Most Recommended Books

Track reading, wishlists & new-book alerts

Get
Skip to content
Share:

Tales of Alus Books in Order

Part ofDonald Wigboldy Books in Order

Browse 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

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you).

Tales of Alus books in publication order

Sort:

16 books

1

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.

2

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.

3

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.

4

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.

5

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.

6

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.

7

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.

8

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.

9

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.

10

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.

11

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.

12

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.

13

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.

14

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.

15

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.

16

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

  1. Book cover for "The High King"

    The High King

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2011Tales of Alus, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Emperor's Shadow War"

    The Emperor's Shadow War

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2011Tales of Alus, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Battle Mage"

    Battle Mage

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2011Tales of Alus, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Winter’s Edge"

    Winter’s Edge

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2013Tales of Alus, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "The King"

    The King

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2013Tales of Alus, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Dragon Mage"

    Dragon Mage

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2014Tales of Alus, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "The Dark Mage"

    The Dark Mage

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2014Tales of Alus, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "A Hero’s Welcome"

    A Hero’s Welcome

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2014Tales of Alus, Book 8
  9. Book cover for "Forging New Steel"

    Forging New Steel

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2015Tales of Alus, Book 9
  10. Book cover for "White Hall"

    White Hall

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2015Tales of Alus, Book 10
  11. Book cover for "Winds of Change"

    Winds of Change

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2015Tales of Alus, Book 11
  12. Book cover for "Battle Mage Visions"

    Battle Mage Visions

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2016Tales of Alus, Book 12
  13. Book cover for "The Unexpected Heir"

    The Unexpected Heir

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2016Tales of Alus, Book 13
  14. Book cover for "Battle Mage Bonds"

    Battle Mage Bonds

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2017Tales of Alus, Book 14
  15. Book cover for "Battle Mage Broken Empire"

    Battle Mage Broken Empire

    by Donald Wigboldy

    2017Tales of Alus, Book 15
  16. Book cover for "The Caves of Time"

    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.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

Comments

Did we miss something? Have feedback?

Help us improve this page by sharing your thoughts

We only use your email to notify you about replies.

All comments are moderated.

Discover and track your reading on the go

Track your reading, manage wishlists, and get notified when new books are added.