The NEXUS series started out with aspirations of being like Discworld – all connected, but also all standalone. That worked for the first three books, and then book four was a direct sequel to book three, and book five was the first of a trilogy… They are no longer completely standalone, and so I thought it would be a good idea to clarify what ‘needs’ to be read before what. I don’t know the best way to lay it out, so let’s go with my signature basic and yet needlessly complicated for now!
At the moment, I’m writing two trilogies, which are set about twenty years apart, but tie together. The books of each alternate, and should be read in order (Assassin, Fear, Assassin, Fear, Assassin, Fear).
For simplification, I’ll also use a key to show the importance of reading certain books:
! = You won’t be confused by anything, but some names etc. would make more sense if you’ve read this book too.
!! = Some references to things or people in this book that means you might want to read it first. Not vital, but recommended.
!!! = Almost vital prior reading. Either direct continuation of something in this book, or things are heavily referenced.
I started writing this when I was 12, so you’ll be hard pressed to find anything from before it! We meet Archer and Juni in this book, who will be the main protagonists of the overall series.
The protagonists of book 1 become side characters in this one, and early chapters overlap with a chapter in book 1, but you won’t be confused if you don’t read that first.
!! – Shadow of the Wraith
Another completely standalone book. The link here is that one of the protagonists is mentioned in book 1 (set over a hundred years after this one), and the other has a small role in it.
! – Shadow of the Wraith
The direct sequel to Blades, continuing both story and character arcs. Blades should be read first.
!!! – Blades of the Fallen
This one is also set before book 1, and there are a couple of names that will be familiar from books 1 and 2. The first of a trilogy, which alternates and ties in with the Fear trilogy.
! – Temple of the Sixth
!! – Shadow of the Wraith
Archer and Juni are back to kick off another trilogy. This is mostly standalone, but understanding how the team is where they are and how Archer and Juni are tenuously together might be helpful, meaning book 1. Church should also be read first.
! – Temple of the Sixth
!! – Shadow of the Wraith
!! – Church of the Assassin
Obviously Church should be read first, and even though this is set about twenty years before Fear, it’s best to read both of these trilogies in the order they are released.
!! – Fear of the Dark
!!! – Church of the Assassin
Fear of the Light
The upcoming sequel to Fear of the Dark. It goes without saying that should be read first, but this one touches on everything that has come before, so reading all previous books is important to understanding everything this time.
!! – Shadow of the Wraith
!! – Temple of the Sixth
!!! – Blades of the Fallen
!!! – Ghosts of the Fallen
!!! – Church of the Assassin
!!! – Fear of the Dark
!!! – Forge of the Assassin
Hopefully this helps. It will probably help more when I realise there’s a much easier way to lay this out.
ROSS HARRISON 