Joseph Nassise Books in Order (Updated August 9, 2026)

Joseph Nassise writes urban fantasy, supernatural thrillers, military horror, dark fantasy, zombie fiction, and action adventure.

His bibliography is easiest to understand once three different kinds of books are kept apart.

First are Nassise’s own continuing series, especially the Templar Chronicles, Jeremiah Hunt, Great Undead War, and HELLstalkers.

Second are projects where he contributed books to someone else’s larger publishing line, most notably Rogue Angel.

Third are collaborative or alternate-name projects, including Veil Knights, Matthew Caine, J. S. Hope, and the audio-original Midnight Project.

The Templar Chronicles is the main place where order matters most.

The Shortest Useful Reading Guide

For modern Templar urban fantasy, begin with The Heretic.

For a completed three-book supernatural detective story, begin with Eyes to See.

For alternate First World War zombie fiction, begin with By the Blood of Heroes.

For military dimensional horror, begin with The Cerberus Protocol.

For a standalone horror novel, Riverwatch or The Carrion King can be read without any series preparation.

Do not begin a complete Nassise read with his Rogue Angel books simply because some were published between his original novels. Rogue Angel is a separate multi-author franchise.

Templar Chronicles Books in Order

The Templar Chronicles follows Cade Williams and the Echo Team, modern Knights Templar who combat supernatural threats hidden from the ordinary world.

The current official series order is:

1. The Heretic
2. A Scream of Angels
3. A Tear in the Sky
4. Infernal Games
5. Judgment Day
6. Fall of Night
7. Darkness Reigns
8. Nephilim’s Rise
9. Angel’s Regret

Read these in this order.

The series is strongly cumulative. Cade’s relationship with Gabrielle, his position within the Templar Order, the Adversary, Echo Team, the Beyond, and the larger supernatural war all develop across multiple books.

Starting with a later volume would expose major outcomes from earlier conflicts.

Heretic and The Heretic

Older editions may simply be titled:

Heretic

Current editions use:

The Heretic

These are not separate novels.

The book was originally published in 2005 and is the first Templar Chronicles novel.

Do not count Heretic and The Heretic as Books 1 and 2.

Nephilim’s Rise and Nephilim Rising

Some older listings use Nephilim Rising.

The current official title is:

Nephilim’s Rise

It is Templar Chronicles Book 8.

When checking used or older editions, treat those title variations as referring to the same position in the series unless the edition clearly indicates otherwise.

Angel’s Regret

Angel’s Regret is now officially listed as Templar Chronicles Book 9.

That matters because many older bibliographies stop with Nephilim’s Rise.

The novel continues the post-collapse phase of the Templar storyline, with Cade, Gabrielle, Riley, the Adversary’s forces, and the surviving resistance still involved in the larger conflict.

For a current reading order:

8. Nephilim’s Rise
9. Angel’s Regret

Do not leave Book 9 off because an older database has not yet been updated.

Templar Chronicles Missions in Order

Nassise also publishes shorter Templar adventures under the Templar Chronicles Missions label.

The current official sequence is:

1. Shades of Blood
2. The Hungry Dark
3. Tooth and Claw
4. Flesh and Bone
5. Babylon Dreams

These are not Templar Chronicles Books 10 through 14.

They are a companion line of mission-focused stories, often exploring earlier events, specific Echo Team assignments, or characters outside the central novel arc.

Where Does Shades of Blood Fit?

Shades of Blood goes back to an earlier stage of Cade Williams’s career.

It is set before The Heretic.

Chronologically, that would give:

1. Shades of Blood
2. The Heretic

For a first read, reverse that.

Read The Heretic first, then use Shades of Blood as a prequel once Cade and Echo Team are already familiar.

Status: Optional prequel mission.

Is Shades of Blood the Same as That Cleansing Fire?

An earlier version of the material appeared under the title That Cleansing Fire.

Later editions were revised and published as Shades of Blood.

