John Forrester Books in Order
Browse John Forrester books in order, with series guides, short summaries, and where to start across Blacklight Chronicles, Song of the Gods, and more.
Last updated: July 12, 2026
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John Forrester books in publication order
17 books
Fire Mage
by John Forrester
2011
In the last free city, apprentice Talis Storm and his friend Mara learn the Jiserian Empire is coming. After a disastrous first spell, Talis is sent on a quest for the lost Temple of the Sun and the power to save Naru.
Fire Mage Reborn
by John Forrester
2011
This omnibus brings together Fire Mage and Sun Mage in one volume, following Talis and Mara from the fall of Naru into their desperate hunt for the lost Temple of the Sun and the magic that might save their world.
Shadow Mage
by John Forrester
2012
Visions of his old friend Rikar lure Talis toward forbidden shadow magic just as civil war brews in Naru. With invasions looming and a world portal opening, he must choose between saving his city and protecting the people he loves most.
Sun Mage
by John Forrester
2012
Sold into slavery on a voyage to a mysterious island, Talis and Mara chase the power hidden in the Temple of the Sun. To save Naru, they must survive jungle, undead fields, and the land of the dead itself.
Dragon Mage
by John Forrester
2013
Thrown onto the dragon-ruled world of Vellia, Talis and Mara are swept into Aurellia's war against ancient powers. Separated from each other, they face strange allies, deadly magic, and a mission that could cost them everything.
Vogel House
by John Forrester
2013
When her wealthy family's fortune collapses, Clarise Chambers suddenly has to become the practical one. First love, an old family feud, and the fight to save her historic home turn a polished summer into a crisis.
Beautiful Revenge
by John Forrester
2014
Clarise Chambers hopes summer will bring romance with Keary, until a buried secret links their fathers and threatens her family. Love, loyalty, and revenge collide as she fights to protect everything that still matters to her.
Lord of Dragons
by John Forrester
2014
Tael and Princess Sebine are left alone on a ship bound for the outlaw city of Glar Bay and a dangerous road north. As Master Vhelan battles King Braxion's dragon magic, ancient power and war close in from every side.
Star Mage
by John Forrester
2014
As Naru struggles to rebuild, Talis heads south and hears the call of the Nameless from the ruins of Elmarr. Nikulo is drawn west by a torment in his mind, while old betrayals and imperial unrest deepen the danger.
Theft of Dragons
by John Forrester
2014
Hunted orphan Tael Shalinor lives under a cruel king, while Princess Sebine secretly studies sorcery inside the palace. A magical ring and the mystery of Sebine's true father pull them toward rebellion, danger, and dragons.
Death Mage
by John Forrester
2015
Talis and Mara are trapped in the Starwalker sanctuary while rival factions and dark gods close in around them. Back in Naru, Nikulo faces invasion, madness, and a collapsing empire that threatens everyone he is trying to protect.
Lord of the Fallen
by John Forrester
2016
After witnessing a boy's murder, Lady Elendria uncovers a growing cult in the city of Criswall. Her investigation drags her into royal politics, family secrets, and a hard choice between revenge and doing what is right.
Origin Mage
by John Forrester
2017
A year after the Nameless was trapped in the Underworld, Talis and Mara help rebuild Naru while strange madness spreads across the land. Rikar's nightmares and new rumors of dark worship suggest the old threat is rising again.
Empire Awakening
by John Forrester
2018
Elendria flees cult-ridden Criswall for the mountains, where witches may help her grow stronger for the war ahead. Meanwhile Prince Jondran faces rebellion, divided loyalties, and a kingdom that may fall from within.
Demigod Marked
by John Forrester
2019
Jeno gains divine power, then is tricked into the Realm of Shadows and marked for a deadly task by the god Nirat. As Chiro rises with the human army, the twins are pulled toward opposite sides of a brutal siege.
Demigod Rising
by John Forrester
2019
Twin brothers Jeno and Chiro learn they are demigods when visions of their imprisoned mother shatter everything they believe. Chasing one brother into the forbidden realm of Sosaram, Jeno enters a world of war, magic, and dangerous truth.
Reins of Power
by John Forrester
2021
Scholar Akkar's mentor vanishes, and the search pulls him into secret relic hunts beneath the palace. As suspicion falls on him, he must expose imperial corruption and choose between personal ambition and doing what is right.
