David Burke Books in Order

Where to Start Reading David Burke

If you are new to David Burke’s fast-paced, character-driven LitRPG and progression fantasy worlds, deciding where to start can feel daunting. Because Burke completes his series before launching new ones, you can pick up any of his main series and enjoy a finished story arc from start to finish. Your choice depends entirely on what subgenres you enjoy most:

• For Dungeon Crawling & Psionics: Start with the Descend series. Beginning with First Steps, this five-book saga follows a protagonist named Jay who uses unique psionic abilities to survive a dangerous dungeon experiment. This is also the best starting point if you plan to dive into the grand multiverse crossovers later.
• For Cultivation & Homesteading: Start with the Four Laws series. Beginning with Law of Strength, it follows Rob, a former sheriff's deputy, as he establishes order on a magical frontier. It blends Western grit with classic cultivation mechanics.
• For Superheroes & Post-Apocalyptic Action: Start with the Prism Academy series. Beginning with Inferna, this series follows Aden in a world where humanity uses "progenitor rays" to develop superpowers and defend against alien threats.
• For Reincarnation & Team Building: Start with the War God for Hire series. Starting with Gladiator, it follows Kyle Hudson, a former baseball player reincarnated as the War God who must build an elite squad to survive.

The Burke-verse: A Shared Multiverse

One of the most exciting aspects of David Burke's work is its connection to a much larger universe. David Burke is the pen name used by author Sean Oswald for his LitRPG series that feature untraditional romance and harem elements. Under his real name, Sean Oswald writes clean LitRPG series, most notably the massive 12-book series Welcome to the Multiverse.

As you read deeper into both catalogs, you will discover that these worlds are not isolated. Key characters from David Burke's series make major crossover appearances in the Welcome to the Multiverse series, particularly starting around book six, Control. For example, Jay from Descend and Ryan from Burke's cultivation series Crystal Core grow into cosmic-level powerhouses who cross over into Oswald's central storyline. While you do not need to read every series to enjoy them, starting with Descend or Crystal Core provides valuable backstory for these epic crossovers.

Descend Series

This completed five-book series introduces readers to Jay, who is thrust into a life-or-death dungeon environment. Instead of traditional mana-based magic, Jay relies on a unique psionic and mind-progression system to stay ahead of alien experiments and protect his companions.

1. First Steps (2020)
2. Coming Together (2020)
3. Going Deeper (2021)
4. Bursting Out (2021)
5. Seeing Stars (2021)

Four Laws Series

Blending portal fantasy, cultivation, and Western frontier elements, this eight-book saga focuses on Rob. After being transported to a new world, Rob must leverage his law enforcement background and new cultivation powers to tame the chaotic, untamed lands of the East.

1. Law of Strength (2021)
2. Law of Family (2022)
3. Law of Freedom (2022)
4. Law of Blood (2022)
5. Untamed Lands (2022)
6. Back to Yonder (2022)
7. The Old East (2023)
8. Law of Consequences (2023)

Prism Academy Series

Set on a post-apocalyptic Earth devastated by alien bombardments, this series features Aden, a young man who obtains superpower abilities via progenitor rays. Aden must navigate the political manipulations of the Academy's board, resist the dark shadows of his powers, and lead his team against mutating threats.

1. Inferna (2022)
2. Demis (2022)
3. Sybilla (2022)
4. Prophecy (2023)
5. Shadowfall (2023)

War God for Hire Series

This portal fantasy series tells the story of Kyle Hudson, a former professional baseball player who finds himself reincarnated in a fantasy realm as the legendary War God. To live up to his title and survive the gladiator pits, he must recruit a powerful, diverse team of magical allies.

1. Gladiator (2021)
2. Adventurer (2021)
3. Mercenary (2021)
4. Conqueror (2021)
5. Overlord (2022)

The Nine Magics Series

In this Isekai fantasy series, a goddess transports Rico to the planet Loral, blessing him with the ability to channel nine distinct magics. As the champion of the hybrid humanoid species, Rico must level up, build outposts, and defend against the relentless waves of the Dark Pantheon.

1. Tower Mage (2022)
2. Tower Mage 2 (2023)
3. Tower Mage 3 (2023)

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into David Burke's catalog, keep a few helpful reader tips in mind:

• Romance and Harem Elements: Because Burke uses this pen name specifically for his untraditional romance and harem stories, expect romantic subplots and team-building elements to play a significant role alongside the action and LitRPG progression. If you prefer stories without these elements, look for his books published under his real name, Sean Oswald.
• Fast-Paced Progression: The magic and power systems in these series rely heavily on LitRPG tropes, including clear progression levels, cultivation ranks, and tactical combat.
• Satisfying Conclusions: Unlike many LitRPG authors who leave multiple series open indefinitely, Burke is known for finishing his series sequentially, meaning you won't be left waiting years on a cliffhanger for his completed series.