Do not automatically count both as separate required Templar stories.

For a modern reading list, use Shades of Blood.

Where Does The Hungry Dark Fit?

The Hungry Dark belongs to the early Echo Team period.

It can be read after The Heretic and before A Scream of Angels if you want a fuller chronological route.

A practical expanded order begins:

1. The Heretic
2. The Hungry Dark
3. A Scream of Angels

The main novels still work without it.

Status: Optional mission.

Tooth and Claw

Tooth and Claw is another standalone Echo Team mission.

It deals with the disappearance of an entire town and is written as a mission-oriented supernatural military story.

It is not necessary for understanding the numbered Templar novels.

Read it after you already know Cade and Echo Team.

Flesh and Bone

Flesh and Bone focuses heavily on Matthew Riley’s past and the events that helped bring him into the Templar Order.

That makes it character background rather than a required interruption in the central Cade Williams sequence.

Read it after the early Templar novels for greater context.

Babylon Dreams

Babylon Dreams is the fifth Templar Chronicles Mission.

It was announced on August 5, 2026 and involves Cade Williams, Echo Team, a supernatural outbreak, and an artifact called the Book of Hours.

It is the newest Templar Mission listed on Nassise’s official site as of this update.

Treat it as:

Included companion story, not main-series Book 10.

The Best Templar Chronicles Reading Order

For newcomers, the cleanest approach is still the main novels first:

1. The Heretic
2. A Scream of Angels
3. A Tear in the Sky
4. Infernal Games
5. Judgment Day
6. Fall of Night
7. Darkness Reigns
8. Nephilim’s Rise
9. Angel’s Regret

Then read the Missions:

1. Shades of Blood
2. The Hungry Dark
3. Tooth and Claw
4. Flesh and Bone
5. Babylon Dreams

This preserves the main arc without constantly moving backward into prequel material.

Readers who already know the series can experiment with chronological placement on a reread.

Templar Chronicles Omnibuses

Nassise has also issued omnibus editions.

Templar Chronicles Omnibus #1 collects the first three novels.

Templar Chronicles Omnibus #2 collects Books 4 through 6.

These are collections of existing novels.

Do not count either omnibus as an additional installment.

Templar Chronicles World Companion

The Templar Chronicles World Companion is a reference book covering the Order, characters, creatures, artifacts, and setting.

It is not fiction.

Read it after several novels, preferably after you are already familiar with the major terminology.

Status: Optional reference volume.

Jeremiah Hunt Books in Order

The Jeremiah Hunt Chronicle is a much simpler series.

Read:

1. Eyes to See (2011)
2. King of the Dead (2012)
3. Watcher of the Dark (2013)

The trilogy follows Jeremiah Hunt, a grieving father whose search for his missing daughter draws him into supernatural forces and eventually leaves him operating as a blind occult investigator.

These books form one continuing narrative.

Read them consecutively.

Is Jeremiah Hunt Complete?

Yes, as a published trilogy.

The official author site continues to identify the series as the Jeremiah Hunt trilogy.

The story order is:

1. Eyes to See
2. King of the Dead
3. Watcher of the Dark

No fourth Jeremiah Hunt novel is currently listed as part of the main sequence.

Der Schattenseher

An unusual publication detail can cause confusion with Eyes to See.

The story appeared in German translation as Der Schattenseher before its English publication.

That is not a separate prequel.

For English-language readers, simply begin with Eyes to See.

Great Undead War Books in Order

The Great Undead War combines First World War military fiction with a zombie apocalypse.

The two original main novels are:

1. By the Blood of Heroes (2012)
2. On Her Majesty’s Behalf (2014)

Read them in that order.

The setting begins during an alternate First World War in which a German chemical weapon can reanimate the dead.

Where Does The Sharp End Fit?

The Sharp End is a shorter Great Undead War story.

It is set before By the Blood of Heroes.

