Order of Book Series
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Mercedes Lackey Books in Order

Mercedes Lackey has written 230 books, published between 1980 and 2026. The first book is The Alton Gift (1980) and the newest is A Many-Splintered Thing (2026). 2 more titles are announced, the first of them A Wind Turned Dark with Burning (2027). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
230 + 2 announced
Published
1980–2026
Confirmed
232 of 232 titles
Pages on record
51,239 in 128 of 232 books
Reading time
854–1,281 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 51,239 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 128 of 232 titles with a page count on record.

See all 232 books in order Printable Mercedes Lackey checklistNext: A Wind Turned Dark with Burning (2027)
Photo of Mercedes Lackey, author

Valdemar, a country in the world of Velgarth, is the setting for many of Mercedes Lackey's interlinked fantasy novels and trilogies. Lackey, an American writer born on June 24, 1950, brings human and non-human protagonists from many cultures together in the Valdemar books. A second Lackey setting resembles Earth but hides populations of elves, mages, vampires and other mythical beings. Bedlam's Bard follows a young man who works magic through music, SERRAted Edge features elves who race cars, and the Diana Tregarde thrillers star a Wiccan fighting evil. Arrows of the Queen (1987), Arrow's Flight (1987) and Arrow's Fall (1988) are among the listed titles, and Elemental Masters and Five Hundred Kingdoms are further series.

How many Mercedes Lackey books are there?

Mercedes Lackey has 230 published books, released between 1980 and 2026. They include 34 separate series. 2 more are announced, starting with A Wind Turned Dark with Burning (2027).

Mercedes Lackey Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 232 Mercedes Lackey books in the order they were released, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.

  1. Cover of Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey, book 1 of the Valdemar: Heralds Of Valdemar series (1987)
  2. Cover of Arrow's Flight by Mercedes Lackey, book 2 of the Valdemar: Heralds Of Valdemar series (1987)
  3. Cover of Arrow's Fall by Mercedes Lackey, book 3 of the Valdemar: Heralds Of Valdemar series (1988)
  4. Cover of The Oathbound by Mercedes Lackey, book 4 of the Valdemar: Vows and Honor series (1988)
  5. Cover of Burning Water by Mercedes Lackey, book 1 of the Diana Tregarde series (1989)
  6. Cover of Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey, book 1 of the Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage series (1989)
  7. Cover of The Winds of Change by Mercedes Lackey, book 3 of the Blood Of Ten Chiefs series (1989)
  8. Cover of Oathbreakers by Mercedes Lackey, book 5 of the Valdemar: Vows and Honor series (1989)
  9. Cover of Knight of Ghosts and Shadows by Mercedes Lackey, book 1 of the Bedlam's Bard series (1990)
  10. Cover of Children of the Night by Mercedes Lackey, book 2 of the Diana Tregarde series (1990)
  11. Cover of Magic's Price by Mercedes Lackey, book 3 of the Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage series (1990)
  12. Cover of Against the Wind by Mercedes Lackey, book 4 of the Blood Of Ten Chiefs series (1990)
  13. Cover of By the Sword by Mercedes Lackey, book 1 of the Valdemar: Kerowyn's Tale series (1991)
  14. Cover of The Lark And The Wren by Mercedes Lackey, book 1 of the Bardic Voices series (1991)
  15. Cover of Winds of Fate by Mercedes Lackey, book 1 of the Valdemar: Mage Winds series (1991)
  16. Cover of Jinx High by Mercedes Lackey, book 3 of the Diana Tregarde series (1991)
  17. Cover of Castle of Deception by Mercedes Lackey, book 1 of the Bard's Tale series (1992)
  18. Cover of Freedom Flight by Mercedes Lackey, book 1 of the Wing Commander series (1992)
  19. Cover of Winds of Change by Mercedes Lackey, book 2 of the Valdemar: Mage Winds series (1992)
  20. Cover of Summoned to Tourney by Mercedes Lackey, book 3 of the Bedlam's Bard series (1992)
  21. Cover of Fortress of Frost and Fire by Mercedes Lackey, book 2 of the Bard's Tale series (1993)
  22. Cover of The Robin & The Kestrel by Mercedes Lackey, book 2 of the Bardic Voices series (1993)
  23. Cover of Prison of Souls by Mercedes Lackey, book 3 of the Bard's Tale series (1993)
  24. Cover of When the Bough Breaks by Mercedes Lackey, book 3 of the SERRAted Edge series (1993)
  1. 1
    The Alton GiftElisabeth Waters Short Stories/Novellas with Elisabeth Waters #11980 · confirmed 3/4
    1980–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    RebirthElisabeth Waters Short Stories/Novellas with Elisabeth Waters #21982 · confirmed 3/4
    1982–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    Different Kind of CourageDarkover #11985 · confirmed 3/4
    1985–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    Child of the HeartElisabeth Waters Short Stories/Novellas with Elisabeth Waters #31985 · confirmed 3/4
    1985–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    Sword SwornValdemar: Vows and Honor #11986 · confirmed 3/4
    1986–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    Arrows of the QueenValdemar: Heralds Of Valdemar #11987 · 320 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1987320
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    A Tale of HeroesValdemar: Vows and Honor #21987 · confirmed 3/4
    1987–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    Arrow's FlightValdemar: Heralds Of Valdemar #21987 · 320 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1987320
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    Arrow's FallValdemar: Heralds Of Valdemar #31988 · 320 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1988320
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    KeysValdemar: Vows and Honor #31988 · confirmed 3/4
    1988–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    The OathboundValdemar: Vows and Honor #41988 · 304 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1988304
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    Burning WaterDiana Tregarde #11989 · 330 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1989330
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    Magic's PawnValdemar: The Last Herald-Mage #11989 · 352 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1989352
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    The Winds of ChangeBlood Of Ten Chiefs #31989 · confirmed 3/4
    1989–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    OathbreakersValdemar: Vows and Honor #51989 · 320 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1989320
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    Knight of Ghosts and ShadowsBedlam's Bard #11990 · 345 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1990345
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    Children of the NightDiana Tregarde #21990 · 317 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1990317
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    Magic's PromiseValdemar: The Last Herald-Mage #21990 · 318 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1990318
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Magic's PriceValdemar: The Last Herald-Mage #31990 · 352 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1990352
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    Against the WindBlood Of Ten Chiefs #41990 · 277 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1990277
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    The TalismanValdemar: Vows and Honor #61990 · confirmed 3/4
    1990–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    By the SwordValdemar: Kerowyn's Tale #11991 · 492 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1991492
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    Stolen SilverValdemar Short Stories/Novellas #11991 · confirmed 3/4
    1991–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    The Lark And The WrenBardic Voices #11991 · 488 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1991488
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    Winds of FateValdemar: Mage Winds #11991 · 460 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1991460
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    Set a ThiefDarkover #21991 · confirmed 3/4
    1991–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    Jinx HighDiana Tregarde #31991 · 336 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1991336
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Out of the Frying PanElisabeth Waters Short Stories/Novellas with Elisabeth Waters #41991 · confirmed 3/4
    1991–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    Wings of FireValdemar: Vows and Honor #71991 · confirmed 3/4
    1991–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    Born to RunSERRAted Edge #11992 · 317 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1992317
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Mercedes Lackey series and characters in order

