Six series. 25 books. One question everyone asks: "Which one first?" This page exists to answer that. Whether you want epic magic systems, dark political intrigue, laugh-out-loud fantasy comedy, or something in between — there is a right starting point for you.
The right starting point depends on who you are as a reader. Pick your path — both lead to something worth your time.
You want genuine scope. A magic system with real rules. Combat with real consequences. Villains who believe completely in what they're doing — which makes them terrifying. And a protagonist who earns every inch of ground.
You want a magic system with clear rules, characters you can root for from page one, and a complete world that doesn't require homework. This is the series that converts skeptics.
If you've read the authors that define modern epic fantasy — Sanderson, Abercrombie, Rothfuss, Weeks — and you're looking for something that meets you at that level, start here. Sword of Sacrifice is Book 1 of the Blade of Hylon series, and it is the book that best demonstrates what Clayton's writing is actually capable of.
The premise: the kingdoms of Man have enslaved the gods, using their divine flesh to forge weapons and armor of extraordinary power. Into this world comes Damian — a seventeen-year-old with a paralyzed arm, a murdered father, and no idea that he is a reborn god. The Keepers have begun the Hunt.
It is PG-13 in tone and appropriate for readers 14 and up. The prologue alone — an infected woman carrying a plague-wrapped infant through cursed mines to give him a chance at life — is worth the price of admission. The magic system has genuine internal logic. The combat has technical precision. The villains are not cartoonishly evil. They believe completely in what they're doing. That is what makes them terrifying.
New to epic fantasy entirely, or want something lighter to start? The Runic Series (Runic Awakening, Book 1) is an excellent entry point — same quality, more accessible pacing. Both series stand completely alone.
The Blade of Hylon Series · Book One
Every series is worth reading. But your first one should match the kind of story that keeps you up past midnight. Pick the description that sounds most like you.
You love when magic has rules — costs, limitations, internal logic that holds up. You notice when writers cheat. You want to feel like you could solve the puzzle yourself if you had all the pieces.
You want genuine scope. Real consequences in combat. A world-building payoff that rewards patience. Characters who are morally complex, not morally convenient. If Joe Abercrombie is your benchmark for grit and Brandon Sanderson is your benchmark for craft, this is the series built for you.
You prefer fantasy that doesn't pull its punches. Dark choices, complex factions, characters who might be wrong about everything they believe. You're not here for tidy resolutions.
You're drawn to stories where the magic flows from something personal — art, music, design, creation. Worlds where power is not just fought for but made. Something original in the system.
You're tired of fantasy that takes itself too seriously, but you've been burned by comedy that abandons the plot. You want both: actual wit, actual story, and characters who earn your investment.
You like not knowing who to trust. Hidden histories, unreliable narrators, secrets embedded in the setting itself. Fantasy as investigation — every chapter revealing more questions than answers.

A world where ancient runes encode the power to build - or destroy - the world. Tight logic, high stakes, character-driven pacing.
Buy Book 1 — $2.99
An epic fantasy coming-of-age story where the kingdoms of Man have enslaved the gods, using their divine flesh to create weapons and armor of extraordinary power. One god must break free to save the others!
Buy Book 1 — $2.99
Dark political fantasy where the lines between hero and villain are not just blurred — they're actively contested. Rated R for content and moral complexity.
Buy Book 1 — $2.99
A magic school story unlike the ones you've read. Power here flows through art, design, and creative mastery — and the secrets embedded in the curriculum run deeper than any student suspects.
Buy Book 1 — $2.99
Fantasy that earns its laughs without sacrificing its stakes. A protagonist whose relationship with magic is genuinely absurd — and genuinely dangerous. Rated R for language and adult comedy.
Buy Book 1 — $2.99
Mystery embedded in world-building. A world where identity is power, the past is contested, and the protagonist is not certain what — or who — they are trying to uncover.
Buy Now — $2.99Each series takes place in its own unique universe — meaning each world has consistent history, geography, and lore. You do not need to read them in any particular sequence.
Start wherever the story calls to you. Every series is designed to be a complete entry point. No prior reading is assumed, no critical context will be missing. If you want to read them in publication order, start with the Runic Series — but if you want to start with Clayton's most ambitious work, start with the Blade of Hylon series.