A chronological route is:

1. The Sharp End
2. By the Blood of Heroes
3. On Her Majesty’s Behalf

For newcomers, beginning with By the Blood of Heroes remains perfectly reasonable.

The Sharp End: Optional prequel.

Operation Shambling Tide

Operation Shambling Tide was published in 2026.

It takes place in the Great Undead War universe but uses different characters from the original First World War storyline.

Nassise describes it as his first LitRPG novel.

That means it should not be labeled Great Undead War Book 3 without qualification.

A cleaner classification is:

Great Undead War universe spin-off

The original core sequence remains:

1. By the Blood of Heroes
2. On Her Majesty’s Behalf

Operation Shambling Tide can follow afterward for readers who want another approach to the same broader zombie setting.

Great Undead War Recommended Order

Use:

1. By the Blood of Heroes
2. On Her Majesty’s Behalf
3. Operation Shambling Tide

Add The Sharp End before Book 1 if you want the prequel story.

This keeps the original duology intact before changing protagonists and format.

HELLstalkers Books in Order

HELLstalkers follows a military team dealing with creatures entering our world through dimensional breaches.

Read:

1. The Cerberus Protocol
2. Cold Day in Hell
3. Dark Night in Caracas

The original first book was written with Jon F. Merz.

Later books continue the same basic military-supernatural setting.

Publication history is spread across a long period, but the internal numbering is straightforward.

Cerberus or Cerebus?

Some audio and retailer listings contain the misspelling Cerebus Protocol.

The official series title is:

The Cerberus Protocol

Use that form in a reference bibliography.

Is HELLstalkers Complete?

Three books are currently published in the main line:

1. The Cerberus Protocol
2. Cold Day in Hell
3. Dark Night in Caracas

No fourth book should be added unless it receives a confirmed publication listing.

The Midnight Project Books in Order

The Midnight Project is different from Nassise’s print series because it was created as a GraphicAudio original trilogy.

The order is:

1. The Midnight Project: Renegades
2. The Midnight Project: Revolution
3. The Midnight Project: Retribution

The trilogy follows Jessica Shine, a powerful magic user caught up in a secret government organization dealing with vampires, shape-shifters, dark magicians, and supernatural weapons.

The third entry concludes the central storyline.

Are The Midnight Project Books Available as Print Novels?

The project was created as an audio-original trilogy.

Readers should not assume that a print or ebook edition exists just because the titles appear in an author bibliography.

If your reading project is strictly print books, keep this trilogy in a separate audio-original section.

Is The Midnight Project Complete?

Yes.

The sequence is:

1. Renegades
2. Revolution
3. Retribution

Retribution is identified as the conclusion.

The Paranormal World and Lord of Misrule

Nassise also published a five-part paranormal-romance serial under the name J. S. Hope.

The Lord of Misrule sequence is:

1. Ritual
2. Revelation
3. Relentless
4. Rapture
5. Reckoning

These five parts form one continuing story and should be read consecutively.

They belong to The Paranormal World branding.

Is J. S. Hope Joseph Nassise?

The series is currently presented through Nassise’s official site under the J. S. Hope name.

For a complete Joseph Nassise bibliography, it is reasonable to include it while keeping the alternate byline visible.

Do not mix the five Lord of Misrule installments into the Templar Chronicles.

They are a separate continuity.

Rogue Angel Books by Joseph Nassise

Rogue Angel is a large multi-author adventure series published under the house name Alex Archer.

Joseph Nassise wrote several installments.

His contributions are:

1. The Spirit Banner, Rogue Angel Book 22
2. The Dragon’s Mark, Book 26
3. Tear of the Gods, Book 31
4. Cradle of Solitude, Book 33
5. Library of Gold, Book 37
6. The Staff of Judea, Book 41
7. The Vanishing Tribe, Book 42
8. Treasure of Lima, Book 46
9. Bathed in Blood, Book 53
10. Beneath Still Waters, Book 55

These do not form a private ten-book Joseph Nassise series.

