Below is the complete list of Jim Butcher books in order. For this series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
Publication Order of Dresden Files Books
- Storm Front (2000)
Storm Front was published in 2000 and is listed as book #1 in the Dresden Files series. - Fool Moon (2001)
Published in 2001, Fool Moon is listed as book #2 in the Dresden Files series. - Grave Peril (2001)
Grave Peril is a 2001 release and appears as book #3 in the Dresden Files series. - Summer Knight (2002)
In the Dresden Files series, Summer Knight is book #4 and was published in 2002. - Death Masks (2003)
Death Masks was first published in 2003; within the Dresden Files series, it is listed as book #5. - Blood Rites (2004)
Blood Rites was published in 2004 and is listed as book #6 in the Dresden Files series. - Dead Beat (2005)
Published in 2005, Dead Beat is listed as book #7 in the Dresden Files series. - Proven Guilty (2006)
Proven Guilty is a 2006 release and appears as book #8 in the Dresden Files series. - White Night (2007)
In the Dresden Files series, White Night is book #9 and was published in 2007. - Small Favor (2008)
Small Favor was first published in 2008; within the Dresden Files series, it is listed as book #10. - Turn Coat (2009)
Turn Coat was published in 2009 and is listed as book #11 in the Dresden Files series. - Changes (2010)
Published in 2010, Changes is listed as book #12 in the Dresden Files series. - Ghost Story (2011)
Ghost Story is a 2011 release and appears as book #13 in the Dresden Files series. - Cold Days (2012)
In the Dresden Files series, Cold Days is book #14 and was published in 2012. - Skin Game (2014)
Skin Game was first published in 2014; within the Dresden Files series, it is listed as book #15. - Peace Talks (2020)
Peace Talks was published in 2020 and is listed as book #16 in the Dresden Files series. - Battle Ground (2020)
Published in 2020, Battle Ground is listed as book #17 in the Dresden Files series. - Twelve Months (2026)
Twelve Months is a 2026 release and appears as book #18 in the Dresden Files series.
Publication Order of Dresden Files Collections Books
- Side Jobs (2010)
Side Jobs was published in 2010 and is listed as book #1 in the Dresden Files Collections series. - Working for Bigfoot (2014)
Published in 2014, Working for Bigfoot is listed as book #2 in the Dresden Files Collections series. - Brief Cases (2018)
Brief Cases is a 2018 release and appears as book #3 in the Dresden Files Collections series.
Publication Order of Dresden Files Short Stories/Novellas Books
- Side Jobs (2010)
- Something Borrowed
- Aftermath
- Heorot
- A Restoration of Faith
- Vignette
- Last Call
Side Jobs was published in 2010 and is listed as book #1 in the Dresden Files Short Stories/Novellas series.
- Songs of Love and Death (2011)
Published in 2011, Songs of Love and Death is listed as book #2 in the Dresden Files Short Stories/Novellas series. - Heroic Hearts (2022)
Heroic Hearts is a 2022 release and appears as book #3 in the Dresden Files Short Stories/Novellas series. - The Law (2022)
In the Dresden Files Short Stories/Novellas series, The Law is book #4 and was published in 2022. - Instinct (2023)
Instinct was first published in 2023; within the Dresden Files Short Stories/Novellas series, it is listed as book #5. - Out Law (2026)
Out Law was published in 2026 and is listed as book #6 in the Dresden Files Short Stories/Novellas series.
Publication Order of Cinder Spires Books
- The Aeronaut’s Windlass (2015)
The Aeronaut's Windlass was published in 2015 and is listed as book #1 in the Cinder Spires series. - Warriorborn (2023)
Published in 2023, Warriorborn is listed as book #2 in the Cinder Spires series. - The Olympian Affair (2023)
The Olympian Affair is a 2023 release and appears as book #3 in the Cinder Spires series.
Publication Order of Jim Butcher Standalone Novels Books
- Spider-Man: The Darkest Hours (2006)
Spider-Man: The Darkest Hours was published in 2006 and is listed as book #1 in the Jim Butcher Standalone Novels series.
