The Recommended Andrew Shvarts Reading Path
For readers diving into the work of Andrew Shvarts, the best starting point is his debut novel, Royal Bastards (2017). This book introduces his signature style: snappy, modern dialogue set against a classic epic fantasy backdrop, combined with high-stakes action and a deeply relatable cast of characters. From there, you should follow the trilogy in order to its conclusion before exploring his standalone academy fantasy.
Here is the recommended reading path:
- Royal Bastards (2017) — Start here to meet Tilla and her band of outcasts.
- City of Bastards (2018) — The direct sequel that shifts the action to the capital city.
- War of the Bastards (2019) — The explosive conclusion to the trilogy.
- It Ends in Fire (2021) — A standalone, dark magical academy novel to read afterward.
The Royal Bastards Trilogy
Shvarts's main contribution to the young adult fantasy landscape is the Royal Bastards trilogy. The series is celebrated for bringing a gritty, Game of Thrones-style political intrigue to a YA audience, without losing the heart, humor, and diverse representation that modern readers expect.
Royal Bastards (2017): The story begins in the Western Province of Angra, where Tilla, the illegitimate daughter of Lord Kent, lives a marginalized life alongside other highborn bastards. When they accidentally witness a brutal, treasonous coup during a royal visit, they are forced to flee for their lives. The narrative follows their desperate escape across the kingdom as they try to warn the king and prevent a devastating civil war.
City of Bastards (2018): Following the dramatic events of the first book, Tilla and her surviving friends find themselves in Lightspire, the shimmering capital of the empire. Enrolled in the prestigious Royal Academy, they must navigate the complex and deadly waters of court politics, elite magic training, and deep-seated conspiracies that threaten the empire from within.
War of the Bastards (2019): The trilogy culminates in an all-out conflict. As the kingdom fractures under the weight of rebellion and magical devastation, Tilla must lead her allies into battle, confronting her own family and deciding what she is willing to sacrifice to secure a peaceful future for the realm.
Standalone Fantasy: It Ends in Fire
After completing his main trilogy, Shvarts turned his attention to a standalone story. It Ends in Fire (2021) is a dark, politically charged magic academy novel that showcases his growth as a world-builder.
The novel follows Alia, a young woman who infiltrates the elite Blackwood Academy under an assumed name. Her goal is not to study, but to destroy the institution from the inside to avenge her sister. It is a story of revenge, magic, and complicated alliances, perfect for fans of dark academia and complex moral dilemmas. Because it is set in an entirely different universe, it shares no characters or plot points with the Royal Bastards series and can be read independently.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
Fortunately, Andrew Shvarts's bibliography is straightforward to navigate. The chronological order of events aligns perfectly with the order of publication. Because the Royal Bastards trilogy is a continuous, chronological story following the same core characters, reading them out of sequence is not recommended.
Since It Ends in Fire is a standalone novel set in a separate universe, you can technically read it at any time. However, reading it after the trilogy allows you to appreciate how Shvarts's narrative style and thematic elements evolved over time.
What to Know Before You Start
Andrew Shvarts brings a unique perspective to YA fantasy, largely shaped by his background in game design. Before publishing his novels, Shvarts spent years as a writer and narrative designer at Pixelberry Studios, crafting choices-matter interactive stories such as High School Story and Choices: Stories You Play. This experience is highly visible in his books, which feature cinematic pacing, immediate stakes, and quick, punchy dialogue that keeps the plot moving forward without getting bogged down in dense exposition.
Readers should also be prepared for a contemporary tone. While the settings are filled with magic, swords, and castles, the characters speak and react with a modern sensibility. This stylistic choice makes the high fantasy elements highly accessible and ensures the emotional beats feel immediate and relatable to contemporary readers.