Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cephrael’s Hand | 2010 | Melissa McPhail | Buy |
| 2 | The Dagger of Adendigaeth | 2012 | Melissa McPhail | Buy |
| 3 | Paths of Alir | 2014 | Melissa McPhail | Buy |
| 4 | Kingdom Blades | 2016 | Melissa McPhail | Buy |
| 5 | The Sixth Strand | 2019 | Melissa McPhail | Buy |
Melissa McPhail’s A Pattern of Shadow & Light is an epic fantasy series set in the realm of Alorin. The story centers on the Adept race, magical beings whose numbers are dwindling due to the actions of the Malorin’athgul, powerful creatures that emerged from Chaos itself. Across five books, McPhail builds a world with detailed magic systems, political intrigue, and a large cast of characters whose fates intertwine across centuries.
The series began with Cephrael’s Hand in 2010, McPhail’s debut novel, and concluded with The Sixth Strand in 2019. The books have won nine collective awards for fantasy fiction. Readers who enjoy long, complex fantasy with deep worldbuilding in the tradition of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson will find a lot to appreciate here. Each volume builds on the last, and the series rewards patient readers who invest in its layered plot and mythology.