Each link below opens a reading-order page with every book in publication order.

Mercedes Lackey books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. A group whose heading is a link has its own reading-order page; the other groups have no page of their own on this site.

Elisabeth Waters Short Stories/Novellas with Elisabeth Waters

18 books

18 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Valdemar: Vows and Honor in order

11 books
  1. 1. Sword Sworn
  2. 2. A Tale of Heroes
  3. 3. Keys
  4. 4. The Oathbound
  5. 5. Oathbreakers
  6. 6. The Talisman
  7. 7. Wings of Fire
  8. 8. A Woman's Weapon
  9. 9. Friendly Fire
  10. 10. Oathblood
  11. 11. The Making of a Legend

Valdemar books in order

11 books by Mercedes Lackey
  1. 4. Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar
  2. 5. Moving Targets and Other Tales of Valdemar
  3. 7. Finding the Way and Other Tales of Valdemar
  4. 10. No True Way
  5. 11. Crucible
  6. 17. Passages
  7. 18. Boundaries
  8. 19. Shenanigans
  9. 21. Feuds
  10. 22. Smoke and Mirrors
  11. 23. A Many-Splintered Thing

Secret World Chronicles in order

10 books
  1. 1. Invasion
  2. 2. Sgian Dubh
  3. 3. White Bird
  4. 4. Strike a Pose
  5. 5. World Divided
  6. 6. Revolution
  7. 7. Exemplar
  8. 8. Collision
  9. 9. Avalanche
  10. 10. Echo One

