Saga of Recluce

25 primary works • 27 total works

The Magic of Recluce

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 1 May 1991

For centuries the Masters of Recluce have guarded the borders of their
Order-wrought land and destroyed every threat sent against them. But the power that defends the people of Recluce comes at a cost: absolute obedience to both the Masters and the rule of Order. And those who cannot abide the price of paradise are swiftly dealt with ...
So when a young man, Lerris, becomes bored with the simple, orderly life of Recluce, he is sent into exile. For Lerris it is a chance for adventure, for the Masters it is a way to make him see the error of his ways.
But there are other powers in the world than Order. And when the great Chaos-Master Antonin learns of Lerris' exile he sees in it a way to break the Master's rule and bring about the destruction of Recluce ...

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The Towers of the Sunset

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 1 July 1992

Modesitt returns to the setting of The Magic of Recluse at a point centuries earlier. The Towers of the Sunset is the story of the founding of the magical society o f the island of Recluse - a tale of love and magical battles between order and chaos. '

The Magic Engineer

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 1 April 1994

Return now to the world of Recluce in "The Magic Engineer."

The Order War

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 1 January 1995

The saga of Recluce, launched in "The Magic of Recluce" and continuing in "The Towers of the Sunset "and "The Magic Engineer" reaches a new climax in "The Order War." "Modesitt has created an exceptionally vivid world," says L. Sprague de Camp, "so concretely visualized as to give the impression that Modesitt himself must have dwelt there." "Publishers Weekly" says, "Modesitt creates a complex world bgased on a plausible system of magic and peopled with engaging and realistic characters." Set after the events of "The Magic Engineer" (and prior to "The Magic of Recluce") "The Order War" illuminates great figures and major events in the historic war between order and chaos that is the central focus of the saga of Recluce. The deadly White Wizards of Fairhaven, wielding the forces of chaos, have completed their great highway through the Westhorns and now threatened the ancient matriarchy of Sarronnyn, the last bastion of order in Candar. The ruler of Sarronnyn appeals to the Black order wizards of Recluce for help. Justen - a young Black Engineer in the city of Nylan - joins the relief force. Despite their success in destroying more than half the White armies, Sarronnyn falls to the White Wizards, and Justen is chased into the most inhospitable desert in Candar. These trials are but the beginning, for the White Wizards have all Candar in their grasp. Justen must fight both Recluce and Fairhaven, as well as the highest powers of order and the forbidden technology to harness chaos itself in his efforts to halt the conquest of the chaos wizards. "The Order War "is the fourth book of the saga of Recluce.

The Death of Chaos

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 1 December 1995

Fall of Angels

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 1 June 1996

On the highland plateau of Candar, deep in Recluce's past, a new world is being born.

Here Nylan, the engineer and builder, will work to raise a great tower on the Roof of the World. Here the exiled women warriors will live and survive to fulfil their destiny. Here a revolutionary new society will emerge ... but only if Nylan can control the magical powers growing within him and build his tower and defences before the armies of the lowland nations arrive.

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The Chaos Balance

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 31 October 1997

The most recent of the Recluce novels, Fall of Angels, introduced the engineer/smith Nylan, the only man among the leadership of the company of "angels" marooned on a high plateau in the west of Candar, and perhaps the one person most responsible for their survival. But the angels are a matriarchal band, and so Nylan must leave his companions and seek a life elsewhere. He travels down from the plateau into the world of warring kingdoms and strange magics with his companion, Ayrlyn, the healer, and his infant son. They are in search of a place to lead a peaceful life, but they look different from the locals, and their talents are most valued in battle - and so the war between chaos and order begins again.

The White Order

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 31 December 1998

A powerful new addition to the Recluce saga, guaranteed to add many new readers to Modesitt's devoted following"Modesitt's elaborate and intelligent working out of a system of magic and a system of technology parallel to it is becoming more the lifeblood of the Recluce books with every new volume...his saga continues to gain popularity".-- BooklistThe White Order is the story of Cerryl, a boy orphaned when the powerful white mages killed his amateur-magician father. Cerryl, raised by his aunt and uncle, is a curious boy, attracted to mirrors and books. The miller's daughter teaches Cerryl to read his father's books, and it seems that the talent for magic has been passed from father to son. When Cerryl and the miller witness a white mage destroy a renegade magician, the miller realizes he can no longer keep the boy safe. So Cerryl is sent to the city of Fairhaven to find his destiny: To become one of the great magicians of his age".I could not put it down. This is an outstanding fantasy tale". -- Andre Norton on the Towers of the Sunset"In Modesitt's universe, good and evil, chaos and order, are in perpetual conflict...Modesitt creates a deeper and more intricate world with each volume". -- Publishers Weekly on the Order War

Colours of Chaos

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 1 January 1999

L.E. Modesitt, Jr.'s Colors of Chaos continues his bestselling fantasy series the Saga of Recluce, which is one of the most popular in contemporary epic fantasy.

Now a full mage in the White Order, Cerryl must prove himself indispensable to Jeslek, the High Wizard.