Where to start with John Forrester
If you want classic mage adventure: Fire Mage → Sun Mage → Shadow Mage
If you want palace intrigue and buried secrets: Reins of Power
If you want gods, twins, and mythic stakes: Demigod Rising → Demigod Marked
If you want cults, witches, and city politics: Lord of the Fallen → Empire Awakening
If you want dragons and royal intrigue: Theft of Dragons → Lord of Dragons
John Forrester sub-series and character series
Clarise Chambers books in order
Explore this seriesMaledorian Chronicles books in order
Explore this seriesPrinces of Naverstrom books in order
Explore this seriesSong of the Gods books in order
Explore this seriesThe Blacklight Chronicles books in order
Explore this series
Fire Mage
by John Forrester
2011The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 2
Fire Mage Reborn
by John Forrester
2011The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 1
Shadow Mage
by John Forrester
2012The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 4
Sun Mage
by John Forrester
2012The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 3
Dragon Mage
by John Forrester
2013The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 5
Star Mage
by John Forrester
2014The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 6
Death Mage
by John Forrester
2015The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 7
Origin Mage
by John Forrester
2017The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 8
The Blacklight Chronicles books in chronological order

Fire Mage Reborn
by John Forrester
2011The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 1
Fire Mage
by John Forrester
2011The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 2
Sun Mage
by John Forrester
2012The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 3
Shadow Mage
by John Forrester
2012The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 4
Dragon Mage
by John Forrester
2013The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 5
Star Mage
by John Forrester
2014The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 6
Death Mage
by John Forrester
2015The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 7
Origin Mage
by John Forrester
2017The Blacklight Chronicles, Book 8
The Shandian Chronicles books in order
Explore this seriesAuthor bio
John Forrester is an American fantasy writer based in Palo Alto, California. On his public author profile, he describes himself as a fiction writer and marketing director, which feels like a good shorthand for the two sides of his working life, storytelling on one side, business and tech on the other.
He has said the push toward writing started in high school, thanks to a sophomore English teacher named Mrs. Zesch. The urge stayed with him for years, but the practical turning point came in 2008 after a friend told him about NaNoWriMo. He wrote a first draft there, kept revising, and after many rewrites that book became Fire Mage, his debut novel in 2011.
He did not take the quick route.
Fire Mage launched The Blacklight Chronicles, still the series most readers know him for. Those books follow Talis and Mara through ruined temples, undead armies, other worlds, dragon wars, and steadily bigger magical stakes. Readers who enjoy them tend to like the fast pace, the clear sense of quest, and the way each book opens the map a little farther.
But Forrester has not stayed in one lane. Lord of the Fallen mixes cults, class tension, and a young heroine trying to choose between revenge and doing what is right. Demigod Rising shifts into mythic territory with twin brothers, forbidden realms, and gods who are not interested in playing fair. Reins of Power moves toward palace intrigue, guild politics, and a scholar hero caught in a very old betrayal.
He has also written the Clarise Chambers books, including Vogel House and Beautiful Revenge, which leave magic behind for money trouble, romance, family collapse, and old grudges. That small detour says something useful about him as a writer. Even when there are no spells on the page, he is still interested in pressure, loyalty, and what people do when the ground moves under their feet.
Belief matters a lot in his fiction.
Again and again, his books come back to characters who were told a clean story about the world and then have to discover the mess underneath. Young people are pushed into power before they are ready. Friends turn traitor. Families keep dangerous secrets. Magic helps, but it usually comes with a cost, and institutions, whether kingdoms, guilds, temples, or armies, rarely deserve blind trust.
Forrester has been open about rethinking his process, too. While working toward Demigod Rising, he said he hit a wall, scrapped a whole project, and rebuilt his approach to story from the ground up. He has also said he writes early or late, fitting the work in wherever he can. One of the nicest details he has shared is that he read the full draft of Demigod Rising aloud to his 12-year-old son, and took the repeated request for one more chapter as a sign that the book was ready.
Outside the novels, his public profile lists interests like reading, gardening, hiking, yoga, meditation, camping, travel, home building, and lucid dreaming. His favorite books and films range widely, from The Lord of the Rings and A Game of Thrones to classic Hollywood and literary fiction, which helps explain why his own work moves between straightforward adventure, darker fantasy, and more personal drama. If you are coming to John Forrester for the first time, expect motion first. His stories like to move. But underneath the battles, portals, and dragons, they are usually asking who deserves your loyalty, and what happens when the story you were raised on turns out to be false.
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