Promethean Age Books In Order

Publication Order of Promethean Age Books

The Promethean Age series a successful series of urban fantasy, historical fiction, and alternate history novels. It was written by the noteworthy America writer named Elizabeth Bear. The series is comprised of a total of 5 books, which were released between the years 2006 and 2014. An initial book written and published in the series by author Elizabeth Bear is entitled ‘Whiskey and Water’. It was released by the Roc Trade publication in the year 2007. Author Bear has mentioned the primary characters in this book in the form of Matthew the Magician, Jane Andraste, and a few others. The plot is said to have taken place in New York City and in the Faerie realm. At the start of the book’s story, it is shown that Matthew had helped to end an age old war a few years back. For ending the war, Matthew had paid a huge price. He had lost everything and everyone known to him and loved by him. In deciding to turn against his own mentor named Jane Andraste in the reality of the Faerie, Matthew was left physically crippled and powerless. However, after so many years of the war, he still remains New York City’s protector. Later, he comes to know a young lady has been brutally murdered by a creature from the Faerie. Matthew realizes that he must catch the killer make him pay for his brutal crime before Jane Andraste thinks of using this crime to start a new war. And if another war is started, Matthew will be required to confront a larger threat against his greatest adversary, that is Jane Andraste. This book tends to pick up loose ends and sustain through the first half of the plot. It goes on to build a pretty satisfying climax that consists of tense magical descriptions and multiple battles. The book appears to suffer from the surfeit of mythological characters and mythology. The apparently ineffable and complex magic rules and the Fae serve as the plots’ cornerstone.

Author Bear says that the book can be enjoyed in the best way if the readers do not try to make sense out of magical guidelines. This way, it can work wonders for them. The characters that make this an excellent read consist of Carel Merlin, Elaine, Kelpie, Jane Andraste, Matthew Szczegielniak, Morgan le Fey, and Whiskey. Joining these are some of the new faces comprising of the Devils Satan, Christian, and Lucifer, and the archangel Michael, and Kit Marlowe. Normally, Matthew plays the role of the main protagonist and Jane Andraste is seen as the chief antagonist. Her attempt of rebuilding the Club may end up in another war against the Faerie. Lucifer is shown as going through an agenda of his own. There are a few characters in this book that the readers can just sit back and enjoy. Donall Smith is one of them. He appears like a genuinely good and honest person. Just like all the remaining mortal characters, he too gets involved in the centuries-old, epic conflict. But, unlike them, he has that guts in him to stand and face the opposition and fight them with bravery. Apart from Donall Smith, the other good parts take place at the time of climax. On the whole, the book makes a pretty awesome read and can please all the fans of urban fantasy stories. This novel went on to receive a nomination for the Gaylactic Spectrum prize in the category of the Best Novel.

Another excellent book written and released in the urban fantasy series by author Elizabeth Bear is called ‘Ink and Steel’. This novel was also released by the Roc publication in 2008. The central characters described in this book’s story include Christopher Marlowe, Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare, Kit Marley, etc. At the beginning of the story of the book, it is depicted that a spy and playwright named Kit Marley, who used to serve under Queen Elizabeth, is found murdered. Kit was believed to have a talented gift with which he used to entertain Her Majesty, by showing magic with his words and crafting plays that contained a subtle magic in them. It was believed that it was this magic that helped Queen Elizabeth maintain her rule on her kingdom. Kit Marley used to perform the plays and the word magic on Prometheus Club’s behalf. This club was a secret society comprising of the nobles, who were engaged in the battle against the sorcerers. The sorcerers were looking to destroy England completely and were thinking of carving out ways to become successful in their attempt. Later, when William Shakespeare rises to his fame as a poet and writer, he is believed to have achieved the role of Kit Marley. However, William Shakespeare seemed to lack the ability of creating the magic that helped Queen Elizabeth in keeping her enemies and foes at bay. Later in the story, it is seen that Kit Marley gets resurrected by a Faerie’s enchantment and becomes the last hope for England. But, before Kit Marley can assist William Shakespeare in the magical art form, he feels it necessary to find out the traitor among all of the Prometheans, who had conspired for his death and had probably killed him. Ink and Steel comprise of a crisper, tighter storytelling. It has very less annoying characters. The conflicts depicted by author Bear seem far more superior than the ones described in the previous books. Numerous critics have stated that the plots are easy to understand. At point, the story looks like a love story and on the other, it seems to be a political drama. Words, songs, plays, and poetry are seen as the weapons by choice. In this book, the author has shown an important difference between the Faerie creatures and the mortals from Hell. The differences are well beyond the weaknesses and strengths that are seen quite obviously. Both Shakespeare and Marlowe are portrayed brilliantly and with a lot of passion. These characters are shown as possessing some high qualities because of which the Fae feel envious about them. It looks as if author Bear was trying to mention these conclusions the series’ first book, with the changeling characters, but it finally came out perfectly in this book. In portraying the setting of this story, Elizabeth has made use of the characters and the setting of the Elizabethan era in a masterful way.