The Wardens Books in Order

The Wardens series nudges McHugh’s storytelling into science fiction, trading modern Earth and mythic realms for a sprawling interstellar empire still scarred by civil war.

At the heart of the story is Felix Drake. Years ago, the Union Empire nearly tore itself apart when a beloved hero turned on the government and led a devastating rebellion. That traitor was Drake’s father. The war ended, but the memory of his betrayal still shapes how people talk about power, loyalty, and justice.

By the time Atoned begins, Drake has chosen to serve the very system his father tried to burn down. As a Warden, he’s part investigator, part enforcer, tasked with protecting Council families and dragging the powerful into court when they cross the line. On paper it’s a straightforward job. In practice it means walking into rooms full of people who either despise him for his bloodline or want to use it.

The plot kicks off when two members of an influential family are murdered. Drake and his team start with what looks like a targeted killing and quickly uncover something uglier: layers of corruption, buried war crimes, and enemies who would love to see the Union Empire slide back toward chaos if it helps their cause. Solving the case forces Drake to revisit parts of his childhood he’d rather forget and to decide how much of his father’s legacy he’s willing to claim.

Where McHugh’s fantasy series lean on sorcery and gods, The Wardens draws from police procedurals and space‑opera thrillers. There are plasma weapons and advanced tech, but the core remains familiar: a small, tight‑knit team trying to do the right thing in a system that often prefers convenience to justice. The Union Empire feels lived‑in and rough around the edges, with factory worlds, political centers, and back‑alley spaces where law is more theory than practice.

Thematically, the series lets McHugh explore questions of loyalty, atonement, and what it means to wear a uniform when the institution behind it has blood on its hands. Felix Drake is competent and often deadly, but he’s also someone who grew up on the losing side of history and is determined not to let that story repeat.

If you enjoy the action and snark of the Hellequin books but like your settings a little more futuristic, The Wardens offers a familiar voice in a new genre space. It also pairs neatly with the standalone novella Blackcoat, which shares the wider Union setting and digs into what happens when an elite agent is betrayed by the people she once trusted.