Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brew | 2014 | David Estes | Buy |
| 2 | Boil | 2014 | David Estes | Buy |
| 3 | Burn | 2015 | David Estes | Buy |
Salem’s Revenge takes a different angle on the post-apocalyptic setting than most of Estes’s other work. Rather than a society shaped by natural disaster or resource scarcity, this world has been upended by a mass uprising of witches, warlocks, necromancers, and shifters — collectively called the Magics — who have attacked human civilization in retaliation for centuries of persecution. The title refers to the Salem witch trials; the Magics’ revenge is long-planned and devastating.
Brew introduces Rhett, a teen boy who survives the initial attacks and sets out to find his family in the chaos. The world Estes builds here is darker than his earlier YA work, with a higher body count and more graphic violence. Boil and Burn continue Rhett’s story as he navigates a world where humans are now the minority in their own civilization and the Magics are consolidating power.
The trilogy is a tight, fast read across three short books. It works well for readers who want a paranormal spin on the post-apocalyptic genre, and the “the monsters won” premise gives it a distinct identity within Estes’s catalog. All three books were published within about a year, so there is no wait between volumes.