James Islington Books in Order (Updated August 5, 2026)

James Islington is an Australian fantasy and science fiction author. He is best known for the completed Licanius Trilogy and the ongoing Hierarchy quartet, which begins with The Will of the Many.

His series are not connected. Licanius is a complete epic fantasy story about fate, time, identity, and free will. Hierarchy follows Vis Telimus inside a rigid empire built around the transfer of human Will. Scion, Islington’s forthcoming cyberpunk thriller, begins a third and entirely separate continuity.

There is no complicated chronology to solve. Each series should be read in publication order, and readers can choose their starting point according to whether they want a completed trilogy or an ongoing series.

Choose Your First James Islington Book

1. Begin with The Shadow of What Was Lost when you want a finished epic fantasy trilogy with a large cast, time manipulation, hidden identities, and a conclusion already available.
2. Begin with The Will of the Many when you prefer an ongoing fantasy series centered on political control, an elite academy, secret identities, and a first-person protagonist.
3. Begin with Scion after its September 2026 release when you want a shorter cyberpunk thriller rather than epic fantasy.
4. The safest starting point for readers who dislike waiting between installments is The Shadow of What Was Lost. Readers who want Islington’s current major fantasy project should start with The Will of the Many.

James Islington Books at a Glance

The Licanius Trilogy

Status: Complete.

Continuity: Separate epic fantasy world.

Starting point: The Shadow of What Was Lost.

The Hierarchy Series

Status: Ongoing, planned as four books.

Continuity: Separate fantasy setting.

Starting point: The Will of the Many.

The Scion Series

Status: Begins September 1, 2026.

Continuity: Separate cyberpunk science fiction setting.

Starting point: Scion.

The Licanius Trilogy in Order

The Licanius Trilogy is one continuous story. Its shifting timelines, concealed identities, prophecies, and character histories depend heavily on information revealed in earlier volumes.

Read all three books in publication order.

1. The Shadow of What Was Lost (2014): Davian discovers that his magical abilities do not follow the laws imposed on the Gifted, drawing him and his friends into a conflict involving the Boundary, ancient enemies, and a man with no memory of his past.
2. An Echo of Things to Come (2017): Davian, Wirr, Asha, and Caeden follow separate paths as political divisions widen, the Boundary weakens, and recovered memories begin changing the meaning of the first book’s events.
3. The Light of All That Falls (2019): The struggle over the Boundary reaches its final stage as the central characters confront the consequences of prophecy, time travel, identity, and choices made across centuries.

Why the Licanius Books Must Be Read in Order

The trilogy gradually reveals which characters can be trusted, how earlier historical events actually occurred, and why several apparently separate storylines matter.

Later books openly discuss identities and motivations concealed in the first novel. Starting with An Echo of Things to Come or The Light of All That Falls would expose major answers before the questions have been established.

The series also uses memories and nonlinear events to reinterpret earlier scenes. Publication order preserves those reversals and allows the final volume to resolve clues placed throughout the trilogy.

Is There a Chronological Licanius Order?

No practical alternative chronology exists.

The story includes visions, memories, ancient history, time travel, and events whose true positions become clear only after later revelations. Rearranging the books would not produce a cleaner timeline because each volume contains material from more than one period.

The correct chronological and recommended order at book level is therefore:

1. The Shadow of What Was Lost (2014): The main present-day conflict begins while fragments of much older events remain unexplained.
2. An Echo of Things to Come (2017): Earlier histories and future possibilities become more important as the characters’ paths separate.
3. The Light of All That Falls (2019): The trilogy joins its timelines and resolves the central conflict.

The Shadow of What Was Lost Publication History

The Shadow of What Was Lost was originally self-published in 2014. Islington later signed with Orbit, which released a traditionally published edition in 2016.

These are editions of the same first Licanius novel, not separate books.

Readers who see both 2014 and 2016 attached to the title should still count it only once. The original 2014 date reflects the book’s first publication, while 2016 marks the wider Orbit release.

Is the Licanius Trilogy Complete?

Yes. The principal trilogy ends with The Light of All That Falls.

