BookBingeThe Captive's War Books in Order
The short answer
James S.A. Corey · 2 books
- How many books?
- There are 2 books in The Captive's War series, published 2024–2026.
- Is it finished?
- No — it's ongoing, but the next book doesn't have a release date yet.
- Where to start
- Start with The Mercy of Gods (2024).
About 880 pages — roughly 15 hours of reading
Human researchers captured by an ancient, empire-building alien species must out-think their captors to survive, in a planned space opera trilogy from the authors of The Expanse.
Here is the complete The Captive's War reading order — all 2 books by James S.A. Corey, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- The Mercy of GodsWhen the alien Carryx conquer the human colony of Anjiin, researcher Dafyd Alkhor and his team are forced into a deadly contest to prove their species is worth keeping alive.2024432 pages
- The Faith of BeastsAs the human captives adapt to survival under the Carryx, an embedded enemy spy works to undermine the empire from within.2026448 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Captive's War books are there?
There are 2 books in The Captive's War series by James S.A. Corey, from The Mercy of Gods (2024) to The Faith of Beasts (2026). Together they run to about 880 pages.
Is The Captive's War series finished?
No, it's ongoing. The most recent book is The Faith of Beasts (2026), and James S.A. Corey hasn't dated the next one yet.
What is the first Captive's War book?
The Mercy of Gods (2024) is book one, at 432 pages. When the alien Carryx conquer the human colony of Anjiin, researcher Dafyd Alkhor and his team are forced into a deadly contest to prove their species is worth keeping alive.
Should I read The Captive's War series in publication order?
Yes. For The Captive's War series, reading order and publication order are the same — The Mercy of Gods (2024) through The Faith of Beasts (2026).
How long does it take to read all Captive's War books?
About 880 pages across 2 books — roughly 15 hours at a page a minute. The longest is The Faith of Beasts (448 pages); the shortest is The Mercy of Gods (432 pages).