Reading Order
This is a question which I get asked a lot, and hopefully the following will assist you.
First up, the short answer: Let Them Go
Next up; the medium answer: Here’s the intended reading order…
Phase 1
Let Them Go
The Cartographer’s Handbook
Secret Rooms
Tiger’s Eye
Arlington
SteamHeart
Phase 2
The Princess Thieves
Uncivil Outlaw
Stonespring Maidens
The Christmas Thieves
Panther Soul
Nightfall of the Wendigo
Back in Time + Space
Phase 3
Thief Knights and Dragon Flights (Currently being written)
For the long answer I’ll need to set the scene for you.
The story begins in 1872 as events unfold that create a divergent timeline. It then moves to other, alternate dimensions where history played out differently.
These are detailed in the 'Ten Worlds' section of the website, but four are most important. The primary Earth timeline is named CENTURY (AKA Centrum). This is the one which the grand saga revolves around, the Middle-earth, the Planet Earth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is where Let Them Go, Secret Rooms, Arlington and most of The Princess Thieves takes place.
Another, detailed in Tiger's Eye, is RAMA, wherein Great Cats, rather than Apes, evolved over millions of years to become the planet's dominant lifeforms, and developed their own civilisations. A third world in The Princess Thieves, named KELADOR (AKA Celador) plays host to various intelligent and advanced species, including Duart, who are similar to traditional fantasy Dwarf races, and Akka, similar to Orcs. Both races have moved through a portal to occupy the London of the primary CENTURY timeline. The overall story begins in 1883 and proceeds onward. The fourth world of AUTUMN is the home of the Elain, a matriarchal race who utilise the latent energy of alien crystals to power their tech. We meet them at the beginning of Stonespring Maidens.
Q: Are the books released in chronological order of events?
No. The continuity of the books is a jigsaw. A grand tapestry made up of smaller images. If you look at the 'timeline' that can be found on this website, you’ll see that while the Phase 1 stories are mostly self-contained, they overlap in terms of when they occur, though they are almost always separated by geography.
Q: What if I go outside the reading order?
You’ll probably be alright. I read The Chronicles of Narnia out of order when I was a kid and pieced it together fine. In fact the puzzle aspects made me enjoy it more. This isn’t a majorly different kettle of fish.
My order is just a suggestion, though there are many other combinations you could go for, and order of publication isn't necessarily the best of them either. You could just start with whichever appeals most. There are six in particular you might like to try.
Let Them Go is a Gothic survival tale set in England. Secret Rooms follows that up in America, with more focus on the supernatural. Arlington is a political thriller, Tiger’s Eye a jungle adventure, The Princess Thieves is an irreverent fantasy heist and Stonespring Maidens is an LGBTQIA+ interdimensional romance. Any of those are likely to leave you hungry for more.
