Below is the complete list of John Gwynne’s The Faithful and the Fallen books in order. For this series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
Publication Order of The Faithful and the Fallen Books
- The Greatest Battle (2018)
Published in 2018, The Greatest Battle is listed as book #7 in the The Faithful and the Fallen series.
About The Faithful and the Fallen
The Faithful and the Fallen is a four-book epic fantasy series by British author John Gwynne, consisting of Malice (2012), Valour (2014), Ruin (2015), and Wrath (2016). Set in the Banished Lands, a world of rival kingdoms, ancient prophecies, giants, and supernatural conflict, the series follows a large cast of characters caught in a struggle that threatens to reshape their world. Its combination of sweeping battles, political intrigue, and deeply personal loyalties has made it one of Gwynne’s defining works.
The story begins with Malice, which introduces Corban, a young boy growing up in the fortress of Dun Carreg in the kingdom of Ardan. Corban dreams of becoming a warrior, but his relatively ordinary life begins to change as tensions spread across the Banished Lands. Rumors of giants, disturbing supernatural events, and growing rivalries among rulers suggest that an ancient conflict is returning.
Central to the story is a prophecy concerning the God-War, a struggle between the forces of Elyon and Asroth. The prophecy foretells the emergence of two champions, the Bright Star and the Black Sun, whose confrontation will determine the future of the Banished Lands. As competing factions interpret and attempt to manipulate these predictions, the distinction between good and evil becomes increasingly difficult for the characters to navigate.
Corban’s development provides an emotional foundation for the series. Initially inexperienced and uncertain of his abilities, he gradually learns the responsibilities of leadership and the consequences of violence. His relationships with family members, friends, and mentors shape his understanding of courage, particularly when loyalty demands difficult sacrifices.
Other important characters include Veradis, a skilled warrior whose devotion to his prince creates painful moral dilemmas, and Cywen, Corban’s determined sister. Gwynne also develops the perspectives of rulers, soldiers, and individuals whose ambitions or loyalties place them on opposing sides of the conflict.
Valour continues the story as the political and military divisions deepen. Characters displaced by the events of the opening novel must survive in increasingly hostile territory, while alliances form and fracture under pressure. The expanding war forces individuals to choose between personal convictions and obligations to their leaders.
In Ruin, the struggle grows more destructive, with the consequences of earlier decisions becoming impossible to escape. Gwynne intensifies the military campaigns and supernatural threats while exploring the emotional toll of prolonged conflict. The novel also develops the relationships among characters whose paths have diverged since the beginning of the series.
Wrath brings the central conflict to its conclusion. The competing armies and supernatural forces converge as the prophecy approaches fulfillment, and characters must confront the consequences of their loyalties and sacrifices. The final installment resolves the principal storyline while maintaining the series’ emphasis on the human cost of war.
One of the distinguishing features of The Faithful and the Fallen is its portrayal of combat. Gwynne draws upon his interest in historical warfare to depict shield walls, cavalry charges, duels, and siege operations with considerable physical detail. Battles are not merely spectacles; their outcomes change relationships, political structures, and the characters’ understanding of themselves.
The series also makes extensive use of creatures drawn from mythology and traditional fantasy. Giants, wolven, and other beings inhabit the Banished Lands, contributing to a world in which ancient history remains closely connected to present events.
Although prophecy provides the overarching framework, Gwynne gives considerable importance to individual choice. Characters frequently act with incomplete information, and loyalty to a person or cause does not guarantee that their decisions are justified. This uncertainty adds complexity to a narrative that initially appears to follow a familiar struggle between opposing supernatural powers.
Friendship and found family are equally important themes. The relationships formed through shared hardship become sources of strength, particularly as political institutions collapse and established loyalties are tested. Gwynne balances the enormous scale of the conflict with moments of companionship, grief, and personal resilience.
The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Malice and ending with Wrath. Each installment continues directly from the preceding novel, and reading out of sequence would reveal major developments in the overarching story.
The Faithful and the Fallen is followed by Gwynne’s Of Blood and Bone trilogy, which takes place approximately 130 years later in the same fictional world. Although the later trilogy introduces a new generation of protagonists, it builds upon the history established in the original series.
With its completed four-book narrative, memorable ensemble cast, and combination of traditional heroic fantasy and emotionally demanding warfare, The Faithful and the Fallen established John Gwynne as a major voice in modern epic fantasy.