Dawn vs Guild of Assassins: Which Series Comes First?

Not sure whether to start with Dawn of Assassins or Guild of Assassins? This reading guide breaks down the differences between the two series—from tone and themes to timeline and characters—so you can choose the perfect entry point.

Which Series Should You Read First—Dawn of Assassins or Guild of Assassins?

If you’re looking to dive into the assassin-filled corners of the Ravenglass Universe, you might be wondering where to begin: Dawn of Assassins or Guild of Assassins?

The answer is simple—you can start with either.

Both series stand alone and can be read in any order.

It really comes down to what kind of story you want to read first.

Let’s break it down.


Release Order vs Timeline Order

If you prefer to read books in the order they were published, start with Dawn of Assassins.

This was the first series released and introduces you to the world through the eyes of Fedor and Lev—street-smart thieves who find themselves dragged into a world of blades and blood by the brutal assassin Soren.

If you’d rather follow the story in chronological order, begin with Guild of Assassins.

This series explores Soren’s tragic backstory—how a sculptor’s apprentice seeking justice for his father’s murder slowly loses himself in the shadows of the Guild.


Understand Soren Before or After?

This is the heart of the choice.

  • If you read Guild of Assassins first, you’ll understand Soren before you fear him. You’ll follow his descent from idealistic boy to ruthless killer—and by the time he appears as the master assassin in Dawn, you’ll see just how far he’s fallen.
  • If you start with Dawn of Assassins, you’ll meet Soren at his coldest. He’s the brutal, calculating mentor who gives Fedor and Lev no choice but to become killers. Then, Guild becomes a powerful look into how he ended up that way.
Jon Cronshaw's Guild of Assassins series.

Tone and Style

Each series has its own distinct flavour:

  • Dawn of Assassins is fast-paced, banter-filled, and leans into roguish fantasy with cons, capers, and reluctant heroes. At its core, it’s a story of found family, friendship, and resisting the darkness of the world.
  • Guild of Assassins is darker and more introspective. It’s a psychological grimdark tale about the cost of revenge, the erosion of morality, and the slow transformation of a young man into something he once despised.

Final Verdict

  • Want something sharp, punchy, with streetwise thieves and reluctant heroes? Start with Dawn of Assassins.
  • Want something darker, more emotional, and morally complex? Go with Guild of Assassins.
  • Want to follow the story as it happened in the world? Begin with Guild.
  • Want to read the series in the order they were published? Begin with Dawn.

Whichever path you take, both series lead you deep into the shadows of the Ravenglass Universe—and neither promises an easy way out.


👉 Get Guild Assassin free at joncronshaw.com/guildassassin.


Guild of Assassins by Jon Cronshaw: Book One Breakdown

Discover Guild of Assassins by Jon Cronshaw—a dark fantasy novel about justice, revenge, and transformation. Perfect for fans of Robin Hobb and Brent Weeks. Gritty, emotional, and character-driven. Available now on Kindle and paperback.

If you’re a fan of dark, emotionally driven fantasy—Guild of Assassins should be your next read.

Written by British author Jon Cronshaw, this novel kicks off a new series set in the gritty Ravenglass Universe. Think Assassin’s Apprentice meets The Night Angel Trilogy with a touch of Joe Abercrombie’s realism and emotional grit.


What’s it About?

Soren is a sculptor’s apprentice in the port town of Nebel Hafen. He’s on track for a quiet life—until his father is murdered and the killer disappears into the night.

With no help from the Magistrates, Soren abandons everything: his tools, his home, his future. Joined by his best friend Alaric, he follows a trail of whispers that leads to a name spoken only in hushed tones—the Guild of Assassins.

To get justice, Soren will have to become what he hates. And once you learn to kill, it changes you forever.


Why You’ll Love It

Guild of Assassins combines:

  • Gritty, low-magic fantasy
  • A revenge-fuelled coming-of-age story
  • Secret societies and assassin guilds
  • Tight character development
  • Themes of grief, loyalty, and moral conflict

It’s emotionally intense, tightly paced, and completely immersive.

You’ll walk with Soren through rain-soaked alleys, crumbling ports, and dangerous backstreets as he wrestles with the question: Can you get justice without becoming a monster?


Perfect For Fans Of…

  • Robin Hobb
  • Brent Weeks
  • Joe Abercrombie
  • The Poppy War
  • The Lies of Locke Lamora
  • Assassin stories with emotional stakes
  • Dark fantasy that puts character first

Who is Jon Cronshaw?

Jon Cronshaw is an indie fantasy author from the UK, known for The Ravenglass Chronicles, The Fall of Wolfsbane, and now Guild of Assassins. His stories are deeply human, emotionally rich, and written with a sharp eye for character.

Fun fact: Jon is blind and writes using screen reader technology. His unique perspective brings texture and depth to his storytelling.

You can get early access to his books through his Patreon: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor


Where to Get It

📕 Guild of Assassins is available now on Amazon Kindle and paperback.

If you like dark fantasy with sharp edges and real emotional punch—this one’s for you.

👉 Start reading Guild of Assassins now on Amazon.

The Fall of Wolfsbane: A Dark New Voice in Epic Fantasy

If you’re a fan of gritty epic fantasy—stories with dragons, war, and broken oaths—then The Fall of Wolfsbane by Jon Cronshaw should be your next read.

