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Book Series Reading Order

Never start a series on the wrong book. Pick a series for its reading order, publication order plus the chronological or recommended order where readers disagree.

Every series in reading order

The full publication order for each book series we cover, with years. Use the search above to jump to one, or switch to chronological order where the story timeline differs.

Harry Potter

Just read in publication order, the story is chronological.

  1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997)
  2. Chamber of Secrets (1998)
  3. Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)
  4. Goblet of Fire (2000)
  5. Order of the Phoenix (2003)
  6. Half-Blood Prince (2005)
  7. Deathly Hallows (2007)

A Song of Ice and Fire

Publication order. Books 4 and 5 happen at the same time across different characters; some read a merged order, but publication order is safe.

  1. A Game of Thrones (1996)
  2. A Clash of Kings (1998)
  3. A Storm of Swords (2000)
  4. A Feast for Crows (2005)
  5. A Dance with Dragons (2011)

The Witcher

Start with the two short-story collections before the main saga, even though one was reprinted later. Season of Storms is a standalone set earlier and can be read last.

  1. The Last Wish (1993)
  2. Sword of Destiny (1992)
  3. Blood of Elves (1994)
  4. Time of Contempt (1995)
  5. Baptism of Fire (1996)
  6. The Tower of the Swallow (1997)
  7. The Lady of the Lake (1999)
  8. Season of Storms (2013)

Discworld

You can read straight publication order, but many prefer to follow one sub-series: City Watch (start Guards! Guards!), Death (Mort), the Witches (Wyrd Sisters), Rincewind (The Colour of Magic) or Tiffany Aching (The Wee Free Men).

  1. The Colour of Magic (1983)
  2. The Light Fantastic (1986)
  3. Equal Rites (1987)
  4. Mort (1987)
  5. Sourcery (1988)
  6. Wyrd Sisters (1988)
  7. Pyramids (1989)
  8. Guards! Guards! (1989)
  9. Eric (1990)
  10. Moving Pictures (1990)
  11. Reaper Man (1991)
  12. Witches Abroad (1991)
  13. Small Gods (1992)
  14. Lords and Ladies (1992)
  15. Men at Arms (1993)
  16. Soul Music (1994)
  17. Interesting Times (1994)
  18. Maskerade (1995)
  19. Feet of Clay (1996)
  20. Hogfather (1996)
  21. Jingo (1997)
  22. The Last Continent (1998)
  23. Carpe Jugulum (1998)
  24. The Fifth Elephant (1999)
  25. The Truth (2000)
  26. Thief of Time (2001)
  27. The Amazing Maurice (2001)
  28. Night Watch (2002)
  29. The Wee Free Men (2003)
  30. Monstrous Regiment (2003)
  31. A Hat Full of Sky (2004)
  32. Going Postal (2004)
  33. Thud! (2005)
  34. Wintersmith (2006)
  35. Making Money (2007)
  36. Unseen Academicals (2009)
  37. I Shall Wear Midnight (2010)
  38. Snuff (2011)
  39. Raising Steam (2013)
  40. The Shepherd's Crown (2015)

The Chronicles of Narnia

The famous debate. Publication order preserves the intended reveals; the numbered/chronological order runs the story from the beginning of Narnia. Most long-time fans recommend publication order.

  1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
  2. Prince Caspian (1951)
  3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
  4. The Silver Chair (1953)
  5. The Horse and His Boy (1954)
  6. The Magician's Nephew (1955)
  7. The Last Battle (1956)

Foundation

Publication order starts with the classic trilogy. Chronological order starts with the prequels Asimov wrote decades later; both are popular.

  1. Foundation (1951)
  2. Foundation and Empire (1952)
  3. Second Foundation (1953)
  4. Foundation's Edge (1982)
  5. Foundation and Earth (1986)
  6. Prelude to Foundation (1988)
  7. Forward the Foundation (1993)

Throne of Glass

The most-debated order in fantasy. Publication order works, but many recommend reading Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn side by side, as they happen at the same time.

  1. The Assassin\'s Blade (2014)
  2. Throne of Glass (2012)
  3. Crown of Midnight (2013)
  4. Heir of Fire (2014)
  5. Queen of Shadows (2015)
  6. Empire of Storms (2016)
  7. Tower of Dawn (2017)
  8. Kingdom of Ash (2018)

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Read in publication order. A Court of Frost and Starlight is a short bridging novella.

  1. A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
  2. A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)
  3. A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
  4. A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018)
  5. A Court of Silver Flames (2021)

The Wheel of Time

Read in publication order from The Eye of the World. The prequel New Spring can be read before or after book 10; most read it later.

  1. The Eye of the World (1990)
  2. The Great Hunt (1990)
  3. The Dragon Reborn (1991)
  4. The Shadow Rising (1992)
  5. The Fires of Heaven (1993)
  6. Lord of Chaos (1994)
  7. A Crown of Swords (1996)
  8. The Path of Daggers (1998)
  9. Winter's Heart (2000)
  10. Crossroads of Twilight (2003)
  11. Knife of Dreams (2005)
  12. The Gathering Storm (2009)
  13. Towers of Midnight (2010)
  14. A Memory of Light (2013)

Mistborn (Era 1)

Start with the original Mistborn trilogy, then the Wax and Wayne Era 2 books. Part of the wider Cosmere.

