public. They do not act as heroic guardians; rather, they are cold pragmatists who will execute anyone—innocents included—to prevent a magical breach.
• Ray Lilly: The protagonist is not a powerful wizard. He is a former convict with minimal magical talent. His main defense is a single spell called the 'ghost knife'—a blade of pure force that can slice through magical constructs and human willpower, but leaves him physically vulnerable.
• The 'Wooden Man' Role: Because sorcerers are too valuable to risk in direct combat, they employ assistants known as 'wooden men.' Ray's official job description is to act as a disposable decoy, absorbing enemy spells and drawing fire so his boss, Annalise Powliss, can cast her spells safely.

The Publishing History: A Fan-Powered Revival

The history of the Twenty Palaces series is as dramatic as the books themselves. After publishing the first three novels, Del Rey cancelled the series due to low sales figures, leaving fans devastated. Refusing to let the story die, Connolly self-published the prequel novel Twenty Palaces in 2011 to give readers more content.

Years of persistent fan demand culminated in a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. This passionate support allowed Connolly to return to the universe, publishing the novella The Twisted Path in 2017, followed by the double-release of novels The Iron Gate and The Flood Circle in 2022. The author has completed the first draft of a final novel, originally referred to as Twenty-One Palaces but now officially titled The Wheel of Fire, which will bring Ray Lilly's long struggle to its ultimate conclusion.