Where to Start with Dante King (and D.B. King)
With well over 200 books under his belt, finding a entry point into Dante King's bibliography can be daunting. Because his series are written as self-contained story arcs rather than a single interconnected universe, the best approach is to pick a series that matches your preferred genre and read it from beginning to end. Here are the three best entry points depending on what you are looking for:
1. The Ultimate Gateway: War Mage Academy (Creation Mage)
If you want to experience Dante King's signature style—inventive magic systems, academy settings, progression fantasy, and explicit HaremLit romance—start with Creation Mage. This series follows Justin, an underdog who discovers a unique brand of magic that allows him to absorb and mold elements. It runs for 10 books and serves as the perfect showcase of the author's fast-paced, character-driven storytelling.
2. The Clean Progression Path: The Last Magus (As D.B. King)
For readers who love progression fantasy and magic academies but want to skip the explicit adult content, the best starting point is The Last Magus. Written under the pen name D.B. King, the series follows Alec as he unlocks raw elemental magic. This 6-book series focuses heavily on world-building, spell development, and adventure without the spicy elements found in his other works.
3. The Mythical Romance Option: Dragon Breeder
If you love high-fantasy stakes, dragons, and empire-building, Dragon Breeder is a fantastic 6-book series to pick up. The story blends romantic elements with epic combat, following a hero tasked with raising and bonding with powerful dragon companions to save a crumbling world.
Understanding the Dante King vs. D.B. King Pseudonyms
One of the most important things to know before diving into this author's books is how he uses his two pen names to organize his catalog. Recognizing the distinction helps you set your expectations for the tone and content of each series:
- Dante King: Used exclusively for adult fantasy, GameLit, and HaremLit (men's romance). These series feature explicit romance, power-scaling linked to relationships, and standard tropes of the HaremLit genre.
- D.B. King: Used for clean progression fantasy, LitRPG, and traditional epic fantasy. These stories (such as The Last Magus, Dragon Magus, and Summoner's Shadow) focus entirely on the adventure, magic system progression, and action, making them accessible to a wider mainstream audience.
How to Read Dante King's Massive Bibliography
Because Dante King releases books at an incredibly rapid pace (sometimes multiple novels a month), there is no overarching chronological order connecting all of his series. You do not need to worry about cross-series spoilers or reading the books in strict order of publication across the different universes.
The recommended reading order is Series-by-Series Publication Order. Choose one series, read it sequentially from Book 1 to its conclusion, and then move on to a different series. Below is a breakdown of his major series to help you choose your next adventure.
A Breakdown of the Major Series
The Magic Academy Sagas
Academy settings are a staple of Dante King's writing, featuring protagonists who start at the bottom and rise to absolute power through training and wit.
- War Mage Academy (Creation Mage): A 10-book series (2020–2022) following Justin's rise to power at the magical academy.
- The Last Magus: Written as D.B. King, this 6-book progression fantasy series (2021–2022) begins with Natural Magic and concludes with Ultimate Magic.
- Aether Mage: A concise 3-book series (2021) focusing on aether-based spellcasting.
- Battle Mage: A massive 9-book series (2021–2023) detailing the journey of a battle-tested spellcaster.
Dragon-Themed Sagas
Dragons play a prominent role in many of King's most popular works, serving as both powerful companions and central elements of the magic systems.
- Dragon Breeder: A completed 6-book series (2021) blending high-stakes action with dragon companionship.
- Dragon Born: A 6-book series (2021–2022) focusing on draconic magic and heritage.
- Dragon Magus: A 4-book series (2021–2022) under the D.B. King banner focusing on progression fantasy and dragon taming.
- Dragon Rising: A 5-book series (2022–2023) focusing on rebellion and draconic power.
GameLit and Dungeon Core
For fans of LitRPG mechanics, leveling up, and dungeon building, these series offer progression-focused narratives.
- Monster Core: A popular 3-book trilogy (2018–2023) following a dungeon core that defies the rules of its world.
- Dungeon of Evolution: A quick 2-book series (2021) starting with Thief's Bounty.
- Apocalypse Knights: A 4-book LitRPG progression series (2022–2023) set in a system-apocalypse style world.
Cultivation and Martial Arts
Drawing heavy inspiration from Eastern cultivation (Xianxia) fantasy, these series feature protagonists focused on cultivating their energy to ascend to higher tiers of power.
- Immortal Swordslinger: A 6-book series (2019–2022) that transplants a gunslinger-style archetype into a cultivation-heavy fantasy world.
- Shinobi Rising: A 2-book ninja-inspired cultivation series starting with Outcast (2021).
What to Know Before You Start
Before jumping in, it is helpful to keep a few practical details in mind. Dante King's writing is heavily optimized for quick pacing, immediate action, and satisfying progression loops. If you are looking for dense, slow-burn epic fantasy like Tolkien or Sanderson, you might find these books move too fast. However, if you enjoy progression fantasy, visible power levels, and consistent action, he is one of the most reliable authors in the space.
Additionally, because of the sheer speed at which he writes, some readers on community forums like Reddit suggest that he may collaborate with co-authors or helpers, though he remains the primary voice and creative lead behind all his series. The quality remains highly consistent across his titles, particularly in his audiobook editions, which feature premium narration from popular voice actors in the LitRPG and HaremLit genres.