110 ratings | 19 reviews | avg rating:4.79

more photos (1)

Jim’s Year In Books

Jim’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Jim’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Jim’s 2025 Year in Books

Jim Melvin’s Followers (51)

Jim’s Bookshelves

to-read (1)
currently-reading (0)
read (116)

Jim’s Friends (383)

Myfanwy

1,137 books | 2,147 friends

Frenzy Maya

551 books | 100 friends

Michelle

25 books | 488 friends

Patty

1,209 books | 96 friends

bluespacething

1,628 books | 66 friends

Cindy

263 books | 88 friends

Michelle

5,469 books | 1,230 friends

Genni Milesi

757 books | 1,215 friends

More friends…

Jim Melvin

Goodreads Author

Born

in Poughkeepsie, NY, The United States

Website

http://www.jim-melvin.com

Twitter

deathwizard57

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy

Influences

George R.R. Martin, Stephen Donaldson, Stephen King

Member Since

March 2008

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/jimmelvin57

edit data

Jim grew up on the shores of western Florida, and he spent much of his childhood swimming in shark-infested waters long before the movie "Jaws" put a scare into everyone. At the time, he probably was too skinny to attract a bull shark's attention. About ten other boys Jim's age lived on his same street, and they hung out morning, noon and night playing the usual sports that young boys love — football, baseball, "kill the carrier," etc. — but as a group they also played fantastical games that contained magic, monsters and superheroes. It was in this setting that Jim's imagination was born and nurtured.

Jim's latest work is an updated edition of "The Death Wizard Chronicles," an action-packed dark fantasy for mature audiences. Volume 1 debute Jim grew up on the shores of western Florida, and he spent much of his childhood swimming in shark-infested waters long before the movie "Jaws" put a scare into everyone. At the time, he probably was too skinny to attract a bull shark's attention. About ten other boys Jim's age lived on his same street, and they hung out morning, noon and night playing the usual sports that young boys love — football, baseball, "kill the carrier," etc. — but as a group they also played fantastical games that contained magic, monsters and superheroes. It was in this setting that Jim's imagination was born and nurtured.

Jim's latest work is an updated edition of "The Death Wizard Chronicles," an action-packed dark fantasy for mature audiences. Volume 1 debuted April 2025. Volume 2 is set for July 2025 and Volume 3 in October 2025.

Literary Titan's 5-star review of Volume 1 included the following: "For the seasoned fantasy fan craving something fierce and different, this hits like thunder."

Jim also recently published a teen fantasy adventure trilogy titled "Dark Circles," which is about a group of kids who are transported to a magical land where it can be deadly to sleep. This is a great coming-of-age series for fans of J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, and Brandon Sanderson.

Kirkus Reviews described book 1 as "a delightful beginning to a promising series that’s sure to appeal to teen readers who feel like outsiders."

"Dark Circles" is the winner of fourteen awards, including double finalist in the 21st annual Best Book Awards.

Jim is also the author of two books of nonfiction.

"The Adventures of a Florida Boy" chronicles
Jim's boyhood spent in Florida in the 1960s on an island called Coquina Key. His parents’ waterfront home overlooked a large expanse of Tampa Bay. Back then, parts of the island were undeveloped, which left plenty of room for outdoor adventures.

One reviewer said this: “A joyous glimpse into a childhood we all wish we’d had: fun, carefree, and near the sea.”

Jim was also the lead writer and editor for the nonfiction book "Eclipse Over Clemson: The day Tigertown will never forget," which chronicled the Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse that passed over Clemson University. The on-campus event which Jim coordinated was a once-in-a-lifetime experience attended by more than 50,000 people.

Jim lives in a valley surrounded by mountains in the Southern Appalachians. He was previously an award-winning journalist at several national newspapers and a communications director at a major university. ...more

Combine Editions
Jim Melvin’s books

Average rating: 4.04 · 853 ratings · 122 reviews · 21 distinct works • Similar authors

	Forged in Death (The Death Wizard Chronicles, #1) 3.69 avg rating — 201 ratings — published 2007 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Do You Believe in Magic? (Dark Circles Trilogy #1) 4.20 avg rating — 131 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Chained By Fear (The Death Wizard Chronicles, #2) 4.05 avg rating — 78 ratings — published 2007 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Black Fortress (The Death Wizard Chronicles #0.5) 3.61 avg rating — 66 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Shadowed by Demons (The Death Wizard Chronicles #3) 4.24 avg rating — 55 ratings — published 2007 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Do You Believe in Monsters? (Dark Circles Trilogy #2) 4.48 avg rating — 52 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Torn by War (The Death Wizard Chronicles #4) 4.10 avg rating — 48 ratings — published 2008 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Do You Believe in Miracles? (Dark Circles Trilogy Book 3) 4.63 avg rating — 35 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Adventures of a Florida Boy: In the 1960s, kids ran as far and wild as their imaginations would take them 4.26 avg rating — 35 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Torg's First Death 3.84 avg rating — 38 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Jim Melvin…

Series by Jim Melvin

The Death Wizard Chronicles (4 books)
by

Jim Melvin (Goodreads Author)

3.85 avg rating — 486 ratings

Dark Circles Trilogy (2 books)
by

Jim Melvin (Goodreads Author)