The final novel resolves the central conflict involving Davian, Wirr, Asha, Caeden, the Boundary, and the larger questions of fate and free will.

Some secondary characters leave the trilogy with parts of their journeys unexplored. Islington has previously discussed the possibility of returning to Aelric and Dezia, but no additional Licanius novel has a confirmed title or publication date as of August 5, 2026.

The existing trilogy should therefore be treated as complete, while any possible side story remains unconfirmed future material.

The Hierarchy Series in Order

Hierarchy is an ongoing fantasy quartet. It follows Vis Telimus, a survivor hiding his identity inside the Catenan Republic, an empire whose social structure depends on people surrendering part of their Will to those above them.

The second novel expands the scale and structure of the series significantly. It should not be read without completing the first book.

1. The Will of the Many (2023): Vis enters the elite Catenan Academy under a false identity, where he must survive political tests, investigate a suspicious death, and conceal his refusal to participate in the Hierarchy’s system of Will.
2. The Strength of the Few (2025): Vis faces the consequences of the first book’s final discovery as the story expands across alternate dimensions and forces different versions of him to make increasingly divergent choices.
3. The Justice of One (Forthcoming): The confirmed third Hierarchy novel will continue the story after The Strength of the Few, but no official publication date had been announced by August 5, 2026.
4. Untitled fourth Hierarchy novel (Forthcoming): A fourth book is planned to complete the series, although its title and release schedule remain unconfirmed.

Is Hierarchy a Trilogy or a Quartet?

Hierarchy was initially discussed in ways that led some listings to describe it as a trilogy.

Current official publisher information identifies it as a quartet. Four books are planned.

This means The Justice of One is book three, not the final volume. An additional fourth novel is expected to complete the story.

Older retailer pages or reading lists that still call Hierarchy a trilogy should be treated as outdated.

Why The Strength of the Few Cannot Be Read First

The Strength of the Few begins from the consequences of the ending of The Will of the Many. Its premise immediately reveals the nature of a discovery that the first book spends hundreds of pages approaching.

It also assumes familiarity with Vis, the Catenan Academy, the Hierarchy’s social system, the transfer of Will, and the political factions surrounding him.

Begin with The Will of the Many, even when the wider scope of the sequel sounds more appealing.

Hierarchy Chronological Order

Publication order is also the correct chronological order.

1. The Will of the Many (2023): Vis enters the Academy and begins investigating the forces hidden beneath the Catenan Republic.
2. The Strength of the Few (2025): The story continues directly from the first novel’s ending and divides Vis’s experience across multiple realities.
3. The Justice of One (Forthcoming): The third book will continue the unresolved conflict after The Strength of the Few.
4. Untitled fourth Hierarchy novel (Forthcoming): The final planned installment will conclude the quartet.

There are no confirmed prequels, novellas, or short stories that need to be inserted between these books.

Scion Books in Order

The Scion series is Islington’s first published science fiction project. It is described as a cyberpunk thriller and is separate from both Licanius and Hierarchy.

Islington has indicated that the series will be lighter and shorter than his epic fantasy work. Each installment is also intended to feel more self-contained, although the books will still belong to the same series.

1. Scion (Forthcoming September 1, 2026): A contract killer assigned to protect a scientist from assassination discovers that the job has placed him in the path of powerful enemies and made him a target as well.

Scion is book one of a new series. No title or publication date has been confirmed for book two.

Is Scion Connected to Hierarchy or Licanius?

No.

Scion is a cyberpunk science fiction thriller with its own setting, characters, and continuity. It does not share the world of the Licanius Trilogy or the Catenan Republic from Hierarchy.

No earlier Islington book is required before beginning it.

James Islington Books in Publication Order

Reading every Islington book by publication date moves between separate worlds. This order is useful for following his career, but readers interested in story continuity should complete each series separately.

