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The Crucible Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Abigail Owen
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Quick Answer

Start The Crucible by Abigail Owen with "The Games Gods Play", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

The complete reading order for the The Crucible series by Abigail Owen. Below you'll find the authoritative guide on how to read the books in order, including publication dates and chronological timeline placements.

Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "The Games Gods Play"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

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Community Consensus

Low Debate

"Since the list contains 400 titles, there is no single mandated reading order. The consensus among recommenders is to start with highly-rated entry points into popular subgenres featured in the sale (Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, System Apocalypse). Specific high-volume recommendations include the foundational System Apocalypse series and the bingeable Mage Errant series. Readers are generally advised to prioritize complete or near-complete series first due to their highly addictive nature."

Key Reddit Advice

Start with John Bierce's 'Mage Errant Publisher's Pack' (Books 1 & 2) for an excellent introduction to Progression Fantasy, or Tao Wong's 'System Apocalypse' series, often cited as the defining series for that genre. For those preferring completed stories, 'The Lord of Stariel' (4-book series) is highly recommended.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for The Crucible conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for The Crucible. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "The Games Gods Play" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "The Crucible" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Start with "The Games Gods Play"Explore all by Abigail Owen

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended. Compare →

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for fans. Compare →

Publication Reading Order1 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
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1

The Games Gods Play

Pub: 2024★ 4.14

LIMITED FIRST PRINT RUN―featuring spray-painted edges with a stenciled design, as well as gorgeously detailed endpapers. This breathtaking first edition is available for a limited time and while supplies last in the US and Canada only.THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERHOLT Medallion award winner for Speculative Romance of 2025Goodreads Choice Awards Romantasy nominee of 2024“This story is my latest obsession.” —USA Today bestselling author, Devney PerryThe gods love to play with us mere mortals. And every hundred years, we let them...I have never been favored by the gods. Far from it, thanks to Zeus.Living as a cursed office clerk for the Order of Thieves, I just keep my head down and hope the capricious beings who rule from Olympus won't notice me. Not an easy feat, given San Francisco is Zeus' patron city, but I make do. I survive. Until the night I tangle with a different god.The worst god. Hades.For the first time ever, the ruthless, mercurial King of the Underworld has entered the Crucible—the deadly contest the gods hold to determine a new ruler to sit on the throne of Olympus. But instead of fighting their own battles, the gods name mortals to compete in their stead.So why in the Underworld did Hades choose me—a sarcastic nobody with a curse on her shoulders—as his champion? And why does my heart trip every time he says I’m his?I don’t know if I’m a pawn, bait, or something else entirely to this dangerously tempting god. How can I, when he has more secrets than stars in the sky?Because Hades is playing by his own rules...and Death will win at any cost.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the The Crucible series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read The Crucible?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "The Games Gods Play" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Abigail Owen intended.

Can I read The Crucible books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the The Crucible universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.