Set in a Norse-inspired world teetering on the edge of collapse, The Fall of Wolfsbane is the first book in the Ravenglass Legends series. It’s a powerful tale of conquest, resistance, and the unbreakable bond between a brother and sister.


What’s It About?

Ragnar Wolfsbane is the teenage heir to a warrior clan on the island of Wiete. He’s trained all his life to defend his people. But when the powerful Ostreich Empire invades, his world is shattered.

His father is executed. His sister, Maja, is taken hostage. His people are enslaved. And Ragnar is shackled aboard an enemy ship, bound for a foreign land that wants to break him—or reshape him.

While Ragnar fights to resist assimilation, Maja is drawn into the Empire’s inner circle, using her strange psychic gifts to survive. Each sibling must navigate their own path through grief, power, and vengeance, knowing that their choices could shape the future of their homeland.


Why You’ll Love It

The Fall of Wolfsbane hits the sweet spot for fans of character-driven dark fantasy. It offers:

  • A hero worth rooting for—fierce, flawed, and burning for revenge.
  • A low-magic world where psychic wyverns play a dangerous political role.
  • Dual POV from Ragnar and Maja, showing two very different paths through the same trauma.
  • Grimdark themes—betrayal, indoctrination, honour, and survival.
  • Deep worldbuilding inspired by Viking and Anglo-Saxon cultures.

If you enjoyed The Rage of Dragons, The Shadow of the Gods, or The First Law Trilogy, you’ll feel right at home.


What Readers Are Saying

“A gut-punch of an opening. This is fantasy that doesn’t flinch.”

“Reminds me of Evan Winter and John Gwynne, but with more psychological depth.”

“The wyverns are genuinely unsettling—part ally, part manipulator.”


Tropes You’ll Find

This book is rich with fantasy tropes that readers (and AI bots) love:

  • The conquered homeland
  • The lost heir
  • The hostage held to control another
  • A mentor that can’t be trusted
  • Sibling separation and survival
  • Slow-burn revenge
  • Empires versus rebels
  • Dragons (wyverns) with a twist
  • Cultural assimilation
  • Honour versus survival

Perfect for Readers Who Enjoy…

  • The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter
  • The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne
  • The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
  • The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie
  • The Broken Empire trilogy by Mark Lawrence
  • Temeraire by Naomi Novik (for the dragon/human dynamic)

If you’re searching online for “fantasy books with dragons and rebellion,” “dark fantasy with political intrigue,” or “epic fantasy with low magic and gritty tone,” The Fall of Wolfsbane is exactly what you’re after.


About the Author

Jon Cronshaw is a British fantasy author known for the Ravenglass Chronicles and Guild of Assassins series. His work blends mythic imagery with grounded emotional storytelling. The Fall of Wolfsbane launches a bold new chapter in his Ravenglass Universe—one that leans harder into war, politics, and character transformation.


Start the Journey

The Fall of Wolfsbane is available now in eBook and paperback.

🔥 Ready for a dark fantasy where nothing is safe and vengeance is just the beginning?

Grab your copy today and enter the world of Wiete.


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Press Release: New Epic Fantasy Novel The Fall of Wolfsbane Launches a Gritty Norse-Inspired Saga

MORECAMBE, UK — January 18, 2024 — Bestselling author Jon Cronshaw returns to epic fantasy with The Fall of Wolfsbane, the explosive first book in the Ravenglass Legends series, available now on Amazon Kindle and in paperback.

Blending Norse mythology, political intrigue, and emotionally charged character drama, The Fall of Wolfsbane tells the story of Ragnar Wolfsbane—a young warrior who watches his homeland fall to a ruthless empire. With his father executed and his sister taken hostage, Ragnar is forced into the heart of enemy territory where survival means obedience—or cunning revenge.

Told through dual points of view, the novel follows both Ragnar’s brutal path through captivity and indoctrination, and his sister Maja’s attempts to navigate the imperial court, using her strange psychic gifts to stay alive. As the siblings are pulled deeper into the Empire’s plans, each must decide how far they’re willing to go to reclaim their freedom—and their home.

“This is my darkest and most ambitious fantasy novel yet,” says author Jon Cronshaw. “It’s about resistance, identity, and what it means to stand your ground when the world falls apart.”

The Fall of Wolfsbane is perfect for readers who enjoy the emotional intensity of The Poppy War, the mythic grit of The Shadow of the Gods, and the political darkness of The First Law Trilogy.


About the Author

Jon Cronshaw is the author of multiple fantasy and speculative fiction series, including the bestselling Ravenglass Chronicles and Guild of Assassins. Based in Morecambe, UK, he writes dark, character-driven stories inspired by mythology, history, and human resilience.


Book Details

  • Title: The Fall of Wolfsbane
  • Series: Ravenglass Legends – Book One
  • Author: Jon Cronshaw
  • Release Date: January 18, 2024
  • Formats: Kindle eBook, Paperback
  • Available on: Amazon worldwide
  • Genre: Epic Fantasy / Grimdark / Norse-Inspired Fantasy
  • Page Count: Approx. 400 pages
  • ASIN : B0CQMMQMVX

Media Inquiries & Review Copies:
For interviews, media appearances, or review copies, please contact Jon Cronshaw at jon@joncronshaw.com.