4.28 avg rating — 183 ratings

rss
Jim’s Recent Updates

Jim Melvin joined the groups Fantasy Buddy Reads, Grimdark Fantasy, and Shamelessly Promote Your Books
Nov 05, 2025 04:27PM
Jim Melvin rated a book it was amazing Champion of A'dara: Character driven romantic fantasy (Book One) by J.S. Hyder (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A stunning start to the A’dara saga Champion of A’dara is a captivating introduction to what promises to be an unforgettable saga. Dee, the young woman at the heart of the story, never asked to be a hero, but fate doesn’t give her a choice. Watching h ...more
Oct 30, 2025 08:33PM · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Champion of A'dara by J.S. Hyder. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Champion of A'dara by J.S. Hyder <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim Melvin made a comment on Favour Creative’s review of The Death Wizard Chronicles: Volume 1 " Thank you so much! "
Sep 16, 2025 08:01AM · see review
Jim Melvin liked Favour Creative's review of The Death Wizard Chronicles: Volume 1: ""A gripping and imaginative start to the series, blending dark sorcery, brutal battles, and a truly original magic system. Torg is a fascinating protagonist complex, powerful, and burdened with a destiny that kept me hooked. Fans of epic fantasy will" Read more of this review »
Sep 16, 2025 08:01AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Death Wizard Chronicles by Jim Melvin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Death Wizard Chronicles by Jim Melvin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim Melvin made a comment on Joy Harris’s review of The Adventures of a Florida Boy: In the 1960s, kids ran as far and wild as their imaginations would take them " Thank you!!! "
Aug 31, 2025 06:57AM · see review
Jim Melvin liked Joy Harris's review of The Adventures of a Florida Boy: In the 1960s, kids ran as far and wild as their imaginations would take them: "This is a short, engaging account of the author's childhood and, growing up in the same era, I joyfully identified with so much of his experience. Nice change of pace! "
Aug 31, 2025 06:57AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Adventures of a Florida Boy by Jim Melvin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Adventures of a Florida Boy by Jim Melvin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim Melvin made a comment on Toni Smith’s review of The Adventures of a Florida Boy: In the 1960s, kids ran as far and wild as their imaginations would take them " It is a very short book, but I figured I'd give a short one a try because most of my books are very long. ...more "
Aug 31, 2025 06:57AM · see review

More of Jim's books…

Quotes by Jim Melvin (?)

“I reserve hatred for a select few. And even then, I’m ashamed of it.”
― Jim Melvin, Forged in Death

0 likes

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Fantasy Buddy Reads: Bill's Overflowing Bookshelf Challenge	77	101	Dec 31, 2018 09:37AM
Fantasy Buddy Reads: Bill’s Overflowing Bookshelf Challenge	45	120	Feb 07, 2022 09:37AM

Jim’s Quotes

“In the end
these things matter most:
How well did you love?
How fully did you live?
How deeply did you let go?”
― Jack Kornfield, Buddha's Little Instruction Book

tags: eastern-philosophy, inspirational

2826 likes

Jim’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-6) post a comment »

date

newest »

message 6: by N.A.

Jun 03, 2013 11:20PM

Thank you for the add, now I can stalk you. :P

reply | flag

message 5: by Saman

Mar 31, 2008 10:51AM

300 fil is great liar about us persians see this http://www.irandefence.net/archive/in...
and this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemen...

reply | flag

message 4: by Jim

Mar 21, 2008 12:37PM

Hey, Mia!

Nice to meet you too.

reply | flag

message 3: by Jim

Mar 21, 2008 12:35PM

Daniel:

I don't know if I ever responded to this mesage, but thanks so much for adding my books to your list. It's an honor.

Jim

reply | flag

message 2: by Nur

Mar 21, 2008 09:28AM

Hi Jim! nice to meet you, thank you for being my friend

reply | flag

message 1: by Daniel

Mar 16, 2008 10:36AM

Jim, I've added The Death Wizard Chronicles Book Four World on Fire, The Death Wizard Chronicles, Book 1 The Pit, Moon Godess and your other book The Death
Wizard Chronicles, Book 3, Eve of War to my to-read list.

reply | flag

Jim’s Year In Books

Jim Melvin’s Followers (51)

Add New
Videos

Jim’s Bookshelves

Jim’s Friends (383)

Jim Melvin

Goodreads Author

Combine Editions
Jim Melvin’s books

Series by Jim Melvin

rss
Jim’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — Champion of A'dara by J.S. Hyder

See a Problem?

Preview — The Death Wizard Chronicles by Jim Melvin

See a Problem?

Preview — The Adventures of a Florida Boy by Jim Melvin

Topics Mentioning This Author

Jim’s Quotes

recent posts
Jim’s Groups

Jim’s Friend Comments

Jim Melvin’s Followers (51)

Jim Melvin

Goodreads Author

rssJim’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — Champion of A'dara by J.S. Hyder

See a Problem?

Preview — The Death Wizard Chronicles by Jim Melvin

See a Problem?

Preview — The Adventures of a Florida Boy by Jim Melvin

Topics Mentioning This Author

rss
Jim’s Recent Updates