Dan Willis Books in Order

Where to Begin: The Best Starting Points

For most readers, the absolute best place to start is with the Arcane Casebook series. Starting with the first novel, In Plain Sight, or its free prequel novella, Dead Letter, allows you to dive straight into Dan Willis's signature style: a fast-paced blend of historical noir, gritty detective work, and an intricate, rule-based magic system. It is a fantastic entry point for fans of urban fantasy like Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files.

If you prefer classic steampunk with historical twists, your best starting point is Lincoln's Wizard, the first book in the Dragons of the Confederacy series co-authored with fantasy legend Tracy Hickman. For fans of young adult epic fantasy, you might want to start with his contributions to the Dragonlance universe, specifically The Dragon Well.

The Arcane Casebook Reading Order

Set in an alternate, magical 1930s New York City, this series follows Alex Lockerby, a runewright detective who uses his knowledge of magical runes to solve cases while dodging mobsters, corrupt cops, and powerful sorcerers. To get the complete experience, you should integrate the companion spin-off series, The Arcane Irregulars (which follows Lieutenant Danny Pak and Agent Buddy Redhorn), directly into your reading path.

Here is the recommended chronological reading order for the Arcane Casebook universe:

• Book 0.5: Dead Letter (2018) – A prequel novella that sets up Alex Lockerby's status as a runewright detective in New York.
• Book 1: In Plain Sight (2018) – The official first novel where Alex is framed for a magical murder and must clear his name.
• Book 2: Ghost of a Chance (2019) – Alex investigates a high-profile case involving a magical poison and a ghostly threat.
• Book 3: The Long Chain (2019) – A missing persons case leads Alex into the dark underbelly of magical smuggling.
• Book 4: Mind Games (2020) – Alex faces telepaths and memory manipulators in a high-stakes conspiracy.
• Book 5: Limelight (2020) – A Broadway actress becomes the target of a bizarre, magical killer.
• Book 6: Blood Relation (2020) – Alex digs into a family dynasty's secrets when he is hired to investigate a murder.
• The Arcane Irregulars #1: Curse of the Phoenix (2021) – Read this here! It takes place directly between the events of Blood Relation and Capital Murder.
• Book 7: Capital Murder (2021) – The mystery deepens as Alex is called to the nation's capital to investigate a political assassination.
• Book 8: Hostile Takeover (2022) – Alex tackles corporate greed, hostile magicians, and financial ruin.
• Book 9: Hidden Voices (2022) – Alex searches for a missing medium while dealing with paranormal phenomena.
• The Arcane Irregulars #2: Shadow of Anubis (2023) – Read this here! This spin-off adventure takes place chronologically after the events of Hidden Voices.
• Book 10: Pound of Flesh (2024) – A grim murder case forces Alex to confront some of the city's most powerful entities.
• Book 11: Equal & Opposite (2024) – The magical balance in New York is threatened, forcing Alex to use every rune at his disposal to survive.

Steampunk Adventures

Beyond his detective stories, Dan Willis has built fantastic worlds centered on historical steampunk tech and alternate timelines. If you enjoy airships, alchemical marvels, and mechanical wonders, check out these series:

Dragons of the Confederacy

Co-authored with Tracy Hickman, this series reimagines the American Civil War as a conflict fueled by alchemical magic, mechanical war machines, and actual dragons. Read them in publication order:

• Lincoln's Wizard (2015) – Introduces an alternate Civil War where alchemical weapons and magical spells change the course of history.
• The Georgia Alchemist (2023) – Follows up the epic clash with new threats, deeper political intrigue, and advanced steampunk warfare.

The Shattered West

This is a wild, steampunk-influenced Western fantasy series that features steam-powered automatons and crystal-based technology in a fractured frontier landscape.

• The Flux Engine (2012) – Follows an adventure through a dangerous West filled with mechanical beasts and hidden magic.

Dragonlance Contributions

Before launching his own independent series, Dan Willis was a frequent contributor to the massive Dragonlance franchise. When reading these, keep in mind that they are part of larger, multi-author story arcs. You do not need to read the entire Dragonlance library to enjoy them, but reading them in their respective subseries order helps:

Dragonlance: The New Adventures

This series was designed as an entry point for younger readers to explore the world of Krynn. Willis wrote two novels in the main line and a spin-off trilogy:

• The Dragon Well (2004) – The third volume of the series, featuring a young crew of heroes dealing with dragons and dark magic.
• Dragon Knight (2005) – The seventh volume of the series, widely considered by fans to be one of the most emotionally resonant and action-packed entries.

Trinistyr Trilogy (The New Adventures)

This is a focused subseries within the New Adventures line. Willis penned the concluding volume:

• Wizard's Return (2006) – The third and final book of the Trinistyr story arc, wrapping up the adventures of the young spellcaster.

Tracy Hickman Presents: The Anvil of Time

This four-book series features standalone novels written by different authors, focusing on pivotal moments in Krynn's history. Willis wrote the second volume:

• The Survivors (2008) – Tells the story of a group of dwarven refugees struggling to survive in the wake of the Cataclysm.

Short Stories and Anthologies

If you want to read his shorter fiction, Dan Willis contributed to the collaborative anthology Heroic: Tales of the Extraordinary (2015), which features superhero-themed fantasy stories from popular authors including Michael A. Stackpole and David Farland. Additionally, his Dragonlance short story "Lake of Death" can be found in the anthology The Search for Power: Dragons from the War of Souls.