Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Barbed Coil | 1997 | J.V. Jones | Buy |
The Barbed Coil, published in 1997, is J.V. Jones’ standalone novel between her two major series. It tells the story of a woman from our world who is drawn into a fantasy realm where the art of manuscript illumination has genuine magical power. The concept is unusual for the genre and gives the book a distinct identity.
The story centers on the Barbed Coil, a crown that transforms those who wear it and drives them toward violence. Jones uses the illumination magic as both a plot device and a way to explore themes of creation and destruction. The book is shorter than her series entries and works as a self-contained read for anyone curious about her writing before committing to a longer series.