Bedlam's Bard in order

9 books
  1. 1. Knight of Ghosts and Shadows
  2. 2. Bedlam Boyz
  3. 3. Summoned to Tourney
  4. 4. Beyond World's End
  5. 5. Spirits White as Lightning
  6. 6. Mad Maudlin
  7. 7. Bedlam's Edge
  8. 8. Music to My Sorrow
  9. 9. A Host of Furious Fancies

SERRAted Edge in order

9 books
  1. 1. Born to Run
  2. 2. Wheels of Fire
  3. 3. When the Bough Breaks
  4. 4. Chrome Circle
  5. 8. The Chrome Borne
  6. 9. The Otherworld
  7. 10. Silence
  8. 11. The Waters and the Wild
  9. 12. Breaking Silence

Five Hundred Kingdoms in order

8 books
  1. 1. The Fairy Godmother
  2. 2. One Good Knight
  3. 3. Fortune's Fool
  4. 4. The Snow Queen
  5. 5. The Sleeping Beauty
  6. 6. Beauty and the Werewolf
  7. 7. A Tangled Web
  8. 8. A Tale of the Five Hundred Kingdoms Volume 3: A Fantasy Romance Novel

Valdemar Short Stories/Novellas

7 books

7 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Mercedes Lackey Standalone Novels

6 books

6 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Mercedes Lackey Short Story

6 books

6 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Darkover in order

5 books
  1. 1. Different Kind of Courage
  2. 2. Set a Thief
  3. 4. Poetic License
  4. 5. An Object Lesson
  5. 19. Rediscovery

Diana Tregarde in order

5 books
  1. 1. Burning Water
  2. 2. Children of the Night
  3. 3. Jinx High
  4. 4. Killer Byte
  5. 5. Magic 101

Bardic Voices in order

5 books
  1. 1. The Lark And The Wren
  2. 2. The Robin & The Kestrel
  3. 3. A Cast of Corbies
  4. 4. The Eagle & the Nightingales
  5. 5. Four & Twenty Blackbirds

Wing Commander in order

5 books
  1. 1. Freedom Flight
  2. 3. Fleet Action
  3. 6. Action Stations
  4. 8. Wing Commander Novelization
  5. 10. Pilgrim Stars

Mercedes Lackey Short Stories/Novellas

5 books

5 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Valdemar: Collegium Chronicles in order

5 books
  1. 1. Foundation
  2. 2. Intrigues
  3. 3. Changes
  4. 4. Redoubt
  5. 5. Bastion

Dragon Jousters in order

4 books
  1. 1. Joust
  2. 2. Alta
  3. 3. Sanctuary
  4. 4. Aerie

Obsidian Mountain in order

4 books
  1. 1. The Outstretched Shadow
  2. 2. To Light a Candle
  3. 3. When Darkness Falls
  4. 4. The Obsidian Mountain Trilogy

Doubled Edge in order

4 books
  1. 1. This Scepter'd Isle
  2. 2. Ill Met by Moonlight
  3. 3. By Slanderous Tongues
  4. 4. And Less Than Kind

Shadow Grail in order

4 books
  1. 1. Legacies
  2. 2. Conspiracies
  3. 3. Sacrifices
  4. 4. Victories

Valdemar: Heralds Of Valdemar in order

3 books
  1. 1. Arrows of the Queen
  2. 2. Arrow's Flight
  3. 3. Arrow's Fall

Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage in order

3 books
  1. 1. Magic's Pawn
  2. 2. Magic's Promise
  3. 3. Magic's Price

Valdemar: Mage Winds in order

3 books
  1. 1. Winds of Fate
  2. 2. Winds of Change
  3. 3. Winds of Fury

Bard's Tale in order

3 books
  1. 1. Castle of Deception
  2. 2. Fortress of Frost and Fire
  3. 3. Prison of Souls

Valdemar: Mage Storms in order

3 books
  1. 1. Storm Warning
  2. 2. Storm Rising
  3. 3. Storm Breaking

Valdemar: Mage Wars in order

3 books
  1. 1. The Black Gryphon
  2. 2. The White Gryphon
  3. 3. The Silver Gryphon

Valdemar: The Owl Mage Trilogy in order

3 books
  1. 1. Owlflight
  2. 2. Owlsight
  3. 3. Owlknight

Valdemar: Heralds of Valdemar Prequel in order

3 books
  1. 1. Take a Thief
  2. 2. Exile's Honor
  3. 3. Exile's Valor

Enduring Flame in order

3 books
  1. 1. The Phoenix Unchained
  2. 2. The Phoenix Endangered
  3. 3. The Phoenix Transformed

