Mark Lawrence Reading Order

6 books (2012–2019)

Mark Lawrence edited six fantasy anthologies between 2012 and 2019, completing the series with Unfettered III: New Tales By Masters of Fantasy. These collections should be read in publication order, beginning with Fading Light. The series includes multiple volumes of the Unfettered anthology along with Art of War and Knee-Deep in Grit: Two Bloody Years of Grimdark Fiction.

Start with Fading Light, the first of 6 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	Fading Light 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Unfettered 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Unfettered II: New Tales By Masters of Fantasy 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Art of War 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Knee-Deep in Grit: Two Bloody Years of Grimdark Fiction 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Unfettered III: New Tales By Masters of Fantasy 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

6 books (2017–2024)

The Book of the Ancestor series by Mark Lawrence consists of six fantasy novels published between 2017 and 2024, with the series still ongoing. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Red Sister and continuing through Bound, Grey Sister, Holy Sister, The Devil You Know, and Thaw. This interconnected sequence builds a complex narrative across its installments, making sequential reading essential to understanding the full scope of the story.

Start with Red Sister, the first of 6 books in the Book Of The Ancestor series.

#	Title
1	Red Sister 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Bound 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Grey Sister 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Holy Sister 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Devil You Know 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Thaw 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2020–2022)

Mark Lawrence's Book of the Ice trilogy spans from 2020 to 2022 and should be read in publication order beginning with The Girl and the Stars. The series appears to be complete with three installments: The Girl and the Stars, The Girl and the Mountain, and The Girl and the Moon. This epic fantasy sequence follows a connected narrative across its volumes.

Start with The Girl and the Stars and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Girl and the Stars 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Girl and the Mountain 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Girl and the Moon 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

5 books (2011–2014)

The Broken Empire is a five-book fantasy series by Mark Lawrence published between 2011 and 2014. The complete series consists of Prince of Thorns, King of Thorns, Emperor of Thorns, Sleeping Beauty, and Select Mode, and should be read in publication order. This concluded series follows a continuous narrative across its installments.

Start with Prince of Thorns, the first of 5 books in the Broken Empire series.

#	Title
1	Prince of Thorns 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	King of Thorns 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Emperor of Thorns 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Sleeping Beauty 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Select Mode 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2017–2024)

Mark Lawrence's Collections series comprises interconnected fantasy tales spanning from 2017 to 2024. The series currently includes two books—Road Brothers and Tales from the Broken Empire—with Tales of Abeth announced as forthcoming, making it an ongoing collection. Read the books in publication order to experience the author's interconnected storytelling across his fantasy worlds.

Start with Road Brothers, Tales from the Broken Empire and read in order.

2 books (2012–2013)

Mark Lawrence's Dark Tide series consists of two fantasy novels published between 2012 and 2013. The complete duology should be read in publication order, beginning with Dark Tide followed by Darker Tide. Both books were released within a single year, making this a compact fantasy series.

Start with Dark Tide and read in order.

3 books (2019–2019)

The Impossible Times trilogy by Mark Lawrence consists of three complete fantasy novels published in 2019: Dispel Illusion, Limited Wish, and One Word Kill. These books should be read in publication order to experience the full narrative arc as intended by the author. The series is now finished, making it ideal for readers seeking a complete fantasy experience without waiting for future releases.

Start with Dispel Illusion and read in order.

#	Title
1	Dispel Illusion 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Limited Wish 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	One Word Kill 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2014–2023)

Mark Lawrence's Red Queen's War is a four-book fantasy series following a connected narrative across Prince of Fools, The Liar's Key, The Wheel of Osheim, and The New World. Published between 2014 and 2023, the series appears to be complete and should be read in publication order. Each installment builds directly on the previous one, making sequential reading essential to following the overarching plot.

Start with Prince of Fools, the first of 4 books in the Red Queen's War series.

#	Title
1	Prince of Fools 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Liar’s Key 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Wheel of Osheim 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The New World 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2004–2016)

Mark Lawrence's fantasy short story and novella collection consists of two complete works published between 2004 and 2014, best read in publication order. Begin with During the Dance before moving to Quick Blood of the Red to experience these shorter pieces from the acclaimed fantasy author.

Start with During the Dance and read in order.

1 book (2015–2015)

1 book (2026–2026)

#	Title
1	Daughter of Crows 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

8 books (2023–2026)

Mark Lawrence's Library Trilogy comprises seven fantasy novels published between 2023 and 2025, with the series still ongoing. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Overdue and continuing through The Book That Wouldn't Burn, About Pain, Returns, The Book That Broke the World, Tabula Rasa, The Book That Held Her Heart, and concluding with The Bookshop Book. This expansive series blends Lawrence's signature dark fantasy style with intricate storytelling across its connected installments.

Start with Overdue, the first of 7 books in the The Library Trilogy series.

#	Title
1	Overdue 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Book That Wouldn't Burn 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	About Pain 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Returns 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Book That Broke the World 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Tabula Rasa 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	The Book That Held Her Heart 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Bookshop Book 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2020–2021)

Mark Lawrence's Visitor series consists of two fantasy novels published between 2020 and 2021 in publication order. The series appears to be complete, with both installments available for readers to follow sequentially from Kill or Cure through the final entry.

Start with The Visitor: Kill or Cure and read in order.