Publication Order of Dresden Files Graphic Novels Books
- Welcome to the Jungle (2008)
Welcome to the Jungle was published in 2008 and is listed as book #1 in the Dresden Files Graphic Novels series. - Backup (2008)
Published in 2008, Backup is listed as book #2 in the Dresden Files Graphic Novels series. - Storm Front Vol. 1 (2009)
Storm Front Vol. 1 is a 2009 release and appears as book #3 in the Dresden Files Graphic Novels series. - Maelstrom (2011)
In the Dresden Files Graphic Novels series, Maelstrom is book #4 and was published in 2011. - Fool Moon, Vol. 1 (2011)
Fool Moon, Vol. 1 was first published in 2011; within the Dresden Files Graphic Novels series, it is listed as book #5. - Fool Moon, Vol. 2 (2013)
Fool Moon, Vol. 2 was published in 2013 and is listed as book #6 in the Dresden Files Graphic Novels series. - Ghoul Goblin (2013)
Published in 2013, Ghoul Goblin is listed as book #7 in the Dresden Files Graphic Novels series. - War Cry (2014)
War Cry is a 2014 release and appears as book #8 in the Dresden Files Graphic Novels series. - Down Town (2015)
In the Dresden Files Graphic Novels series, Down Town is book #9 and was published in 2015. - Wild Card (2016)
Wild Card was first published in 2016; within the Dresden Files Graphic Novels series, it is listed as book #10. - Dog Men (2018)
Dog Men was published in 2018 and is listed as book #11 in the Dresden Files Graphic Novels series. - Bigfoot (2022)
Published in 2022, Bigfoot is listed as book #12 in the Dresden Files Graphic Novels series.
Publication Order of Jim Butcher Short Story Collections Books
- Paranormal Payback (2026)
Paranormal Payback was published in 2026 and is listed as book #1 in the Jim Butcher Short Story Collections series.
About Jim Butcher
Jim Butcher is an American fantasy author best known for blending modern urban settings with supernatural adventure. His novels often combine elements of mystery, action, and epic fantasy, creating stories where magic, mythological creatures, and hidden supernatural societies exist alongside the ordinary world. Over the years, Butcher has become widely recognized for his imaginative world-building and memorable characters, particularly through his long-running Dresden Files series.
Butcher was born on October 26, 1971, in Independence, Missouri. His interest in storytelling began at an early age when his sisters introduced him to fantasy and science fiction novels while he was recovering from illness as a child. Books by authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien and other classic fantasy writers helped shape his early imagination, and reading quickly became a lifelong habit.
He began writing seriously during his college years while studying English literature at the University of Oklahoma. One of his writing instructors challenged him to outline and complete a full novel following strict storytelling structures. The project eventually evolved into Storm Front, the first book in what would become the Dresden Files series. While the manuscript initially struggled to find a publisher, Butcher continued refining his work and developing additional stories.
Storm Front was eventually published in 2000, introducing readers to Harry Dresden, a professional wizard working as a private investigator in modern-day Chicago. The novel combines detective fiction with supernatural elements, presenting a world where vampires, faeries, and dark magic exist just beneath the surface of everyday life. The unique mix of urban fantasy and crime investigation quickly attracted readers and helped establish the foundation for a long-running series.
Reading Jim Butcher’s books in publication order reveals the steady growth of the Dresden universe. Early installments focus on smaller investigations and supernatural crimes, while later books expand into large-scale magical conflicts involving powerful factions within the hidden world. Over time, Harry Dresden evolves from a struggling investigator into a central figure within a much larger magical struggle.
The Dresden Files series became the cornerstone of Butcher’s career, eventually growing into one of the most recognized urban fantasy franchises in modern publishing. The books follow Harry Dresden as he navigates threats ranging from rogue sorcerers and vampires to ancient supernatural powers. Along the way, readers encounter a wide cast of recurring characters, including allies within Chicago’s police department and members of secret magical organizations.
In addition to the Dresden novels, Butcher also created the Codex Alera series, a six-book epic fantasy saga set in a world where citizens command elemental forces known as furies. The series draws inspiration from both Roman military culture and traditional fantasy storytelling, blending political intrigue, warfare, and magical abilities into a sweeping narrative.
Another project, the Cinder Spires series, explores a different style of fantasy world filled with airships, floating cities, and technological innovation. This series demonstrates Butcher’s versatility as a storyteller, showing his ability to shift between genres while maintaining the same strong focus on character-driven storytelling.
One of the defining features of Jim Butcher’s writing is the balance between humor, suspense, and emotional stakes. His protagonists often face overwhelming odds but rely on determination, loyalty, and ingenuity to survive. This mix of action and personality has helped his stories maintain long-term appeal among fantasy readers.
Throughout his career, Butcher has built a reputation for crafting detailed fantasy settings that evolve across multiple books. His characters grow over time, relationships deepen, and the scale of the conflicts gradually expands. Following his novels in publication order allows readers to experience that progression naturally, as each new installment builds on the foundations laid by earlier stories.