🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About John Bierce
“Into the Labyrinth” is the first novel in the “Mage Errant” series and was released in 2018. Hugh of Emblin is, as far as he is concerned, the worst student that the Academy at Skyhold’s ever seen. He’s barely able to cast any spells, and those he does cast usually fail explosively. If that was not bad enough, he has also managed to attract the ire of the most promising student of his entire year, who just happens to be a king’s nephew. Hugh’s got zero friends, no talent, and certainly does not expect a mage to pick him as an apprentice at all during the upcoming Choosing. When an incredibly unusual mage does select him as apprentice, however, his life begins to take a sharper turn for the better. Now all he’s gotta worry about is the final test for first years.
All Book Series by John Bierce
The Gorgon Incident and Other Stories
Latest in the series · book 8 of 8 · published 2024
Defy the Dark: 12 Fantasy Stories of Resilience
Single-title series · published 2026
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is John Bierce?
“Into the Labyrinth” is the first novel in the “Mage Errant” series and was released in 2018. Hugh of Emblin is, as far as he is concerned, the worst student that the Academy at Skyhold’s ever seen. He’s barely able to cast any spells, and those he does cast usually fail explosively.
Which John Bierce series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Mage Errant series, the earliest of John Bierce's multi-book series: it opens with Into the Labyrinth (2018) and runs to 8 books across 2018–2024, ending with The Gorgon Incident and Other Stories (2024).
How many books has John Bierce written?
John Bierce has 11 books catalogued in this guide, published between 2018 and 2026. 9 of them belong to 2 named series — the largest being the Mage Errant series with 8 books — and 2 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should John Bierce's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. John Bierce's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Mage Errant (2018–2024, 8 books) and More Gods Than Stars (2025, 1 book).
How are John Bierce's books organised into series?
This guide splits John Bierce's 11 books into 2 named series and 2 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Mage Errant (8 books, 2018–2024); More Gods Than Stars (1 book, 2025).