Gates of Eternity Books in Order

Gates of Eternity is Rick Partlow in monster-invasion mode. The series starts with Wash Williams, a young man already dealing with grief, money trouble, and family strain, when a portal opens and turns his life into a war story. On the other side is a hell-world of giant insectoid aliens linked to a Hive Mind that wants to spread across worlds.

So the stakes get big very fast.

What keeps the books grounded is Wash. He is not a chosen one dropped into a clean heroic arc. He is a tired, pressured guy who gets pulled into something far beyond him and has to keep adapting. The rivalry with Jimmy Bonner gives the opening a personal bite, and once the wider war begins, the series keeps balancing invasion spectacle with the messier human side of fear, resentment, and bad decisions.

The gates themselves matter as more than scenery. They turn the conflict into a moving front instead of a fixed battlefield, and that gives the series a strong momentum. Different worlds, military responses, special operations, and the constant threat of the Hive Mind pushing through all give the books an urgent, pulpy feel.

If you want Partlow at his most direct and high-concept, Gates of Eternity is easy to recommend. Start with Gates of Hell and expect a fast, aggressive series built around portals, swarm warfare, and last-ditch defense.