Harry Connolly

Harry Connolly is an American fantasy and urban fantasy author best known for his Twenty Palaces series published by Del Rey Books and his Great Way trilogy of epic fantasy novels. After self-publishing his first novel Child of Fire in 2009, which became the start of the Twenty Palaces series, Connolly went on to publish three more books in the series through Del Rey. The series follows Ray Lilly, a former convict who becomes involved with a secret society of sorcerers protecting our world from predatory creatures. In 2014, Connolly successfully crowdfunded his Great Way trilogy through Kickstarter, allowing him to independently publish the epic fantasy series. The trilogy consists of The Way Into Chaos, The Way Into Magic, and The Way Into Darkness, presenting a world where magical catastrophe threatens to destroy an empire. Beyond his main series work, Connolly has written standalone novels and shorter works, including A Key, an Egg, an Unfortunate Remark and Game of Cages. His writing typically features dark urban fantasy elements and complex magical systems woven into contemporary settings.

Readers praise Connolly's fast pacing and innovative magic systems in both the Twenty Palaces series and The Great Way trilogy. The Twenty Palaces books receive specific mentions for their dark tone and morally complex protagonist Ray Lilly. Readers liked: - Unique take on urban fantasy without romance elements - Clear, direct writing style - Fresh approach to magic that feels dangerous and unpredictable - Action sequences that maintain tension Common criticisms: - Characters can feel emotionally distant - World-building details sometimes unclear or unexplained - Plots occasionally move too quickly - Some found the darker elements too intense Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - Child of Fire: 3.7/5 (3,500+ ratings) - The Way Into Chaos: 3.9/5 (1,000+ ratings) Amazon: - Twenty Palaces series averages 4.1/5 - The Great Way trilogy averages 4.3/5 One recurring reader comment notes Connolly's books "avoid standard urban fantasy tropes while delivering consistent action and consequences."

Twenty Palaces Series: Child of Fire - Ray Lilly, a former convict turned magical enforcer, investigates mysterious disappearances in a small Washington town.

Game of Cages - Ray Lilly must stop a dangerous predator being auctioned off to wealthy collectors in rural Washington.

Circle of Enemies - Ray confronts his past when former friends from his criminal days gain dangerous magical powers.

Twenty Palace Society - A prequel novella detailing Ray's first mission with the Twenty Palace Society.

The Great Way Trilogy: The Way Into Chaos - A magical catastrophe destroys an empire's protective spells, unleashing monsters across the land.

The Way Into Magic - Survivors of the collapsed empire search for magical solutions while battling deadly creatures.

The Way Into Darkness - The final struggle to save civilization from magical destruction unfolds.

Standalone Works: A Key, an Egg, an Unfortunate Remark - A pacifist urban fantasy involving a retired monster hunter investigating her nephew's murder in Seattle.

Jim Butcher writes urban fantasy featuring a wizard protagonist who battles supernatural threats in a modern setting while navigating complex magical politics. His Dresden Files series shares similar elements of a lone practitioner dealing with dangerous creatures and powerful organizations.

Benedict Jacka creates stories about a divination mage operating in London's hidden magical community while confronting dark forces and magical politics. His Alex Verus series parallels Connolly's blend of contemporary urban settings with dangerous magical elements.

Mike Carey writes about a freelance exorcist in London dealing with demons and supernatural entities while working around established magical hierarchies. His Felix Castor series matches Connolly's tone in exploring dark urban fantasy with complex magical systems.

M.L. Brennan focuses on supernatural outsiders navigating dangerous political situations within hidden magical societies. The Generation V series shares Connolly's approach to building detailed magical systems within a contemporary setting.

Daniel Faust writes about a criminal sorcerer in Las Vegas dealing with supernatural threats and magical organizations. His work contains similar elements to Connolly's in terms of protagonists operating on the edges of magical society while confronting dangerous entities.