1. The Shadow of What Was Lost (2014): Davian’s unusual abilities pull him into a conflict involving ancient powers, political restrictions, and a weakening magical barrier.
2. An Echo of Things to Come (2017): The Licanius characters separate across different missions while forgotten histories and future threats become clearer.
3. The Light of All That Falls (2019): The trilogy’s timelines and character arcs converge in the final struggle over the Boundary.
4. The Will of the Many (2023): Vis hides inside an elite academy while resisting the empire that destroyed his former life.
5. The Strength of the Few (2025): Vis’s discovery expands the Hierarchy story into multiple realities with different dangers and loyalties.
6. Scion (Forthcoming September 1, 2026): A professional killer becomes the hunted while attempting to protect a scientist in a cyberpunk setting.
7. The Justice of One (Forthcoming): The third Hierarchy book will continue Vis’s divided storyline, with no confirmed release date yet announced.
8. Untitled fourth Hierarchy novel (Forthcoming): The final planned volume will complete the Hierarchy quartet.

The Best Reading Order for All James Islington Books

Because the three series are separate, a complete reading plan should prioritize finished stories before unfinished ones.

First, Complete Licanius

1. The Shadow of What Was Lost (2014): The trilogy begins with Davian, his forbidden ability, and the mystery surrounding the Boundary.
2. An Echo of Things to Come (2017): The second volume expands the world and reveals how the characters are connected to its older conflicts.
3. The Light of All That Falls (2019): The completed trilogy reaches its final confrontation and resolves its central questions.

Next, Begin Hierarchy

4. The Will of the Many (2023): Vis enters the Academy and starts uncovering the truth behind the empire’s system of power.
5. The Strength of the Few (2025): The second book widens the story across realities and continues directly from the first novel’s ending.
6. The Justice of One (Forthcoming): Read the third installment after The Strength of the Few when it is published.
7. Untitled fourth Hierarchy novel (Forthcoming): Finish the quartet with the planned final book once it becomes available.

Add Scion Separately

8. Scion (Forthcoming September 1, 2026): Begin Islington’s independent cyberpunk series with a contract killer caught inside a protection assignment.

This sequence is not mandatory. The Will of the Many and Scion can both be used as independent starting points because neither connects to Licanius.

Which Series Should You Read First?

Read Licanius First When You Want a Finished Story

The Licanius Trilogy offers a complete beginning, middle, and ending. Readers can proceed through all three books without waiting for future installments.

It is the better first choice for readers who enjoy large-scale epic fantasy, interlocking timelines, prophecies, magical restrictions, and questions about whether the future can be changed.

Read Hierarchy First When You Want Islington’s Current Fantasy Series

Hierarchy uses a closer first-person perspective and initially keeps its attention on Vis, the Academy, and the political system surrounding them.

The series is still unfinished. Readers who begin now can read The Will of the Many and The Strength of the Few, but they will need to wait for books three and four.

Read Scion First When You Prefer Science Fiction

Scion offers cyberpunk action rather than secondary-world epic fantasy.

It begins a series, but Islington has described its installments as more individually self-contained than Licanius or Hierarchy.

Are Licanius and Hierarchy Connected?

No confirmed continuity connects them.

Both series use complex systems of power and explore identity, political control, choice, and hidden history, but these similarities are thematic rather than evidence of a shared universe.

Licanius takes place in a world shaped by the Gift, Essence, Augurs, the Boundary, and ancient conflict.

Hierarchy takes place under the Catenan Republic, where Will is transferred upward through a rigid social structure.

Characters, histories, and magical systems do not cross between the two series.

Are There Any James Islington Novellas or Short Stories?

No separately published novella or short story is currently required for Licanius, Hierarchy, or Scion.

Readers may encounter references to a possible future story involving Aelric and Dezia from the Licanius Trilogy. That project has been discussed but does not have a confirmed release date.

It should not be inserted into current reading orders as though it has already been published.

Boxed Sets and Collected Editions

The Licanius Trilogy is available in boxed and bundled editions that collect:

1. The Shadow of What Was Lost: The trilogy’s opening mystery and conflict.
2. An Echo of Things to Come: The expansion of its timelines, histories, and character missions.
3. The Light of All That Falls: The completed ending.

These sets contain the same three novels. They do not include a fourth Licanius story.

Hierarchy editions may use different cover designs, sprayed edges, maps, endpapers, or deluxe packaging. Those are alternate presentations of the same novels and do not change the reading order.

