Brian McClellan Books in Order

Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path

If you are new to Brian McClellan's work, the absolute best place to start is with his debut novel, Promise of Blood, which begins the original Powder Mage Trilogy. While McClellan has written several prequels and short stories set before this book, they were designed to be read with the context of the main novels. Starting with the first trilogy allows you to learn the rules of the magic systems, get to know the central characters, and understand the geopolitical stakes naturally.

After finishing the first trilogy, you should move on to the sequel trilogy, Gods of Blood and Powder, which takes place ten years later and expands the scope of the world to a new continent with a mix of returning characters and fresh faces.

The Powder Mage Universe

The Original Powder Mage Trilogy

The original trilogy introduces us to the nation of Adro and the flintlock fantasy magic systems. Here, traditional "Privileged" elemental sorcerers clash with "Powder Mages"—people who can manipulate gunpowder to perform incredible marksman feats, gain heightened senses, and trigger explosions. The main novels should be read in this order:

• Promise of Blood (2013)
• The Crimson Campaign (2014)
• The Autumn Republic (2015)

Gods of Blood and Powder Trilogy

This sequel trilogy shifts focus to the untamed continent of Fatrasta. It explores the aftermath of the original trilogy's events, introducing the iron-willed mercenary leader Mad Lancers commander Ben Styke, the young powder mage Vlora Flint, and a spy named Michel Bravis. Read them in this sequence:

• Sins of Empire (2017)
• Wrath of Empire (2018)
• Blood of Empire (2019)

Powder Mage Novellas and Short Fiction

McClellan has written a rich library of companion novellas and short stories that flesh out the histories of key characters. While these can technically be read standalone, they are best enjoyed after you have read at least Promise of Blood. The author collected five of his early short stories in the anthology In the Field Marshal's Shadow (2015), which includes "Hope's End", "The Girl of Hrusch Avenue", "Green-Eyed Vipers", "The Face in the Window", and "Return to Honor". His story "The Siege of Tilpur" was also featured in Shawn Speakman's Unbound anthology (2016).

Understanding the Chronological vs. Publication Order

For readers who want to experience the Powder Mage universe in the order the events historically occurred, the chronological path differs significantly from publication. Prequels like Forsworn dive into the history of Erika, Tamas's late wife, 35 years before the main story begins. Meanwhile, stories like The Mad Lancers introduce Ben Styke's backstory prior to his arrival in the main sequel trilogy.

The Chronological Flow

1. Forsworn (Novella) - Set 35 years before the main trilogy.
2. Servant of the Crown (Novella) - Takes place immediately after Forsworn.
3. Murder at the Kinnen Hotel (Novella) - Set 22 years before Promise of Blood.
4. Hope's End (Short Story) - Set 19 years before Promise of Blood.
5. The Girl of Hrusch Avenue (Short Story) - Set 10 years before Promise of Blood.
6. The Face in the Window (Short Story) - Set 2 years before Promise of Blood.
7. The Siege of Tilpur (Short Story) - A Gurlish War prequel featuring a young Tamas.
8. The Mad Lancers (Novella) - Introduces the Fatrastan conflict 2 years before the main trilogy.
9. Ghosts of the Tristan Basin (Novella) - Set shortly before the main trilogy.
10. Promise of Blood (Novel)
11. Return to Honor (Novella) - Occurs between Book 1 and Book 2.
12. The Crimson Campaign (Novel)
13. The Autumn Republic (Novel)

Chronological Caveats to Keep in Mind

Although chronological orders are exciting for a reread, first-time readers should be careful. Prequel novellas like Forsworn and Servant of the Crown reveal details that spoil character histories or emotional setups in the main trilogy. Additionally, standard book database lists often place novellas like The Mad Lancers or Siege of Tilpur at the end of their lists because they were published in 2017 and 2018, even though they take place years before Promise of Blood in the timeline.

Brian McClellan's Other Worlds

The Glass Immortals Series

In 2022, McClellan launched a brand-new epic fantasy series starting with In the Shadow of Lightning. This world centers on a magic system powered by "silicon" glass, which grants users enhanced attributes, and follows the fall of a massive empire as its magic resource begins to run dry. To fully experience this universe, you should also check out the companion novellas:

• Montego (Glass Immortals 0.5) - A prequel focused on the legendary warrior Montego.
• Swords, Cider, and Other Distractions (Glass Immortals 0.6) - A companion novella.
• In the Shadow of Lightning (Glass Immortals 1) - The main novel.

Valkyrie Collections (Urban Fantasy)

Stepping away from epic flintlock fantasy, McClellan has written a fast-paced urban fantasy duology featuring Alex Temple, a supernatural debt collector working for a valkyrie. It is set in modern-day Cleveland and offers a fun, grit-filled ride:

• Uncanny Collateral (2019)
• Blood Tally (2020)

War Cry

War Cry (2018) is a standalone military fantasy novella. It is completely disconnected from his other universes and describes a trench-style war resembling the 1930s or World War II, but with magic-fueled supersoldiers defending their outpost.

What to Know Before You Start

McClellan's style is heavily influenced by his mentor Brandon Sanderson, meaning you can expect highly structured, logical magic systems and fast-paced action scenes. However, McClellan's worlds carry a slightly grittier, more military-focused tone reminiscent of historical European conflicts. The main series are highly serialized, meaning you cannot read the main novels as standalones; you must follow the chronological order of the core trilogies to understand the plot.