The First Law is Survival

…WE HAVE A FEW MORE

In a brutal empire shaped by ambition, war, and ancient rivalries, three friends from a Legion orphanage must carve their own path through a world where power belongs to the ruthless. The less exalted understand that survival trumps all.

Learn More
ABOUT THE BOOK

A WORLD OF POWER, SURVIVAL AND LOYALTY

After a brutal barbarian invasion nearly destroys the Empire, three boys raised in a Legion-run orphanage face adulthood and choose very different paths. Marcus joins the Legions as a military engineer to pursue his dream of becoming a master architect, Septimus turns to a powerful criminal syndicate, and Timolen quietly plots revenge.

As their lives diverge, powerful forces are at play – barbarian Celts seek to capitalize on the Empire’s weakened state, an imperial prince plots his ascendancy, and in the distant east a barbarian witch plans conquest. In a harsh world driven by ambition, survival might be the first law but the boys from the Legion’s orphanage have made some more laws that they will never break.

Explore The World
TRUSTED REVIEWS

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

  • “Magnus Baikie has skillfully used names, settings, and details from Roman History to craft a detailed and engaging fantasy world unlike any other…”
    Read Full Review Here
    Richard Moon
  • “I finished this book feeling like I had met real, unforgettable people in a strange and legendary world, and they have left a lasting mark on me. Bravo….”
    Jonathan Smith
  • “For fans of fantasy novels with large casts of complex characters, The First Law Is Survival is an epic tale set against the backdrop of an imagined ancient empire…”
    Arthur Jenkins
  • “A gripping story of ambition, loyalty, and survival set in a richly imagined empire. The world feels vast and dangerous, and the characters’ choices carry real weight.”
    Daniel Hart
REad Full REviews
THE AUTHOR

MAGNUS BAIKIE

Magnus Baikie has spent most of his career attempting to warm the planet (his home country of Canada is rather frigid). As it appears that he has not been too successful in his endeavor (Canadian summers still being more of an attitude than a season) he decided to write a book. Magnus has been an avid consumer of history and fantasy novels since the age of eight and so produced a historical fantasy.

Learn More
EXPLORE

DIVE DEEPER

Some Laws

The Society

Step into the world of the The First Law of Survival. Discover the lay of the land (there is no map!), how society is ordered, and what are ‘The Laws’.

THE SETTING

CHARACTERS & EXCERPTS

Learn More

“THREE FRIENDS, ONE EMPIRE. LOYALTY, REVENGE, AND PROMISES TO KEEP.”

The Blog

Notes From The Author

VIEW ALL ↣
THE NEWSLETTER

JOIN THE JOURNEY

Subscribe to receive updates on new releases, exclusive excerpts, and insights into the world of The First Law Is Survival.