Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winter’s Reach | 2014 | Craig Schaefer | Buy |
| 2 | The Instruments of Control | 2015 | Craig Schaefer | Buy |
| 3 | Terms of Surrender | 2015 | Craig Schaefer | Buy |
| 4 | Queen of the Night | 2016 | Craig Schaefer | Buy |
The Revanche Cycle is Craig Schaefer’s departure from urban fantasy into secondary-world dark fantasy. Set in a Renaissance-inspired world, the four-book series follows schemers, assassins, and politicians as they fight for control of a fractured empire. Magic exists but is dangerous and forbidden, and the characters who wield it pay steep prices.
Starting with Winter’s Reach (2014) and concluding with Queen of the Night (2016), the series moves through betrayals, shifting alliances, and violent power grabs. Schaefer brings the same morally gray characterization from his urban fantasy work, but the setting gives him room for court intrigue and large-scale conflict. Fans of dark political fantasy with flawed, scheming protagonists will find a lot to enjoy here.