Matthew Ward books

Matthew Ward is a fantasy author known for the Legacy Trilogy, the Soulfire Saga, and his extensive work on the Frostgrave tabletop wargaming series, with books published since 1998.

Anthologies

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Tales of the Lost Isles 2017 Buy
The King Must Fall 2022 Buy
Heartwood 2024 Buy

Coldharbour Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Roots 2018 Buy
Innocence Lost 2018 Buy

Eventide Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Queen of Eventide 2015 Buy
Holy Orders 2020 Buy

Frostgrave Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Tales of the Frozen City 2015 Buy
Frostgrave 2015 Buy
Thaw of the Lich Lord 2015 Buy
Forgotten Pacts 2016 Buy
Dark Alchemy 2016 Buy
Into the Breeding Pits 2016 Buy
Arcane Locations 2016 Buy
The Frostgrave Folio 2017 Buy
Ulterior Motives 2017 Buy
Second Chances: A Tale of the Frozen City 2017 Buy
The Maze of Malcor 2018 Buy
Oathgold: A Tale of the Frozen City 2018 Buy
The Wizards’ Conclave 2019 Buy
Perilous Dark 2019 Buy
Wizard Eye: The Art of Frostgrave 2020 Buy

Frostgrave: Ghost Archipelago Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Fantasy Wargames in the Lost Isles 2017 Buy
Tales of the Lost Isles 2017 Buy
Lost Colossus 2018 Buy
Gods of Fire 2018 Buy
Farwander 2018 Buy
Destiny’s Call 2018 Buy
Cities of Bronze 2019 Buy

Legacy Trilogy Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Legacy of Ash 2019 Buy
Legacy of Steel 2020 Buy
Legacy of Light 2021 Buy

Matthew Ward Collections

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Edges of the World 2016 Buy

Matthew Ward Short Stories/Novellas Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Tribute 2016 Buy
The Game 2018 Buy

The Reckoning Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Shadow of the Raven 2013 N/A
Light of the Radiant 2016 Buy

The Soulfire Saga Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Darkness Before Them 2023 Buy
The Fire Within Them 2024 Buy
The Lie That Binds Them 2025 Buy

Warhammer 40,000 5th Edition Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Codex: Space Marines 1998 Buy
Codex: Blood Angels 2010 Buy
Codex Grey Knights 2011 Buy
Codex: Necrons 2011 Buy

Matthew Ward writes epic fantasy and tabletop gaming fiction. His Legacy Trilogy, beginning with Legacy of Ash in 2019, established him in traditional fantasy with its sprawling cast of soldiers, politicians, and would-be gods caught in a continent-spanning conflict. The follow-up Soulfire Saga continues in a similar vein.

Ward’s other major body of work is tied to Frostgrave, the fantasy miniature wargame. He has written over twenty books for the line, including rulebooks, campaign supplements, and tie-in novels set in the frozen ruins of a magical city. His Ghost Archipelago spin-off takes the same system to a tropical setting. Earlier in his career, he also contributed codex books for Warhammer 40,000.

His shorter fiction includes the Coldharbour duology, the Eventide books, and The Reckoning series, all of which lean toward darker fantasy with elements of horror.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Matthew Ward written?

Matthew Ward has written 44 books across eleven series.

What was Matthew Ward's first book?

Matthew Ward’s first book is Codex: Space Marines, published in 1998.

What is Matthew Ward best known for?

Ward is best known for two things: his Legacy Trilogy (Legacy of Ash, Legacy of Steel, Legacy of Light), which is an epic fantasy series about warring nations and divine power, and his extensive fiction and game design work for the Frostgrave miniature wargaming line.

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