Latest James Islington Book

As of August 5, 2026, Islington’s latest published novel is The Strength of the Few, released on November 11, 2025.

It is the second book in the Hierarchy quartet and follows The Will of the Many directly.

His next scheduled book is Scion, which is due on September 1, 2026. Because that date is after this article’s update date, it remains forthcoming.

The Justice of One is confirmed as Hierarchy book three and is currently in progress, but no official publication date has been announced.

Upcoming James Islington Books

Scion

1. Scion (September 1, 2026): A cyberpunk contract killer is ordered to protect a scientist, only to discover that the assignment has made him part of the threat.

Status: Confirmed and scheduled.

The Justice of One

1. The Justice of One (Publication date to be announced): The third Hierarchy novel will continue the alternate-reality conflict introduced in The Strength of the Few.

Status: Confirmed and in progress.

Untitled Hierarchy Book Four

1. Untitled fourth Hierarchy novel (Publication date to be announced): The planned final volume will complete Vis’s story and the Hierarchy quartet.

Status: Planned, title unconfirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What James Islington book should I read first?

Begin with The Shadow of What Was Lost for a completed trilogy.

Begin with The Will of the Many when you prefer to start with Islington’s ongoing and more recent fantasy series.

Is The Shadow of What Was Lost a standalone?

No. It is the first book of the Licanius Trilogy.

Its major mysteries continue through An Echo of Things to Come and conclude in The Light of All That Falls.

Is the Licanius Trilogy complete?

Yes.

All three books are published, and The Light of All That Falls completes the main story.

What order should the Licanius Trilogy be read in?

Read:

1. The Shadow of What Was Lost: Davian’s story and the Boundary conflict begin.
2. An Echo of Things to Come: The timelines and hidden histories expand.
3. The Light of All That Falls: The trilogy reaches its conclusion.

No alternate order is recommended.

Is there a fourth Licanius book?

No fourth main-series novel has been published or formally scheduled.

A possible story involving Aelric and Dezia has been discussed, but it remains unconfirmed for publication.

Is The Will of the Many connected to Licanius?

No.

It begins the separate Hierarchy series with a different world, political system, protagonist, and form of power.

Is The Strength of the Few book two?

Yes. It is the second Hierarchy novel.

It must be read after The Will of the Many because it begins from the first book’s final revelations.

Is Hierarchy a trilogy?

No. Current official information describes Hierarchy as a four-book series.

Two books are published, The Justice of One is book three, and an untitled fourth novel is planned.

What is Hierarchy book three called?

The third book is titled The Justice of One.

Its publication date had not been announced as of August 5, 2026.

Is The Justice of One the final Hierarchy book?

No. It is book three of the planned quartet.

A fourth and currently untitled novel is expected to complete the series.

Can The Strength of the Few be read as a standalone?

No.

It depends on the Academy storyline, political conflicts, relationships, and ending of The Will of the Many.

What is Scion about?

Scion is a cyberpunk thriller about a contract killer assigned to protect a scientist from assassination.

It begins a new science fiction series and is separate from Islington’s fantasy books.

When will Scion be published?

Scion is scheduled for September 1, 2026.

It was still forthcoming on this article’s August 5, 2026 update date.

Is Scion a standalone?

It is the first book in a new series.

Islington has stated that the books will feel more self-contained than Licanius or Hierarchy, but additional installments are planned.

Do James Islington’s books share a universe?

No shared universe has been confirmed.

Licanius, Hierarchy, and Scion should be treated as separate continuities.

What is James Islington’s newest published book?

The Strength of the Few is his newest published novel as of August 5, 2026.

Scion is the next scheduled release.

Conclusion

For a completed James Islington experience, begin with The Shadow of What Was Lost and read the Licanius Trilogy straight through to The Light of All That Falls.

For his ongoing fantasy series, begin with The Will of the Many, then continue with The Strength of the Few. The Justice of One will follow as book three, with a fourth volume planned to finish the series.

Scion begins a separate cyberpunk continuity on September 1, 2026. It requires no knowledge of Licanius or Hierarchy, so readers can approach it as an entirely new starting point.