  1. The Final Empire (2006)
  2. The Well of Ascension (2007)
  3. The Hero of Ages (2008)

The Stormlight Archive

Read in publication order. Deeply connected to the wider Cosmere but stands on its own.

  1. The Way of Kings (2010)
  2. Words of Radiance (2014)
  3. Oathbringer (2017)
  4. Rhythm of War (2020)
  5. Wind and Truth (2024)

Percy Jackson

Read the five original books first, then continue with the Heroes of Olympus series.

  1. The Lightning Thief (2005)
  2. The Sea of Monsters (2006)
  3. The Titan's Curse (2007)
  4. The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008)
  5. The Last Olympian (2009)

Dune

Start with the six Frank Herbert originals in order. The many Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson prequels come after.

  1. Dune (1965)
  2. Dune Messiah (1969)
  3. Children of Dune (1976)
  4. God Emperor of Dune (1981)
  5. Heretics of Dune (1984)
  6. Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)

The Expanse

Straight publication order. There are also short stories and novellas set between the books.

  1. Leviathan Wakes (2011)
  2. Caliban's War (2012)
  3. Abaddon's Gate (2013)
  4. Cibola Burn (2014)
  5. Nemesis Games (2015)
  6. Babylon's Ashes (2016)
  7. Persepolis Rising (2017)
  8. Tiamat's Wrath (2019)
  9. Leviathan Falls (2021)

The Dark Tower

Read in publication order. The Wind Through the Keyhole is a later side-story that fits chronologically between books 4 and 5.

  1. The Gunslinger (1982)
  2. The Drawing of the Three (1987)
  3. The Waste Lands (1991)
  4. Wizard and Glass (1997)
  5. Wolves of the Calla (2003)
  6. Song of Susannah (2004)
  7. The Dark Tower (2004)
  8. The Wind Through the Keyhole (2012)

Outlander

Read the main series in publication order. There are also novellas and the Lord John spin-off books.

  1. Outlander (1991)
  2. Dragonfly in Amber (1992)
  3. Voyager (1993)
  4. Drums of Autumn (1996)
  5. The Fiery Cross (2001)
  6. A Breath of Snow and Ashes (2005)
  7. An Echo in the Bone (2009)
  8. Written in My Own Heart's Blood (2014)
  9. Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone (2021)

Cormoran Strike

A detective series best read in publication order, as the characters develop across books.

  1. The Cuckoo's Calling (2013)
  2. The Silkworm (2014)
  3. Career of Evil (2015)
  4. Lethal White (2018)
  5. Troubled Blood (2020)
  6. The Ink Black Heart (2022)
  7. The Running Grave (2023)

Sherlock Holmes

Publication order works well. The stories are mostly standalone, so you can dip in, but A Study in Scarlet introduces the characters.

  1. A Study in Scarlet (1887)
  2. The Sign of the Four (1890)
  3. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892)
  4. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1894)
  5. The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902)
  6. The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1905)
  7. The Valley of Fear (1915)
  8. His Last Bow (1917)
  9. The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (1927)

Red Rising

Read in publication order. The first three form one arc; the later books continue years on.

  1. Red Rising (2014)
  2. Golden Son (2015)
  3. Morning Star (2016)
  4. Iron Gold (2018)
  5. Dark Age (2019)
  6. Light Bringer (2023)

The Inheritance Cycle

Read in publication order. Originally a trilogy that grew into four books.

  1. Eragon (2003)
  2. Eldest (2005)
  3. Brisingr (2008)
  4. Inheritance (2011)

His Dark Materials

Read the original trilogy in order, then continue with The Book of Dust.

  1. Northern Lights (The Golden Compass) (1995)
  2. The Subtle Knife (1997)
  3. The Amber Spyglass (2000)

Twilight

Read in publication order. Midnight Sun retells the first book from Edward\

  1. Twilight (2005)
  2. New Moon (2006)
  3. Eclipse (2007)
  4. Breaking Dawn (2008)

The Hunger Games

Read the original trilogy first. The prequels can be read after, or chronologically before, the trilogy.

  1. The Hunger Games (2008)
  2. Catching Fire (2009)
  3. Mockingjay (2010)
  4. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)
  5. Sunrise on the Reaping (2025)

Bridgerton

One book per Bridgerton sibling, best read in publication order.

  1. The Duke and I (2000)
  2. The Viscount Who Loved Me (2000)
  3. An Offer From a Gentleman (2001)
  4. Romancing Mister Bridgerton (2002)
  5. To Sir Phillip, With Love (2003)
  6. When He Was Wicked (2004)
  7. It's In His Kiss (2005)
  8. On the Way to the Wedding (2006)

Middle-earth (Tolkien)

Read The Hobbit first, then The Lord of the Rings. The Silmarillion is a denser prequel for after.

  1. The Hobbit (1937)
  2. The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)
  3. The Two Towers (1954)
  4. The Return of the King (1955)
  5. The Silmarillion (1977)

The Inheritance Games

A YA mystery series, read in publication order.

  1. The Inheritance Games (2020)
  2. The Hawthorne Legacy (2021)
  3. The Final Gambit (2022)
  4. The Brothers Hawthorne (2023)
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