As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

James L. Nelson Books in Order

Find every James L. Nelson book in order, including standalone titles and complete series reading orders with publication years.

Updated 2026-07-11 / 33 books / 8 series

American author James L. Nelson is best known for the *Revolution at Sea* historical fiction series. A former professional sailor and two-time recipient of the American Library Association’s W.Y. Boyd Literary Award, his books are praised for their authentic nautical detail. This page provides the James L. Nelson books in order, including both chronological order and series reading order.

All James L. Nelson Books in Chronological Order

1996 By Force of Arms POoIBB / 1 Buy
1997 The Maddest Idea POoIBB / 2 Buy
1998 The Continental Risque POoIBB / 3 Buy
1999 Lords of the Ocean POoIBB / 4 Buy
2000 The Guardship POoTMB / 1 Buy
2000 All the Brave Fellows POoIBB / 5 Buy
2001 The Only Life That Mattered POoNB / 1 Buy
2001 The Blackbirder POoTMB / 2 Buy
2002 The Pirate Round POoTMB / 3 Buy
2003 Glory in the Name POoSBB / 1 Buy
2004 Reign of Iron POoNB / 2 Buy
2005 Thieves of Mercy POoSBB / 2 Buy
2006 Benedict Arnold's Navy POoNB / 3 Buy
2008 George Washington's Secret Navy POoNB / 4 Buy
2010 George Washington's Great Gamble POoNB / 5 Buy
2011 With Fire and Sword POoNB / 6 Buy
2013 Fin Gall POoTNSB / 1 Buy
2014 Dubh-linn POoTNSB / 2 Buy
2015 The French Prize POoSN / 1 Buy
2015 The Lord of Vik-lo POoTNSB / 3 Buy
2015 Glendalough Fair POoTNSB / 4 Buy
2016 Full Fathom Five POoCHB / 1 Buy
2016 Night Wolf POoTNSB / 5 Buy
2017 Raider's Wake POoTNSB / 6 Buy
2017 Loch Garman POoTNSB / 7 Buy
2018 A Vengeful Wind POoTNSB / 8 Buy
2019 Kings and Pawns POoTNSB / 9 Buy
2020 The Midgard Serpent of Viking Age England POoTNSB / 10 Buy
2021 The Buccaneer Coast POoBSaEB / 1 Buy
2022 The Falmouth Frigate POoIBB / 6 Buy
2023 The Narrow Seas POoTNSB / 11 Buy
2024 The Tortuga Plantation POoBSaEB / 2 Buy
2025 Land of the Wolf of the Viking Age POoTNSB / 12 Buy

James L. Nelson Book Series Reading Orders / browse all ->

01 The Guardship 2000 Buy
02 The Blackbirder 2001 Buy
03 The Pirate Round 2002 Buy
01 By Force of Arms 1996 Buy
02 The Maddest Idea 1997 Buy
03 The Continental Risque 1998 Buy
04 Lords of the Ocean 1999 Buy
05 All the Brave Fellows 2000 Buy
06 The Falmouth Frigate 2022 Buy
01 Full Fathom Five 2016 Buy
01 Glory in the Name 2003 Buy
02 Thieves of Mercy 2005 Buy
01 The Buccaneer Coast 2021 Buy
02 The Tortuga Plantation 2024 Buy
01 The Only Life That Mattered 2001 Buy
02 Reign of Iron 2004 Buy
03 Benedict Arnold's Navy 2006 Buy
04 George Washington's Secret Navy 2008 Buy
05 George Washington's Great Gamble 2010 Buy
06 With Fire and Sword 2011 Buy
01 The French Prize 2015 Buy
01 Fin Gall 2013 Buy
02 Dubh-linn 2014 Buy
03 The Lord of Vik-lo 2015 Buy
04 Glendalough Fair 2015 Buy
05 Night Wolf 2016 Buy
06 Raider's Wake 2017 Buy
07 Loch Garman 2017 Buy
08 A Vengeful Wind 2018 Buy
09 Kings and Pawns 2019 Buy
10 The Midgard Serpent of Viking Age England 2020 Buy
11 The Narrow Seas 2023 Buy
12 Land of the Wolf of the Viking Age 2025 Buy

Where to start with James L. Nelson

What is the best order to read James L. Nelson books?

Publication order is usually the safest place to start. If a book belongs to a series, follow the numbered series reading order shown on this page.

Are standalone books and series both included?

Yes. Standalone titles appear in the full chronological bibliography, and series are broken out separately with reading-order links when catalog data is available.

More authors

Nicola Bayley -> Candace Calvert -> Sherry Thomas -> Francine Rivers ->

Source note: Sequencebooks organizes author, book, and series records from its catalog data. Publication years and series order are shown when available.