How to Read the Without Law Series
For readers looking to dive into Eric Vall's post-apocalyptic saga, the path forward is refreshingly simple. The series contains exactly 20 numbered novels, and the publication order is identical to the internal chronological sequence of events. To follow ex-Army Ranger Connor 'Tav' McTavish as he builds a survivalist sanctuary in a collapsed world, you should read the books in numerical order, starting with the self-titled debut novel.
The Without Law Reading Order List
Here is the complete chronological list of the Without Law books as originally published. The first books debuted in early 2019, and the series wrapped up with the final twentieth volume in late 2021:
- Without Law (2019)
- Without Law 2 (2019)
- Without Law 3 (2019)
- Without Law 4 (2019)
- Without Law 5 (2019)
- Without Law 6 (2019)
- Without Law 7 (2019)
- Without Law 8 (2020)
- Without Law 9 (2020)
- Without Law 10 (2020)
- Without Law 11 (2020)
- Without Law 12 (2020)
- Without Law 13 (2020)
- Without Law 14 (2020)
- Without Law 15 (2020)
- Without Law 16 (2020)
- Without Law 17 (2021)
- Without Law 18 (2021)
- Without Law 19 (2021)
- Without Law 20 (2021)
Narrative Phases of the Series
While the books are numbered simply from 1 to 20, the narrative spans several distinct phases as Tav moves from isolated survival to regional leadership.
Phase 1: Establishing the Sanctuary (Books 1 to 5)
The series begins immediately after a devastating EMP blast wipes out the power grid, throwing society into immediate chaos. Tav, who had spent the preceding year living off the grid in the Vermont wilderness, emerges to find the world collapsed. He takes refuge at Piper College, where he meets a group of college women. In these early volumes, the focus is tightly locked on basic survival. Tav trains the women in combat, firearms, and bushcraft. They fortify their campus base, fight off rogue looters, and secure local resources like food and medicine.
Phase 2: Local Wars and Consolidation (Books 6 to 12)
Once the initial shock of the apocalypse passes, more organized threats emerge. In this middle stretch, Tav and his group transition from passive defense to active combat. They clash with rival survivors, organized biker gangs, and rogue local militias attempting to establish dictatorial control over the surrounding Vermont towns. Tav's tactical military background shines here as the group employs guerrilla warfare tactics. The relationships within Tav's growing group also mature, formalizing the HaremLit structure of the series as the core cast builds a tight-knit community.
Phase 3: The Regional Expansion and Beyond (Books 13 to 20)
In the final act of the saga, the stakes scale up from local survival to national security. The sanctuary has grown into a powerful settlement, attracting the attention of external factions. By Book 17, the story shifts its geographic focus to Virginia. Tav and his trained squad must deal with a highly organized external threat involving foreign operatives attempting to exploit the destabilized United States. The series concludes with Book 20, bringing a definitive resolution to Tav's long struggle to secure safety for his people.
What to Know Before You Start
Before jumping into Without Law, here are a few structural and formatting details to keep in mind:
- Genre Expectations: The series belongs to the HaremLit (Harem Literature) subgenre. This means the story features a single male protagonist who builds romantic and physical relationships with multiple female companions. The novels contain adult themes and explicit romantic scenes.
- Audiobook Availability: For fans of audiobooks, the entire 20-book series has been adapted. The audiobooks are produced by Actors Everywhere Studios and are narrated by the dual-narration team of Christopher Boucher and Jessica Threet, whose performances are highly regarded by the series' fanbase.
- No Spin-offs or Crossovers: Unlike other prolific self-published authors who create sprawling, interconnected multiverses, Eric Vall maintains Without Law as a fully self-contained story. You do not need to read any of his other popular series (like Summoner or Dragon Emperor) to understand the plot here.
- Fast-Paced Releases: Eric Vall wrote and published the entire 20-book run in less than three years. Because of this rapid self-publishing schedule, the narrative maintains a very consistent pace from book to book, making it ideal for binge-reading.