Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide
Guy Gavriel Kay

Guy Gavriel Kay Reading Order

6 series · 18 books · Born 1954-11-07

Fantasy

Guy Gavriel Kay is a Canadian fantasy author known for crafting richly imagined worlds that mirror real historical periods and places, from Byzantine Constantinople to medieval Spain. His work blends historical authenticity with magical elements, creating what is often termed historical fantasy, though Kay himself resists strict genre labels. His most acclaimed series include The Fionavar Tapestry, an epic that draws from Arthurian legend, and The Sarantine Mosaic, a two-book sequence inspired by the Byzantine Empire.

Website

Anthologies Series

Complete

1 book (2011–2011)

#Title
1
Finding the Words
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Short Story Collections Series

Complete

1 book (2002–2002)

#Title
1
Cover of Beyond This Dark House: Poems
Beyond This Dark House: Poems
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Standalone Novels Series

Ongoing

9 books (1990–2025)

Start with Tigana, the first of 9 books in the Standalone Novels series.

Start this series with Tigana

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Tigana
2
Cover of A Song for Arbonne
A Song for Arbonne
1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Lions of Al-Rassan
The Lions of Al-Rassan
1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of The Last Light of the Sun
The Last Light of the Sun
2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of Ysabel
6
Cover of Children of Earth and Sky
Children of Earth and Sky
2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of A Brightness Long Ago
A Brightness Long Ago
2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
All the Seas of the World
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of Written on the Dark
Written on the Dark
2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

The Fionavar Tapestry Series

Complete

3 books (1984–1986)

Start with The Summer Tree and read in order.

Start this series with The Summer Tree

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Summer Tree
The Summer Tree
1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Darkest Road
The Darkest Road
1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Wandering Fire
The Wandering Fire
1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

The Sarantine Mosaic Series

Complete

2 books (1998–2000)

Start with Sailing to Sarantium and read in order.

Start this series with Sailing to Sarantium

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Sailing to Sarantium
1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Lord of Emperors
Lord of Emperors
2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Under Heaven Series

Complete

2 books (2010–2013)

Start with Under Heaven and read in order.

Start this series with Under Heaven

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Under Heaven
Under Heaven
2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of River of Stars
River of Stars
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Guy Gavriel Kay written?
Guy Gavriel Kay has written 18 books across 6 series. Their published works span from 1984 to 2025.
What is the first book in each Guy Gavriel Kay series?
Here are the first books in Guy Gavriel Kay's series: The Fionavar Tapestry: The Summer Tree; The Sarantine Mosaic: Sailing to Sarantium; Under Heaven: Under Heaven.
What order should I read Guy Gavriel Kay's books?
We recommend reading Guy Gavriel Kay's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Guy Gavriel Kay still writing new books?
Yes, Guy Gavriel Kay has 1 ongoing series: Standalone Novels.

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