Arcane Ascension

Sufficiently Advanced Magic (Arcane Ascension, #1) by Andrew Rowe follows Corin Cadence as he enters the Serpent Spire, a massive tower filled with shifting rooms, traps, and monsters. Set in a high fantasy world where survivors gain magical attunements, Corin aims to reach the top floor to confront the spire’s goddess and uncover his missing brother’s fate. The novel explores themes of magic, survival, and alliance-building within a complex and dangerous environment.

On the Shoulders of Titans by Andrew Rowe continues Corin Cadence’s education in magic and responsibility as he juggles school, war, and dangerous secrets. Convinced his brother Tristan is alive and tied to a covert group known as the Whispers, Corin must balance that search with the urgent need to cure Sera’s stolen voice and magic, a condition he partly blames on himself. A strange new mark on his hand, rumors of his mother’s role in a plot against the visages, and the looming threat of conscription if he fails his exams push this young mage into increasingly high-stakes choices. Set in a secondary world that blends structured magic, academy life, and looming conflict, the novel also explores shifting loyalties within Corin’s diverse circle of allies, including the possibility that former friend Jin has become an enemy.

In The Torch that Ignites the Stars, Andrew Rowe continues Corin Cadence’s story as he leaves Lorian Heights for what should be a simple trip abroad to Caelford. Instead of resting, Corin pursues experimental magic at Farren Labs, seeks training and political leverage from a former Arbiter, and hunts for a legendary visage who might be able to help his sister. As various factions—including criminals, scholars, and enigmatic magical entities—pursue their own agendas, overlapping schemes pull Corin and his friends into increasingly dangerous conflicts. Blending epic and progression fantasy with hints of arcane science, school ties, and looming war, this installment deepens the series’ worldbuilding while keeping its focus on strategy, experimentation, and the costs of power.

The Silence of Unworthy Gods by Andrew Rowe continues Corin Cadence’s story as he returns to Valia and is forced into a dangerous confrontation with his father, Magnus. While Corin tests the limits of his growing magical abilities, his friends begin their second year at Lorian Heights, navigating advanced classes, shifting school leadership, and increasingly lethal threats on and off campus. Beyond the academy, a secretive faction begins targeting attuned commoners and foreign visitors, pulling the cast into a wider conflict that blends epic war tensions with personal loyalties and moral choices. This fourth Arcane Ascension novel maintains its progression fantasy focus, integrating dungeon-style challenges, large-scale magical politics, and connections to the earlier Weapons & Wielders series.

When Wizards Follow Fools by Andrew Rowe continues the Arcane Ascension universe with a focus on magical education, tactical problem-solving, and the consequences of power. Set in a high fantasy world where arcane abilities are studied with almost scientific rigor, the story follows young mages whose training collides with war, political maneuvering, and dangerous monsters. As students push their limits and experiment with new forms of magic, they are drawn into conflicts that test their loyalties, ethics, and identities, including queer representation among the cast. Blending elements of epic and progression fantasy with a school setting and light science fiction influences, the novel emphasizes methodical growth, intricate systems of magic, and the costs of using them in an increasingly unstable world.

A Brief History of Chronomancy by Andrew Rowe follows Sera, a young chronomancer whose rare magic allows her to manipulate time in limited, dangerous ways. Studying at an academy where magic is treated with scientific rigor, she is drawn into conflicts that span battlefields, political schemes, and the mysteries of ancient monsters. As war looms and rival powers maneuver for control of chronomancy, Sera must test the limits of her abilities while navigating friendships, rivalries, and queer relationships that shape her loyalties. Blending epic and high fantasy with progression-style growth, the novel emphasizes tactical magic, experimentation, and the costs of power in a world where every second can change the outcome.