Where to Start Reading Dave Rudden
Dave Rudden has established himself as a versatile voice in modern Irish speculative fiction, writing across genres and age groups. Depending on your reading preferences, there are four clear entry points to his work:
- For YA and Dark Urban Fantasy: Start with Knights of the Borrowed Dark (2016). This trilogy is his signature work, combining sharp Dublin wit with terrifying shadow creatures and medieval martial lore.
- For Middle-Grade Folkloric Horror: Start with Conn of the Dead (2025), the first book in his Tales of Darkisle series. It is perfect for readers who enjoy spooky, folklore-driven tales in the vein of a classic Irish Goosebumps.
- For Epic Adult Fantasy: Start with Sister Wake (2026). This novel marks his debut into high fantasy for adults, exploring colonialism, feral gods, and a death goddess's unwilling saint.
- For Whovians: Dive straight into Twelve Angels Weeping (2018) or The Wintertime Paradox (2020). These anthologies capture the voices of various Doctors and classic villains with great emotional depth.
The Knights of the Borrowed Dark Trilogy
Dave Rudden’s debut trilogy follows Denizen Hardwick, an orphan who discovers he is part of a secret order of knights called the Order of the Borrowed Dark. These knights use magic fueled by their own pain to protect humanity from the Tenebrous, a race of shadow monsters living just beyond our perception. The trilogy should be read strictly in publication order:
- Knights of the Borrowed Dark (2016): Denizen is taken from his orphanage and introduced to the secret war. He must learn to survive training while dealing with his own fears.
- The Forever Court (2017): Denizen travels to the iron citadel of the Knights, facing internal politics, new training challenges, and a rising threat from the Mercy Court.
- The Endless King (2018): The final conflict where Denizen must confront the source of the shadow magic and decide the ultimate fate of the war between light and dark.
Why read it: Rudden avoids the typical chosen-one tropes by focusing heavily on the physical and psychological toll that fighting monsters takes on young people. It features rich descriptions of Dublin and Cavan, dry Irish humor, and a highly creative magic system.
Tales of Darkisle: Middle-Grade Horror
For younger readers (aimed at ages 9 to 11), Rudden created the Tales of Darkisle series. Set on a mysterious fictional island off the Irish coast that appears once every seven years, the series blends spine-chilling horror with authentic Irish mythology.
- Conn of the Dead (2025): The first book follows eleven-year-old Conn, who accidentally frees the spirit of the Abhartach, an ancient undead sorcerer from Irish legend.
- Nell on Earth (2026): The second book continues the haunting adventures, focusing on Nell as the dark forces of the island continue to manifest.
Reading Advice: These books are quick, spooky reads that can be enjoyed in sequence. They are highly recommended for fans of traditional Celtic lore and classic scary stories.
Sister Wake: Epic Adult Fantasy
Released in January 2026, Sister Wake is the opening volume of Dave Rudden's first adult fantasy trilogy. The story takes place on the island of Croí, which has suffered under the tyrannical "Empire of the Answering" for three centuries. When ancient, feral gods begin to wake, a woman named Sister Wake—who serves as the unwilling saint to the Goddess of Death—finds herself caught between the empire's forces and the wrath of returning deities.
Reading Advice: This series is completely independent of his young adult and middle-grade works. It is best suited for mature readers who enjoy deep world-building, political intrigue, and dark, thematic fantasy inspired by Irish colonial history.
The Doctor Who Universe Contributions
Dave Rudden has been a prominent contributor to official Doctor Who literature. While publishing databases often list him alongside massive multi-author projects like Doctor Who: Legends or Time Lord Victorious, it is important to know which books he actually wrote:
- Twelve Angels Weeping (2018): A collection of twelve stories focusing on iconic Doctor Who villains, such as the Weeping Angels, the Cybermen, and the Ood. Notably, this was the first official fiction release to feature the Thirteenth Doctor.
- The Wintertime Paradox (2020): A festive anthology featuring stories with River Song, Rose Tyler, Missy, and various Doctors. It also includes the digital tie-in story "Canaries", which Rudden wrote as part of the Time Lord Victorious multimedia crossover event.
- Wannabes: A 1990s Story (2023): Part of the Doctor Who: Decades collection celebrating the 60th anniversary. This full-length novel features the Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble in a nostalgia-fueled adventure set in the 1990s pop music scene.
Note on Crossovers: You do not need to read the entire Time Lord Victorious or Legends series to enjoy Rudden's stories. His collections are self-contained and serve as excellent companion reads for any fan of the television series.
Dave Rudden Bibliography & Publication Order
For readers who prefer to tackle an author's career chronologically, here is the complete list of Dave Rudden's major publications:
- Knights of the Borrowed Dark (2016)
- The Forever Court (2017)
- Twelve Angels Weeping: Twelve Stories of the Doctor's Deadliest Foes (2018)
- The Endless King (2018)
- The Wintertime Paradox: Festive Stories from across the Universe (2020)
- Doctor Who: Wannabes (2023)
- Conn of the Dead (2025)
- Sister Wake (2026)
- Nell on Earth (2026)