Other authors wrote the volumes between them.

Should You Read Only Nassise’s Rogue Angel Books in Order?

If you are collecting only his contributions, publication order is fine:

1. The Spirit Banner
2. The Dragon’s Mark
3. Tear of the Gods
4. Cradle of Solitude
5. Library of Gold
6. The Staff of Judea
7. The Vanishing Tribe
8. Treasure of Lima
9. Bathed in Blood
10. Beneath Still Waters

However, a reader following Annja Creed’s entire character arc should use the full Rogue Angel series order and include the books by other writers.

Status: Shared franchise contributions.

Why Do Rogue Angel Covers Say Alex Archer?

Alex Archer is the house name used for the Rogue Angel line.

The actual writers varied by volume.

Joseph Nassise’s authorship may appear in copyright, bibliographic, or publisher records rather than prominently on the front cover.

Do not mistake Alex Archer for a separate coauthor.

Veil Knights

Veil Knights is another project that needs careful labeling.

The series was published under the collective name Rowan Casey and involved multiple writers. Nassise is identified on his official site as series creator and editor.

The ten-volume sequence is:

1. The Circle Gathers
2. The Questing Beast
3. Hound of Night
4. Run of Luck
5. Cloak of Fury
6. Medusa Gambit
7. White Mountain Rising
8. Hammer of Darkness
9. Stone of Destiny
10. The Hollywood Incubus

These books reimagine Arthurian legends in a modern urban-fantasy setting.

They should be kept separate from the Templar Chronicles.

Is Rowan Casey Just Joseph Nassise?

Not exactly.

Rowan Casey was used as a collective pen name for a group of authors working on Veil Knights.

Nassise helped create and edit the project, but the byline does not mean he personally wrote every volume.

For a strict bibliography of books solely authored by Joseph Nassise, separate Veil Knights from his main novels.

For a projects-created-by-Nassise bibliography, include the full sequence with that explanation.

Matthew Caine and The Aspect Cycle

Nassise has also used the name Matthew Caine for epic fantasy.

The published book firmly associated with the Aspect Cycle is:

1. Ghosts of the Conquered (2015)

It was written with Steven Savile under the Matthew Caine name.

A second title, The Swords of Scorn, was announced in older material.

Because a reliable published edition could not be confirmed in the current bibliography, it should not be presented as an available Book 2.

For current readers:

Published: Ghosts of the Conquered
Further announced material: uncertain or unpublished

Riverwatch

Riverwatch is Nassise’s early standalone horror novel.

It was first published by Pocket Books in 2003 and later reissued.

The story combines small-town horror with an ancient supernatural threat.

It does not belong to the Templar Chronicles.

Status: Standalone.

The Carrion King

The Carrion King was published in 2025.

Nassise described it as his first straight horror novel in roughly twenty-five years, distinguishing it from the urban fantasy and military supernatural fiction that dominates much of his bibliography.

It follows Dalton James as reality begins to break down around him after the death of his wife.

Status: Standalone horror novel.

No earlier Nassise book is required.

More Than Life Itself

More Than Life Itself is a novella involving a father desperate to save his dying daughter.

It has also appeared in collected form.

Treat it as standalone shorter fiction rather than part of Jeremiah Hunt merely because both involve fathers facing supernatural circumstances involving their children.

Siren Call

Siren Call appears among Nassise’s standalone titles.

It is separate from his major continuing series.

No Templar, Jeremiah Hunt, or HELLstalkers reading is required first.

Collections

Nassise has published collections including:

1. Spectres and Darkness
2. Shades of Reality: Tales of Horror and Dark Fantasy

These gather shorter fiction rather than advancing one numbered novel series.

Some shorter works may also appear elsewhere in anthologies or standalone ebook editions, so check contents before assuming every format contains completely new fiction.

Anthologies Edited by Joseph Nassise

Nassise has also edited or co-edited anthologies.

