How to Read Drew Williams's Books
Drew Williams has captured the hearts of space opera fans with his action-packed, fast-paced trilogy, The Universe After. Because the series tells a continuous, evolving story centered on the same group of characters, there is only one recommended way to read his books: in publication (and chronological) order. Skipping ahead will lead to massive spoilers regarding the state of the galaxy, character deaths, and the escalating nature of the main threat.
The journey begins with The Stars Now Unclaimed, moves through the perspective shift in A Chain Across the Dawn, and concludes with the high-stakes warfare of The Firmament of Flame. Beyond this trilogy, Williams has written one unrelated military horror short story, but his primary sci-fi universe remains a tight, three-book experience.
The Universe After Series in Reading Order
- The Stars Now Unclaimed (2018)
- A Chain Across the Dawn (2019)
- The Firmament of Flame (2020)
There is also an omnibus edition, The Universe After: Books 1-3, which was published in 2020 and collects the entire trilogy in one volume. This is an excellent option for readers who want to binge the entire story from start to finish.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into The Universe After, it helps to understand the unique backdrop of the galaxy Drew Williams has created. A century before the first book begins, an energy wave known as the Pulse swept across the universe. While it was originally intended to bring peace, it had catastrophic side effects. The Pulse acted as a massive electromagnetic disruption, frying advanced technology and plunging countless highly developed worlds back into pre-electronic, dark-age societies.
However, the Pulse did something else: it genetically or supernaturally altered certain children, granting them extraordinary, telekinetic, and energy-manipulating abilities. This setup gives the trilogy a unique flavor that blends gritty, post-apocalyptic space opera with superhero-like supernatural flair.
As you read, you will follow two primary factions and a looming existential threat:
- The Justified: A small group of mercenaries and agents, including the protagonist Jane Kamali, dedicated to locating these "gifted" children. Their goal is to bring the kids to a safe sanctuary called Sanctum, hoping their powers can be harnessed to prevent the Pulse from returning.
- The Pax: A collective of militaristic, fascist zealots who were largely spared from the worst effects of the Pulse. They believe they are the rightful rulers of the galaxy and hunt the gifted children to use them as biological weapons.
- The Cyn: Introduced as the overarching threat in the second book, the Cyn are terrifying, ancient beings of pure energy who are determined to hunt down the gifted and disrupt the balance of the universe.
In terms of tone, Williams's writing style is heavily influenced by his love of pop-culture properties like Star Wars, Firefly, and the Mass Effect video games. Expect plenty of witty, snarky banter, rapid-fire dialogue, and non-stop, cinematic action sequences. The series transitions from a military sci-fi extraction story in the first book to a slightly darker, monster-hunt vibe in the second, before expanding into full-scale galactic warfare in the third.
Deep Dive: The Universe After Trilogy
1. The Stars Now Unclaimed (2018)
The series kicks off with Drew Williams's debut novel. The story introduces us to Jane Kamali, an elite agent for the Justified. Her mission is to track down a young girl named Esa, who possesses telekinetic abilities far beyond anything the galaxy has seen. The Pax are hot on their heels, resulting in a relentless chase across fractured, post-Pulse worlds. Jane must rally her old, eccentric crew to keep Esa safe and transport her to Sanctum. This book is told from Jane's perspective and serves as a high-octane introduction to the universe, packed with space battles and quick-witted banter.
2. A Chain Across the Dawn (2019)
The second book picks up three years after the events of the first. The narrative perspective shifts from Jane to Esa, who is now seventeen and working as a full agent for the Justified. While searching for another gifted child on a remote planet, Esa and Jane run into a mysterious, seemingly unkillable adversary with powers that dwarf their own. Alongside a Wulf recruit named Sho, they must uncover the secrets of the Cyn and the true origin of the Pulse. Esa's youthful, slightly swearier, and highly dynamic voice gives this book a distinct feel, and the narrative leans more heavily into sci-fi horror elements.
3. The Firmament of Flame (2020)
The final book in the trilogy starts shortly after the conclusion of the second. The threat has escalated from a single, mysterious foe to an entire army of the Cyn and their brainwashed followers. Jane, Esa, and their ragtag group of allies are forced to travel to the outer edges of the known universe to find a weapon or a secret that can stop the Cyn before they tear the galaxy apart. This volume wraps up the primary mysteries of the series, providing a satisfying, explosive end to the character arcs established in the debut.
Side Projects and Author Information
Aside from The Universe After, Drew Williams has not published any other novels. However, he did contribute a short story titled "Skitter" to the military horror anthology SNAFU: Last Stand, published by Cohesion Press in late 2019. The story follows a foul-mouthed mercenary named Syl Stoneheart and her company, the Iron Blades. It is entirely separate from the space opera trilogy and can be read as a standalone piece of military fiction.
Readers looking for more work from Drew Williams should note that he is currently on an extended writing hiatus. Since the release of The Firmament of Flame in 2020, his personal website and social media channels have gone inactive. Additionally, be careful not to confuse him with other authors of the same name, such as the Drew Williams who wrote The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Mormonism.
Practical Reader Advice
Can the books be read as standalones? No. While each book has its own self-contained mission and primary conflict, the character growth, faction alliances, and overarching mystery of the Pulse and the Cyn carry directly from one novel to the next. You must read them in order.
What is the best starting point? You should start with The Stars Now Unclaimed. Starting with the second book will spoil the climax of the first and leave you confused about the mechanics of Esa's powers and her relationship with Jane.