Tales of Alus Books in Order
Part ofDonald Wigboldy Books in OrderBrowse the Tales of Alus series by Donald Wigboldy in order, with book summaries, series background, and straightforward guidance on where to start reading.
Last updated: July 14, 2026
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Tales of Alus books in publication order
16 books
Battle Mage
by Donald Wigboldy
2011
Sebastian lacks the power to be a full wizard, so he trains as a battle mage with weapons and lesser magic. Bullied at school and sent toward the Great Wall, he must prove himself as the Dark Emperor’s hordes gather.
The Emperor's Shadow War
by Donald Wigboldy
2011
Soldier Dante survives a battlefield massacre and traces the path of a mysterious shadow army. Elsewhere, apprentice wizard Darius investigates sudden portals as both men confront a Dark Emperor threatening more than one world.
The High King
by Donald Wigboldy
2011
After King Merrick’s cruelty destroys their home, brothers Gerid and Simon flee Marshalla and swear to return. Pirates separate them and sell them into slavery, turning their search for each other into a fight for freedom.
The King
by Donald Wigboldy
2013
The Battle Mage story continues as Sebastian faces the demands of war, magic, and the rulers whose decisions affect all of Alus. New dangers test the skills and allies he has fought hard to build.
Winter’s Edge
by Donald Wigboldy
2013
Sebastian and his team rescue an ambassador’s caravan from wolves north of the wall, then uncover signs that the enemy may already be inside Southwall. A dangerous winter journey and a wizard tournament raise the stakes.
A Hero’s Welcome
by Donald Wigboldy
2014
Sebastian has found the long-lost Lord Grimnal and must bring him home, but the Dark One has other plans. Surging portals, wizard hunters, orcs, and a dangerous betrayer turn the journey into another desperate fight.
Dragon Mage
by Donald Wigboldy
2014
Dragons hidden in the Dragon Spine Mountains pull Sebastian deeper into the dangers surrounding Alus. Magic, old grudges, and the wider war combine as the battle mage faces threats far beyond the familiar frontier.
The Dark Mage
by Donald Wigboldy
2014
Sebastian’s responsibilities keep growing as the war against the Dark One becomes more dangerous and personal. Facing dark magic and enemies who can strike from within, he must keep fighting before Southwall’s defenses fail.
Forging New Steel
by Donald Wigboldy
2015
Fresh from escaping the silver void, Sebastian returns to a war that has not paused for him. New weapons, new magic, and strained alliances become vital as Southwall prepares for the Dark Emperor’s next move.
White Hall
by Donald Wigboldy
2015
The long history of Alus and its continuing magical conflicts come into focus in this Tales of Alus installment. As the wider war presses on, old places, old powers, and unfinished problems remain dangerous.
Winds of Change
by Donald Wigboldy
2015
Sebastian develops weapons and magic to strengthen Southwall against the Dark Emperor, but trouble is spreading within the kingdom. Enemy attacks, separatist unrest, family pressures, and an old rival leave little room for mistakes.
Battle Mage Visions
by Donald Wigboldy
2016
Sebastian leads spies into Ensolus, the supposedly unreachable city at the center of the Dark One’s empire. While he searches for a weakness, rebellion at home and a plot against him threaten to ruin the mission.
The Unexpected Heir
by Donald Wigboldy
2016
Lady Annalicia leaves Malaiy for a wizard tournament as unrest grows in the capital. Her family faces the Brothers of the Blood, a movement using violence, faith, and a hidden heir to challenge the king.
Battle Mage Bonds
by Donald Wigboldy
2017
Sebastian’s long war for Alus continues as dangerous magic, shifting loyalties, and enemies on several fronts test the bonds between Southwall’s defenders. Keeping allies together may be as important as winning the next battle.
Battle Mage Broken Empire
by Donald Wigboldy
2017
After an emperor falls, rival generals and old enemies fight for control of the cave city and its fractured empire. Wizard hunter Torva and teacher Megannah search for spies while trying to keep the city from sliding into war.
The Caves of Time
by Donald Wigboldy
2018
When strange magic lingers in the mountains near Southwall, Katya and her mentor join an expedition to investigate. A trap made from time devastates the force, and Sebastian must race to stop new portals from unleashing a deadly threat.
Tales of Alus books in chronological order

The High King
by Donald Wigboldy
2011Tales of Alus, Book 1
The Emperor's Shadow War
by Donald Wigboldy
2011Tales of Alus, Book 2
Battle Mage
by Donald Wigboldy
2011Tales of Alus, Book 3
Winter’s Edge
by Donald Wigboldy
2013Tales of Alus, Book 4
The King
by Donald Wigboldy
2013Tales of Alus, Book 5
Dragon Mage
by Donald Wigboldy
2014Tales of Alus, Book 6
The Dark Mage
by Donald Wigboldy
2014Tales of Alus, Book 7
A Hero’s Welcome
by Donald Wigboldy
2014Tales of Alus, Book 8
Forging New Steel
by Donald Wigboldy
2015Tales of Alus, Book 9
White Hall
by Donald Wigboldy
2015Tales of Alus, Book 10
Winds of Change
by Donald Wigboldy
2015Tales of Alus, Book 11
Battle Mage Visions
by Donald Wigboldy
2016Tales of Alus, Book 12
The Unexpected Heir
by Donald Wigboldy
2016Tales of Alus, Book 13
Battle Mage Bonds
by Donald Wigboldy
2017Tales of Alus, Book 14
Battle Mage Broken Empire
by Donald Wigboldy
2017Tales of Alus, Book 15
The Caves of Time
by Donald Wigboldy
2018Tales of Alus, Book 16
Series background & context
Tales of Alus is Donald Wigboldy’s large-scale fantasy setting, a world of mages, wizards, dragons, fortified borders, royal families, and conflicts that can spread from one kingdom to another. The books share a world and an ongoing history, but they do not stay with one cast or one type of story.
The series begins with The High King, which follows Gerid Aramathea and his brother Simon after violence tied to King Merrick of Marshalla destroys their home. The Emperor’s Shadow War then opens the story further, bringing in a threat from another world and the portals that allow danger to cross between places.
The map keeps getting bigger.
For many readers, the central run begins with Battle Mage. Sebastian arrives at magic school without enough power to become a conventional wizard, so he trains with weapons and battle mage skills instead. He faces prejudice and bullying while the forces of the Dark Emperor threaten the Great Wall and the countries beyond it.
Later books follow Sebastian as he moves from student to soldier, leader, inventor, and target. The war is never just a matter of one army meeting another. Portal magic, spies, rival mages, wizard hunters, old enemies, fragile alliances, and unrest within supposedly safe cities all complicate the fight. Friends and rivals often matter as much as raw magical power.
Other entries shift the spotlight. The Unexpected Heir focuses on Malaiy’s royal family as the Brothers of the Blood create unrest in the capital. White Hall explores Alus through its long history, while the later Battle Mage books follow the effects of war into new countries, cities, and magical frontiers.
There is always another problem beyond the wall.
The tone is straightforward, action-focused high fantasy. Expect training, travel, military campaigns, magical research, monsters, and characters who need to improvise when formal power structures fail them. The books work best in publication order because the war, the magic, and Sebastian’s place in the world build over time.
Start with The High King for the setting’s earliest published story, then continue to The Emperor’s Shadow War and Battle Mage. Readers who mainly want Sebastian’s underdog-to-battle-mage arc can begin with Battle Mage, but they will get more of the world’s wider history by reading the earlier books first.
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