Notable titles include:

1. Midian Unmade: Tales of Clive Barker’s Nightbreed
2. Urban Allies
3. Urban Enemies
4. Darkened Streets

These contain work by multiple authors.

Do not include them as numbered Joseph Nassise novels.

On Writing Horror

Nassise has nonfiction involvement with:

On Writing Horror: A Handbook by the Horror Writers Association

This is a writing reference book rather than fiction.

Keep it separate from his reading-order bibliography.

Joseph Nassise Series at a Glance

Templar Chronicles

1. The Heretic
2. A Scream of Angels
3. A Tear in the Sky
4. Infernal Games
5. Judgment Day
6. Fall of Night
7. Darkness Reigns
8. Nephilim’s Rise
9. Angel’s Regret

Templar Chronicles Missions

1. Shades of Blood
2. The Hungry Dark
3. Tooth and Claw
4. Flesh and Bone
5. Babylon Dreams

Jeremiah Hunt

1. Eyes to See
2. King of the Dead
3. Watcher of the Dark

Great Undead War

Core novels:

1. By the Blood of Heroes
2. On Her Majesty’s Behalf

Related:

The Sharp End, prequel story
Operation Shambling Tide, 2026 universe spin-off

HELLstalkers

1. The Cerberus Protocol
2. Cold Day in Hell
3. Dark Night in Caracas

The Midnight Project

1. Renegades
2. Revolution
3. Retribution

Audio-original trilogy.

Lord of Misrule, as J. S. Hope

1. Ritual
2. Revelation
3. Relentless
4. Rapture
5. Reckoning

Veil Knights, collective Rowan Casey project

1. The Circle Gathers
2. The Questing Beast
3. Hound of Night
4. Run of Luck
5. Cloak of Fury
6. Medusa Gambit
7. White Mountain Rising
8. Hammer of Darkness
9. Stone of Destiny
10. The Hollywood Incubus

Which Joseph Nassise Series Are Connected?

The Templar Chronicles novels and Templar Chronicles Missions belong to the same world.

The Great Undead War books and Operation Shambling Tide share another universe.

The remaining major series should be treated separately.

Jeremiah Hunt is its own supernatural-detective continuity.

HELLstalkers is a separate military-horror setting.

The Midnight Project is a separate audio-original supernatural trilogy.

Lord of Misrule is separate paranormal romance.

Rogue Angel belongs to an external shared franchise.

Veil Knights is a collaborative Arthurian urban-fantasy project.

Do not merge all of Nassise’s supernatural series merely because they feature demons, occult forces, secret organizations, or military action.

Which Order Matters Most?

The Templar Chronicles benefits most strongly from strict reading order.

Jeremiah Hunt should also be read straight through because it is a direct trilogy.

HELLstalkers is numbered and sequential.

The Midnight Project is a completed three-part story.

Great Undead War is slightly looser now because Operation Shambling Tide changes characters and format.

Rogue Angel is the exception. Nassise’s individual contributions are scattered across a much larger multi-author line.

What Is Joseph Nassise’s Latest Book?

As of August 9, 2026, the newest item highlighted on Nassise’s official site is Babylon Dreams, a Templar Chronicles Mission announced on August 5, 2026.

His 2026 bibliography also includes Operation Shambling Tide, a LitRPG novel in the Great Undead War universe.

His newest main Templar Chronicles listing is Angel’s Regret, officially identified as Book 9.

Because those three titles belong to different branches, “latest Joseph Nassise book” can produce different answers depending on whether the reader means latest publication, latest full-length novel, or latest main-series Templar installment.

For a current reading-order page, the useful statuses are:

Newest Templar Mission: Babylon Dreams
Newest numbered Templar novel: Angel’s Regret
2026 Great Undead War universe release: Operation Shambling Tide

Joseph Nassise Books in Order FAQs

What Joseph Nassise book should I read first?