Reboots Series in order

3 books
  1. 1. Reboots
  2. 2. Reboots: Diabolical Streak
  3. 3. Reboots: Undead Can Dance

Dragon Prophecy in order

3 books
  1. 1. Crown of Vengeance
  2. 2. Blade of Empire
  3. 3. Deliverance of Dragons

Valdemar: The Herald Spy in order

3 books
  1. 1. Closer to Home
  2. 2. Closer to the Heart
  3. 3. Closer to the Chest

Hunter in order

3 books
  1. 1. Hunter
  2. 2. Elite
  3. 3. Apex

Valdemar: Family Spies in order

3 books
  1. 1. The Hills Have Spies
  2. 2. Eye Spy
  3. 3. Spy, Spy Again

Founding of Valdemar in order

3 books
  1. 1. Beyond
  2. 2. Into the West
  3. 3. Valdemar

Heirs of Alexandria in order

3 books
  1. 2. This Rough Magic
  2. 3. A Mankind Witch
  3. 5. Burdens of the Dead

Blood Of Ten Chiefs in order

3 books
  1. 3. The Winds of Change
  2. 4. Against the Wind
  3. 5. Dark Hours

Fairy Tales books in order

2 books by Mercedes Lackey
  1. 1. Firebird
  2. 2. The Black Swan

Ring of Fire Anthology

2 books

2 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Valdemar: Kerowyn's Tale in order

1 book
  1. 1. By the Sword

Jennifer Talldeer in order

1 book
  1. 1. Sacred Ground

Valdemar: The Tale of Lavan Firestorm in order

1 book
  1. 1. Brightly Burning

Lost Continent in order

1 book
  1. 1. Charmed Destinies

Shipscat in order

1 book
  1. 1. Shipscat Collection

One Dozen Daughters Series in order

1 book
  1. 1. The House of the Four Winds

Kelvren's Saga Series in order

1 book
  1. 1. Gryphon in Light

Valdemar Miscellaneous

1 book

1 title published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Tales of the Witch World in order

1 book
  1. 2. Werehunter

Witches of Karres in order

1 book
  1. 2. The Wizard of Karres

Halfblood Chronicles in order

1 book
  1. 4. Elvenbred

Brainship in order

1 book
  1. 8. The Ship Who Dared

Mercedes Lackey Books in Chronological Order

By publication date, the Mercedes Lackey books run from The Alton Gift (1980) to A Many-Splintered Thing (2026), the sequence in the table above. The Elemental Masters series also has a separate in-universe order on record: Elemental Masters books in chronological order. No other Mercedes Lackey story order is on record.

Do you have to read Mercedes Lackey books in order?

You only need to read Mercedes Lackey books in order within each series: the books listed here span 34 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

What order should you read Mercedes Lackey books in?

Read Mercedes Lackey one series at a time, each in its own publication order: Elemental Masters starts with The Fire Rose (1995), Valdemar starts with Sword Sworn (1986) and Elves On The Road starts with Burning Water (1989). The earliest catalogued title overall is The Alton Gift (1980).

What is the newest Mercedes Lackey book?

A Many-Splintered Thing (2026) is the newest Mercedes Lackey book released so far.

Is there a new Mercedes Lackey book coming?

Yes. A Wind Turned Dark with Burning (2027) is the next Mercedes Lackey book announced in the catalogue. A publication year announced this far ahead moves, so it is worth rechecking: every announced title dated after 2026 sits on the upcoming book releases page.

Awards Mercedes Lackey has won

Wikidata records 2 awards and 7 nominations for Mercedes Lackey. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.

  • Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award2022Won
  • Lambda Literary Award1990Wonfor Magic's Price
  • Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel1997Shortlistedfor Firebird
  • Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel1996Shortlistedfor Storm Rising
  • Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel1995Shortlistedfor Storm Warning
  • Locus Award for Best Horror Novel1995Shortlistedfor Transmaniacon
  • Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel1994Shortlistedfor The Robin & the Kestrel
  • Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel1993Shortlistedfor Winds of Change
  • Locus Award for Best First Novel1988Shortlistedfor Arrows of the Queen

Mercedes Lackey at a glance

Still publishing
Mercedes Lackey is still publishing. A Wind Turned Dark with Burning is announced for 2027.
Release pace
Mercedes Lackey books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
51,239 pages across the 128 of 232 books with a recorded length, a median of 368 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Mercedes Lackey books, 81 of 232, were published in the 2010s.

What the Mercedes Lackey books are about

144 of the 232 Mercedes Lackey books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: fantasy is tagged on 84 of 144. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.