Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Keeper: A Short Story Prequel to Forbidden | 2011 | Ted Dekker | N/A |
| 2 | Forbidden | 2011 | Ted Dekker | Buy |
| 3 | The Keeper | 2011 | Ted Dekker | Buy |
| 4 | Mortal | 2012 | Ted Dekker | Buy |
| 5 | Sovereign | 2013 | Ted Dekker | Buy |
The Books of Mortals series is set in a future where a virus has stripped humanity of all emotions except fear. In this bleak world, people live under the rule of a totalitarian Order, going through the motions of life without love, joy, or passion. The story begins with Forbidden, which follows Rom Sebastian after he discovers an ancient vial of blood that can restore human emotion.
Co-written by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee, the trilogy (plus companion short stories) explores what it means to be truly alive. As Rom and his allies fight to spread the cure and awaken the rest of humanity, they face enemies who view emotion as a threat to their power. The series blends dystopian science fiction with spiritual allegory, asking big questions about faith and free will through its action-driven plot.
The short story prequel The Keeper provides useful background on the world before Forbidden, though the main trilogy can be read on its own. Readers who enjoy Dekker’s other work will recognize his signature mix of suspense and spiritual themes, now placed in a darker, more futuristic setting.