Begin with The Heretic if you want his largest and best-established original series.

For a shorter commitment, begin with Eyes to See, the first Jeremiah Hunt novel.

For standalone horror, try Riverwatch or The Carrion King.

What order should I read the Templar Chronicles?

Read:

1. The Heretic
2. A Scream of Angels
3. A Tear in the Sky
4. Infernal Games
5. Judgment Day
6. Fall of Night
7. Darkness Reigns
8. Nephilim’s Rise
9. Angel’s Regret

Is Angel’s Regret really Templar Chronicles Book 9?

Yes.

Nassise’s current official site explicitly numbers it as Book 9.

Older lists ending with Nephilim’s Rise are outdated.

Do I need the Templar Chronicles Missions?

No.

They add missions, prequel material, and character background, but the main novels remain understandable without them.

Should I read Shades of Blood before The Heretic?

Not on a first read.

It occurs earlier, but The Heretic is the stronger introduction to Cade Williams and the Templar world.

Read Shades of Blood afterward as a prequel.

What is the newest Templar Mission?

As of August 9, 2026, it is Babylon Dreams.

It is the fifth title in the Templar Chronicles Missions line.

What order are the Jeremiah Hunt books?

Read:

1. Eyes to See
2. King of the Dead
3. Watcher of the Dark

The trilogy is complete.

What order are the Great Undead War books?

For the core sequence:

1. By the Blood of Heroes
2. On Her Majesty’s Behalf

Add The Sharp End as an optional prequel.

Read Operation Shambling Tide afterward as a later spin-off in the same universe.

Is Operation Shambling Tide Book 3?

It shares the Great Undead War universe, but Nassise specifically describes it as involving different characters and a LitRPG approach.

Calling it simply Book 3 would hide that change.

What order are the HELLstalkers books?

Read:

1. The Cerberus Protocol
2. Cold Day in Hell
3. Dark Night in Caracas

What order is The Midnight Project?

Read or listen in this order:

1. Renegades
2. Revolution
3. Retribution

It is an audio-original trilogy.

Did Joseph Nassise write Rogue Angel books?

Yes.

He wrote ten installments in the original Rogue Angel novel line, beginning with The Spirit Banner and ending with Beneath Still Waters.

They were published under the house name Alex Archer.

Is Alex Archer Joseph Nassise?

No.

Alex Archer is a shared house name used for Rogue Angel books written by multiple authors.

Nassise was one of those contributors.

Is Rowan Casey Joseph Nassise?

Rowan Casey is a collective pen name associated with the multi-author Veil Knights project.

Nassise served as creator and editor, but readers should not assume every Rowan Casey book was solely written by him.

Is Matthew Caine Joseph Nassise?

Matthew Caine is a pen name Nassise has used for epic fantasy.

Ghosts of the Conquered was written with Steven Savile under that name.

What was Joseph Nassise’s first novel?

Riverwatch was his debut novel.

It was originally published in 2003 and was later reissued.

Is The Carrion King part of a series?

No current series designation is required.

Treat it as standalone supernatural horror.

Where to Begin Without Overcomplicating It

For most readers, Joseph Nassise starts with one clear path:

1. The Heretic
2. A Scream of Angels
3. A Tear in the Sky
4. Infernal Games
5. Judgment Day
6. Fall of Night
7. Darkness Reigns
8. Nephilim’s Rise
9. Angel’s Regret

Save the Templar Missions for afterward unless you are rereading chronologically.

If you want something shorter and complete, the Jeremiah Hunt trilogy is only three novels. Great Undead War begins with two connected First World War books before opening into newer material such as Operation Shambling Tide. HELLstalkers is another compact three-book route.

Keep Rogue Angel and Veil Knights in their own boxes. Those are shared publishing projects, not extensions of Cade Williams’s world.

The main distinction to remember is that Nassise writes several kinds of supernatural action fiction, but similar monsters and military structures do not make those books one continuity.