Below is the complete list of John Gwynne’s Blood & Bone books in order. For this series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
Publication Order of Blood & Bone Books
About Blood & Bone
Blood & Bone, also known as Of Blood and Bone, is a completed epic fantasy trilogy by British author John Gwynne. Consisting of A Time of Dread (2018), A Time of Blood (2019), and A Time of Courage (2020), the series returns to the Banished Lands approximately 130 years after the events of The Faithful and the Fallen. It explores a world still shaped by an ancient war, where the apparent triumph of good has not eliminated cruelty, ambition, or the threat of renewed conflict.
The trilogy begins with A Time of Dread, introducing a new generation living in the aftermath of the God-War. The Ben-Elim, powerful winged beings who fought against Asroth’s forces, have established themselves as protectors of the Banished Lands. Their authority is enforced through the White-Wings, an elite military order devoted to maintaining peace and preventing the return of the Kadoshim.
Yet the peace they have created is far from uncomplicated. The Ben-Elim’s determination to eradicate evil has produced a rigid system in which obedience is demanded and dissent can carry severe consequences. Gwynne uses this tension to question whether those who defeat a terrible enemy are necessarily suited to govern afterward.
One of the central protagonists is Drem, a young trapper living with his father in the wilderness. His relatively isolated existence changes when disturbing discoveries suggest that dangerous forces are gathering. As Drem becomes involved in events far beyond his experience, he must confront unsettling truths about his family and the world around him.
Another important character is Riv, a fiercely determined young woman training to become a White-Wing. Riv admires the Ben-Elim and longs to prove herself worthy of serving them, but her experiences gradually challenge her understanding of their authority. Her storyline examines the conflict between loyalty to an institution and the demands of personal conscience.
Bleda, a young warrior prince taken from his people as a political hostage, offers a different perspective on the Ben-Elim’s rule. His experiences reveal the resentment and cultural divisions that persist beneath the appearance of unity. Through Bleda, Gwynne explores how conquest and enforced peace can shape generations of political relationships.
The trilogy also follows Sig, a giantess whose strength and experience connect the new narrative to the history of the Banished Lands. Her presence adds depth to a world where the consequences of earlier conflicts remain visible long after the original participants have disappeared.
A Time of Blood expands the struggle as the Kadoshim threat grows and competing factions prepare for war. The protagonists find themselves drawn into increasingly dangerous circumstances, while revelations about the Ben-Elim and their enemies complicate established ideas about justice and loyalty.
In A Time of Courage, the conflict reaches its conclusion. The competing forces gather for decisive confrontations, and the central characters must determine what they are willing to sacrifice for the future of the Banished Lands. Gwynne brings together the trilogy’s military, political, and personal storylines while examining the responsibilities that accompany genuine courage.
Like The Faithful and the Fallen, Blood & Bone features extensive battle sequences, including shield-wall fighting, cavalry engagements, and confrontations involving supernatural beings. Gwynne’s interest in historical combat gives these scenes a physical immediacy, while the shifting perspectives reveal how warfare affects people on different sides.
The series is particularly concerned with the danger of unquestioned authority. The Ben-Elim possess extraordinary power and believe themselves justified in directing human affairs, yet their certainty can become oppressive. Gwynne contrasts their ambitions with the experiences of ordinary people who must live under their rule.
Friendship, family, and chosen loyalties remain equally important. Drem, Riv, and Bleda approach the conflict from different backgrounds, but each must learn to distinguish inherited beliefs from convictions formed through experience.
Blood & Bone can be understood as a separate trilogy, with its own protagonists and central conflict. However, reading The Faithful and the Fallen first provides valuable context for the Ben-Elim, the Kadoshim, and the historical events that shaped the Banished Lands. The later books also contain connections that carry greater significance for readers familiar with the original series.
The recommended reading order is A Time of Dread, followed by A Time of Blood and A Time of Courage. The novels form one continuous storyline and should be read sequentially.
Through its exploration of the aftermath of victory, Blood & Bone expands John Gwynne’s fantasy world beyond the traditional struggle to defeat evil. The trilogy asks what happens when yesterday’s heroes become today’s rulers, and whether lasting peace can exist without freedom, compassion, and the courage to challenge those who claim to protect it.