Whether through assassination, effective governance of occupied territory or the fearless and clever direction of troops in battle, Cerryl faces many harrowing obstacles--assassination, political entanglements, battlefield prowess--and Anya, the plotting seductress who's the real power behind the white wizards.

With his wits, his integrity, and the support of his love, the Black healer Leyladin, he must survive long enough to claim his rightful spot within the ruling hierarchy of the White Order.

"An intriguing fantasy in a fascinating world."--Robert Jordan, New York Times bestselling author of The Wheel of Time(R) series
Saga of Recluce

#1 The Magic of Recluce / #2 The Towers of Sunset / #3 The Magic Engineer / #4 The Order War / #5 The Death of Chaos / #6 Fall of Angels / #7 The Chaos Balance / #8 The White Order / #9 Colors of Chaos / #10 Magi'i of Cyador / #11 Scion of Cyador / #12 Wellspring of Chaos / #13 Ordermaster / #14 Natural Order Mage / #15 Mage-Guard of Hamor / #16 Arms-Commander / #17 Cyador's Heirs / #18 Heritage of Cyador /#19 The Mongrel Mage / #20 Outcasts of Order / #21 The Mage-Fire War (forthcoming)

Story Collection: Recluce Tales

Other Series by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
The Imager Portfolio
The Corean Chronicles
The Spellsong Cycle
The Ghost Books
The Ecolitan Matter

Magi'i of Cyador

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 1 April 2000

L.E. Modesitt, Jr.'s Magi'i of Cyador continues his bestselling fantasy series the Saga of Recluce, which is one of the most popular in contemporary epic fantasy.

A diligent student of remarkable talent, Lorn lacks only the single most coveted attribute required of a Magus of Cyador: unquestionable loyalty. Too independent for his own good, Lorn is forced to become a lancer officer, and is sent to the frontier to fight off the all-too-frequent barbarian raids--a career that comes with a 50% mortality rate. His enemies don't expect him to survive . . .

"An intriguing fantasy in a fascinating world."--Robert Jordan, New York Times bestselling author of The Wheel of Time(R) series

Saga of Recluce

#1 The Magic of Recluce / #2 The Towers of Sunset / #3 The Magic Engineer / #4 The Order War / #5 The Death of Chaos / #6 Fall of Angels / #7 The Chaos Balance / #8 The White Order / #9 Colors of Chaos / #10 Magi'i of Cyador / #11 Scion of Cyador / #12 Wellspring of Chaos / #13 Ordermaster / #14 Natural Order Mage / #15 Mage-Guard of Hamor / #16 Arms-Commander / #17 Cyador's Heirs / #18 Heritage of Cyador /#19 The Mongrel Mage / #20 Outcasts of Order / #21 The Mage-Fire War (forthcoming)

Story Collection: Recluce Tales

Other Series by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
The Imager Portfolio
The Corean Chronicles
The Spellsong Cycle
The Ghost Books
The Ecolitan Matter

Scion of Cyador

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 1 September 2000

Scion of Cyador continues the story begun in Magi'i of Cyador. Exploring the rich depths of the history of Recluce, Magi'i introduced Lorn, a talented boy born into a family of Magi'i. A fastidious student mage who lacked blind devotion, Lorn was made into a lancer officer and shipped off to the frontier. Having survived an extended stint fighting both barbarian raiders and the giant beasts of the Accursed Forest, Lorn has proven himself to be a fine officer . . . perhaps too fine an officer. As his prowess has grown, so has his number of enemies and rivals. Too much success has made him a marked man. When he returns to his home, both he and his young family become targets while all of Cyad is in upheaval over the death of the Emperor.

Wellspring of Chaos

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 17 April 2004

Kharl is the best cooper in Brysta, one of the major cities in Nordla, and his life has been as ordered and dependable as his barrels. His trouble begins when he saves a neighbor's daughter from the violent advances of two upper-class men. Then he rescues an actual rape victim he finds unconscious in an alley, a blackstaffer -- a young expatriate mage -- from Recluce, and that makes his wife very uneasy. The culprit in both cases turns out to have been Egen, the cruel and corrupt son of the local ruler. When the blackstaffer is mysteriously murdered in Kharl's cooperage, Kharl is jailed, tried, and flogged, and in a shocking turnaround released--and his consort executed for the murder, which she did not commit. Egen again. Kharl ends up on the run, with just a handful of coins and a few clothes, but he also takes the slain woman's black staff and her book, "The Basis of Order," which explains the principles of its power. The diligent cooper is about to learn a new, very different skill. "Wellspring of Chaos" is the twelfth book in the Recluce Saga and takes place roughly 60 years after the close of "The Order War "(Recluce #4). It is Modesitt at the top of his form, returning to his most famous fantasy world, yet does not require previous knowledge of Recluce to be enjoyed. It's publication is sure to be one of the fantasy milestones of the year.

