Book 1

The Nameless Day

by Sara Douglass

Published 19 March 2001

The first book of The Crucible, an apocalyptic historical fantasy from the author of the popular Axis and Wayfarer Redemption trilogies, Sara Douglass.

The Nameless Day is, according to the ancient pagan calendar of Europe, the one day of the year when the world of mankind and the enigmatic world of the spirits touch. Mid-century the forces of evil slide across the divide and invade Europe.

The Church sends Thomas Neville, an English nobleman, on a secret mission through the shadowy forests and arcane religious orders of Europe to discover the extent of the danger. But not even Neville, a priest, is prepared when the horror of the Black Death sweeps across Europe.

The forces of the Church and God rally against the infiltration of the Devil’s minions. The battle has begun.


Book 2

The Wounded Hawk

by Sara Douglass

Published 17 September 2001

The second book of The Crucible, an exciting new historical fantasy from the author of the popular Axis Triology.

The plague has passed and for a while it seems evil has been defeated. Europe recovers; prosperity returns, trade resumes, and people slowly recover from the effects of the plague.

Then, just as the Church relaxes its guard, war spreads across Europe. Widespread heresies challenge the authority of the Church. Revolts and rebellions threaten to topple the established monarchies and overturn the social order of Europe. And then the plague returns, worse than ever.

Neville eventually discovers the cause. The minions of the Devil have been scattered throughout European society during the confusion of the Black Death. His task is to discover the identities of these shapeshifters so that the Church can move against them, but it is a dangerous task. They are master shapeshifters so he can never be certain of who he should trust.


Book 3

The Crippled Angel

by Sara Douglass

Published 7 May 2002

The third book of The Crucible, an exciting new historical fantasy from the author of the popular Axis Trilogy.

The crises enveloping Europe begin to alter the mentality of the world. People are no longer content with their lot in life; they have grown ambitious and disruptive. The Church is losing its grip, not only are the heresies raging out of control, but more and more priests are speaking out against the Roman Church... the order of the world is dissolving into chaos.

Neville faces his own crisis as he begins to question his faith. Inflitrating many social circles, gathering information for the Church, he meets the heretic priest John Wycliffe and the peasant rebel Wat Tyler. He suspects strongly that they are shapeshifting demons... yet he cannot help but agree with their criticisms of the traditional structures of society and of the Church itself.

Neville does not know it, but his soul has become the ultimate battleground. The choices he makes will dictate the final outcome of the battle between the forces of good, and those of evil.