Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Age | 2016 | James Maxwell | Buy |
| 2 | Silver Road | 2016 | James Maxwell | Buy |
| 3 | Copper Chain | 2017 | James Maxwell | Buy |
| 4 | Iron Will | 2018 | James Maxwell | Buy |
The Shifting Tides draws on Bronze Age Mediterranean cultures for its setting, with walled city-states, triremes, and trade routes across a dangerous sea. The series opens with Golden Age, introducing the coastal nation of Xanthos and the expansionist Ilean Empire. Magic exists in this world through the eldren, beings who can shift between human and animal forms, and their presence drives much of the political tension.
James Maxwell builds the conflict across four books, moving from naval warfare and diplomacy to deeper questions about how civilizations handle power they don’t fully understand. The series completed with Iron Will in 2018.