About the Series
Tau Solarin lives in an Xhosa-inspired fantasy world locked in an eternal war. Born into the lowest caste, he has no access to the magical gifts that make the upper castes superhuman warriors. After tragedy, he commits to a training regimen so brutal it borders on self-destruction — entering a magical realm where pain is amplified but skills carry over to reality. He becomes the most dangerous swordsman alive through sheer refusal to stop training.
The Burning series bridges traditional fantasy and progression fantasy. It’s published by a major house (Orbit), has literary ambitions, and features worldbuilding rooted in African cultural traditions — distinguishing it from the genre’s default pseudo-European or Asian-inspired settings. The progression is earned through suffering: Tau’s advancement costs him physically and psychologically in ways most progression MCs never face.
This is for readers who want progression fantasy with traditional publishing polish, diverse worldbuilding, and genuine stakes. The training sequences are intense and the combat is visceral. The caste system provides structural antagonism that makes Tau’s rise politically meaningful. The tradeoff: this is grimdark progression — dark, violent, and punishing. Tau’s single-mindedness borders on toxic obsession. If you want fun, lighthearted Number Go Up, this is not it. The pacing of books 2-3 also broadens the focus beyond Tau’s personal progression into larger military conflicts, which divides readers who came for the training montage.
Reading Order
- The Rage of Dragons (2017)
- The Fires of Vengeance (2020)
- The Burning 3 (2022)
- The Burning 4 (2024)
Note: Verify exact titles of books 3-4 before publishing.
If You Like This Series
- Cradle by Will Wight — Training-driven progression with faster pacing and lighter tone; completed
- Bastion by Phil Tucker — Dark progression fantasy with politically meaningful advancement
- Iron Prince by O’Connor & Chmilenko — Lowest-ranked becomes strongest through obsessive training; sci-fi setting
- Red Rising by Pierce Brown — Caste-based sci-fi with an underdog protagonist; traditionally published
- A Thousand Li by Tao Wong — Training-focused progression in a different cultural setting; completed