Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Escape from Bythos | 2016 | Phil Tucker | Buy |
| 2 | Lost Lore | 2018 | Phil Tucker | N/A |
| 3 | The Path of Flames | 2016 | Phil Tucker | Buy |
| 4 | The Black Shriving | 2016 | Phil Tucker | Buy |
| 5 | The Siege of Abythos | 2017 | Phil Tucker | Buy |
| 6 | The Iron Circlet | 2017 | Phil Tucker | Buy |
| 7 | The White Song | 2017 | Phil Tucker | Buy |
Chronicles of the Black Gate is the series that established Phil Tucker as a popular self-published fantasy author. Set in a world where people are born into castes that determine their social standing, the story follows characters from different levels of society as they confront an ancient evil trying to break through the Black Gate, a barrier between the mortal world and something far worse.
The series includes the main five-novel arc (The Path of Flames through The White Song) along with companion books Escape from Bythos and Lost Lore, which expand on the world and its history. Tucker handles multiple point-of-view characters, switching between nobles, warriors, and commoners as the scope of the conflict grows with each book. The writing is fast-paced and heavy on action, with large battle sequences balanced against political maneuvering.
The series was well received in the self-publishing community and drew readers who enjoyed the kind of large-scale secondary-world fantasy associated with authors like Brian McClellan and Michael J. Sullivan. All seven books were published within a two-year span, so there is no waiting between entries.