D.J. Butler Books in Order

Where to Start with D.J. Butler

D.J. Butler is a master of speculative fiction who seamlessly blends historical details with magic, steampunk technology, and folklore. Because his bibliography spans several distinct universes, the best place to start depends on your preferred genre:

• For Epic Alternate History & Magic: Start with Witchy Eye, the first book in his acclaimed Witchy War series. This is his signature work, featuring a richly detailed alternate America filled with folk magic, native lore, and political intrigue.
• For Cozy Historical Mystery: Start with The Cunning Man (co-authored with Aaron Michael Ritchey). Set during the Great Depression in Utah, it follows a protagonist who uses traditional folk magic to solve mysteries.
• For Classic Fantasy Adventures: Start with In the Palace of Shadow and Joy, the first book in the Indrajit & Fix series, which offers a fresh take on the classic fantasy buddy-cop adventure.

The Witchy War Series (Witchy Eye Books)

This award-winning alternate history series is set in an empire called the First Confederation, a magical version of early America. The story follows Sarah Calhoun, a young girl in the Appalachian hills who discovers she is the heir to a magical throne and must flee from imperial forces. This series is best read in publication order:

1. Witchy Eye (2017)
2. Witchy Winter (2018)
3. Witchy Kingdom (2019)
4. Serpent Daughter (2020)

Reading Tip: Butler has also written a companion prequel short story titled "Dei Britannici" (published online by Baen Books). While it provides extra world-building, it is best read after finishing the first book to avoid spoiling the mystery of the magic system.

The Cunning Man Series

Co-authored with Aaron Michael Ritchey, this historical urban fantasy series centers on Hiram Woolley, a "cunning man" who uses traditional Christian folk magic and sheriff's skills to investigate crimes in Depression-era Utah. It should be read in chronological order:

1. The Cunning Man (2019)
2. The Jupiter Knife (2021)

Indrajit & Fix Series

Set in a vast, complex fantasy metropolis, this series follows two contrasting characters—a poet-warrior and a street-smart fixer—who take on odd jobs, protect princesses, and clash with underground lords. Read them in the order they were published:

1. In the Palace of Shadow and Joy (2020)
2. Between Princesses and Other Jobs (2023)
3. Among the Gray Lords (2024)

Rock Band Fights Evil Series

For readers who enjoy fast-paced, gritty urban fantasy with a musical twist, this series pits a touring rock band against literal supernatural forces. The series is highly episodic and best read in order:

1. Hellhound on My Trail (2011)
2. Snake Handlin' Man (2012)
3. Crow Jane (2012)
4. Devil Sent the Rain (2012)
5. This World Is Not My Home (2012)
6. The Good Son (2012)
7. Earth Angel (2012)

The Extraordinary Journeys of Clockwork Charlie

Writing under the pen name Dave Butler for middle-grade readers, this steampunk trilogy features Charlie Pondicherry, a clockwork boy in a fantastical Victorian era. Read the trilogy in order:

1. The Kidnap Plot (2016)
2. The Giant's Seat (2017)
3. The Library Machine (2018)

The Buza System Books

This is Butler's early science fiction duology, exploring a futuristic society governed by complex social castes and technology:

1. Crecheling (2013)
2. Urbane (2016)

Standalones and Collaborative Universes

Butler has written several independent novels and contributed to collaborative shared-world science fiction series:

• City of the Saints (2013): A standalone steampunk Western that weaves historical figures like Mark Twain (Sam Clemens) and Edgar Allan Poe into an adventure involving airships and secret societies.
• The Wilding Probate (2020): A standalone fantasy legal thriller.
• Abbott in Darkness (2022): A standalone hard science fiction novel.
• Time Trials (2023): Co-authored with Martin L. Shoemaker, this sci-fi novel is accompanied by the prequel novella Time Trials - Rise of the Administrator (2023).
• The Four Horsemen Universe (4HU): While online lists often show the entire 14-volume Four Horsemen Tales catalog under Butler's name, he is only the co-author of Book 13, Negotiation (2019), written alongside Chris Kennedy. The other books in the series are penned by different authors.

What to Know Before You Start

Butler's books are known for their high degree of historical research mixed with folklore. The Witchy War books use phonetic dialects to represent Appalachian and regional speech patterns of the early 19th century, which may take a few chapters to get used to but adds immense flavor to the setting. Most of his series are linear, meaning you should start with the first volume to understand the character development and overarching plots.