Ordermaster

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 1 January 2005

The cooper Kharl has no sooner taken possession of the estate bestowed upon him by Lord Ghrant of Austra as thanks for his aid in quelling the revolt of Ghrant's dispossessed brother, when he is summoned back to the capital. Hagen, his friend the lord chancellor, needs help in dealing with rebellious nobles. After a bloody campaign, in which Kharl discovers and is forced to use even more deadly order magery, civil order is restored and Ghrant's throne firmly secured. To his surprise, Kharl is soon called upon again by Lords Ghrant and Hagen, this time to return to his homeland of Nordla as envoy. Nordla has become the next target of Hamorian expansion. Back in his hometown of Brysta, Kharl discovers that his old enemy Egen - the local heir apparent - is engaged in plot with the Hamorians to take the throne from his father and open Nordla to the enemy. Kharl has to find a solution, for the sake of both the land of his birth and his adopted new country.

Natural Ordermage

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 18 September 2007

L. E. Modesitt, Jr. begins a new Recluce story in "The Natural Ordermage", the first of two volumes set mostly on the continent of Hamor, far across the sea from Recluce where the story begins, a new setting for this series that fans will be eager to explore. Rahl, a young apprentice scrivener on the island of Recluce, likes life to work out in his favor. To make sure things go his way, he uses a small amount of order magic in opportunistic moments, but his abilities are starting to get the attention of the Council magisters. He's not like other ordermages, the same rules don't seem to apply to his magic. And he has a bad attitude too. It gets him sent to the mages' training school for testing, and then banishment to Hamor, where his learning continues under dangerous circumstances.

Mage-Guard of Hamor

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 22 July 2008

Rahl was a young apprentice on the island of Recluce sent to the mages training school for testing, then banished to Hamor. His education now continues under dangerous circumstances. In Hamor, his powers have increased, but so has the amount of trouble he attracts. The whole society of Hamor is a new culture for Modesitt - and Rahl - to explore, one in which magic is a monopoly of the state. Rahl is a mage now, powerful and still just as dangerous to himself and to others. This is the story of how he gains both more knowledge and power, and more self-control.

Arms-Commander

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 5 January 2010

"Arms-Commander" takes place ten years after the end of The Chaos Balance and tells the story of the legendary Saryn. The keep of Westwind, in the cold mountainous heights called the Roof of the World, is facing attack by the adjoining land of Gallos. Arthanos, son and heir to the ailing Prefect of Gallos, wishes to destroy Westwind because the idea of a land where women rule is total anathema to him. Saryn, Arms-Commander of Westwind, is dispatched to a neighbouring land, Lornth, to seek support against the Gallosians. In the background, the trading council of Suthya is secretly and informally allied with Gallos against Westwind and begins to bribe lord-holders in Lornth to foment rebellion and civil war. They hope to create such turmoil in Lornth that the weakened land will fall to Suthya. But Zeldyan, regent of Lornth, has problems in her family. To secure Zeldyan's aid, Saryn must pledge her personal support - and any Westwind guard forces she can raise - to the defence of Zeldyan and her son. The fate of four lands, including Westwind, rests on Saryn's actions.

Cyador's Heirs

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 20 May 2014

After the fall of Cyador, its survivors have reestablished themselves in Cigoerne, a fertile country coveted by neighbors in less hospitable lands. Young Lerial, the second son of Duke Kiedron, lives in the shadow of his older brother Lephi, the heir to their father's realm. Lerial's future seems set: He will one day command his brother's forces in defense of Cigoerne, serving at his older sibling's pleasure. But when Lerial is sent abroad to learn the skills and wisdom he will need to fulfill his future duties, he begins a journey that brings out his true potential: He is one of those rare beings who can harness both Order and Chaos. And as war finally engulfs the fringes of Cigoerne, Lerial's growing mastery of Order and Chaos is tested to its limits, and his own.

Heritage of Cyador

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 18 November 2014

Scarcely a year after the events of Cyador's Heirs, Lerial uses his mastery of Order and Chaos, the competing natural forces that shape his world and define the magic that exists within it, to utterly destroy an Afritan military force crossing into Cigoerne. Five years later, Lerial, now an overcaptain and a field commander of Cigoerne's Mirror Lancers, must lead three companies of troops into Afrit on a mission of mutual interest: neighboring Heldya is threatening to invade Afrit, and if that nation falls, Cigoerne is certain to be next. The mission is both delicate and dangerous; Lerial's value in the effort to repelling Heldya is undeniable, but his troubled history against Afrit may reopen old wounds that will never truly heal.

The Mongrel Mage

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 31 October 2017

Outcasts of Order

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Published 26 June 2018

Beltur began his journey in The Mongrel Mage and continues with Outcasts of Order, the next book of his story arc in the Saga of Recluce.

Beltur, an Order mage, discovers he possesses frightening powers not seen for hundreds of years. With his new abilities, he survives the war in Elparta and saves the lives of all. However, victory comes with a price. His fellow mages now see him as a threat to be destroyed, and the local merchants want to exploit his power.

There's only one way he can remain free and survive - he's going to have to run.