Amanda Cockrell Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Amanda Cockrell

Amanda Cockrell's writing spans two distinct halves: epic Roman military fiction written under the pseudonym Damion Hunter, and prehistoric or young adult fiction published under her own name. Because her series are distinct, the best place to start depends on your preferred subgenre:

• For Ancient Rome Fans: Begin with The Centurions (1981). This is her classic, action-packed Roman series that establishes the themes of family duty and military honor that she returns to throughout her Roman novels.
• For Prehistoric and Native American Sagas: Start with Daughter of the Sky (1995), the first book in the Deer Dancers trilogy. It offers a lyrical look at ancient America before European contact.
• For Young Adult Readers: Pick up When the Horses Came (1999) to begin the Horse Catchers Trilogy, which explores the transformative relationship between ancient humans and horses.

The Roman Sagas (Writing as Damion Hunter)

Under the name Damion Hunter, Cockrell has written some of the most respected military fiction set in Roman Britain. These books are best read in their specific series order.

The Centurions Series

This series follows the lives of two half-brothers, Correus and Flavius. Sons of a legendary Roman general, they come from very different worlds—one born of a slave woman, the other a nobleman—yet both find themselves fighting in the Roman legions during the late 1st century AD.

1. The Centurions (1981)
2. Barbarian Princess (1982)
3. The Emperor's Games (1984)
4. The Border Wolves (2021)

The Borderlands Series

Set during the Roman expansion into Caledonia (modern Scotland) under General Agricola around 78–80 AD, this series follows Faustus Silvius Valerianus, a legionary of mixed Roman and British heritage caught between two warring worlds.

1. Shadow of the Eagle (2022)
2. Empire's Edge (2023)
3. Birds of Prey (2024)

The Roman Britain Duology

These two standalone-style novels are closely linked and follow the garrison life and mythic backdrop of northern Roman Britain. The Legions of the Mist covers the famous disappearance of the Roman Ninth Legion, while its sequel follows the subsequent generation.

• The Legions of the Mist (1979) – Centered on the mystery of the Lost Ninth Legion.
• The Wall at the Edge of the World (1979 / republished 2020) – Following legionary surgeon Postumus Justinius Corvus at Hadrian's Wall.

The Pre-Columbian Americas Sagas (Writing as Amanda Cockrell)

Writing under her own name, Cockrell explores historical fiction in the pre-Columbian Americas, blending meticulous research with mythological elements.

Deer Dancers Trilogy

This trilogy is set in ancient North America and centers on the mystical connection, survival, and conflicts of early Native American peoples.

1. Daughter of the Sky (1995)
2. Wind Caller's Children (1995)
3. The Long Walk (1996)

The Horse Catchers Trilogy

A trilogy targeting young adult audiences, detailing prehistoric peoples and their first encounters with horses, weaving a tale of youth, survival, and animal companionship.

1. When the Horses Came (1999)
2. Children of the Horse (2000)
3. The Rain Child (2001)

Standalone Novels

If you prefer single-volume stories, Cockrell has written several standalones that range from modern historical fiction to contemporary thrillers:

• The Moonshine Blade (1988) – A comic thriller set in Southwestern Virginia focusing on a treasure hunt in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
• Pomegranate Seed (2001) – A historical novel exploring the silent film industry and the Hollywood blacklist in a fictionalized version of her hometown, Ojai, California.
• What We Keep Is Not Always What Will Stay (2011) – A coming-of-age young adult novel set during the turbulent 1960s.
• Coyote Weather (2023) – A historical fiction novel that captures the chaos, anti-war protests, and draft evasion during the Vietnam War era.