Special Circumstances Books in Order

Special Circumstances is John Ringo’s foray into urban fantasy, centered on Barbara Everette, a Mississippi homemaker whose perfect life hides a fierce streak and serious martial arts skills. When a long-delayed “weekend off” drops her into the path of a supernatural killer, she discovers that demons, dark gods, and other horrors are very real.

In Princess of Wands and Queen of Wands, Barbara is drawn into the orbit of an under-the-radar organization that quietly handles occult threats, often working alongside law enforcement who have no idea what is really going on. Her faith, common sense, and willingness to hit things very hard turn out to be in short supply in that world.

The series leans into contrasts: a devout, churchgoing soccer mom wielding both prayer and a staff against tentacled monstrosities, or a high-end call girl and priestess of Freya backing her up on the astral plane. Investigations bounce from small-town Bible studies to New Orleans back alleys and zombie-infested battlefields.

Readers should expect monster-of-the-week plots braided with ongoing questions about belief, temptation, and what “good” looks like when you are killing in God’s name. If you enjoy snarky, action-heavy urban fantasy but like the idea of a heroine whose strongest armor is her worldview, Special Circumstances is worth a look.