If you like Fantasy, you might enjoy the Saga of Recluse. Like his science fiction novels, L.E. Modesitt, Junior main theme is on how people use power. However, I do not recommend reading the novels in the order they were written. I did this and the first novel gave away way too much about several of the other books (because Modesitt then wrote about “past” events in these books). This was true for a few more of the books as well, so I recommend reading them in this order. I placed the main character of the book in brackets.



Magi’i of Cyador [Lorn]

Scion of Cyador [Lorn]



Fall of Angels [Nylan and Angels are introduced]

The Chaos Balance [Nylan]

The Towers of Sunset [Founding of Recluse; Creslin]



In the next three books, Modesitt gives both perspectives (Chaos and Order) on the same events. He did a very good job on this, but reading one side of the events gives away the ending of the other book(s). I recommend reading them in this order, but it does not really matter that much. Modesitt’s writing style showed the benefit of experience in the two books about Cerryl (they were written years after The Magic Engineer).



The White Order [Cerryl]

Colors of Chaos [Cerryl]

The Magic Engineer [Dorrin]



The Order War [Justen]

The Magic of Recluse [Lerris]

The Death of Chaos [Lerris]



I thought the Fall of Angels was the weakest book of the series, but it provides some basic background for much of the saga. In my opinion, Modesitt’s craftsmanship has definitely improved over the life of the series. The Saga of Recluse is not one of the best fantasy series published, but if you enjoy fantasy, you will probably enjoy the saga. It is better than most of the tripe that is passes for fantasy and is a thoughtful – and thought provoking – body of writing.