Robin McKinley Reading Order

6 books (1985–2014)

Robin McKinley's Anthologies series consists of six fantasy collections published between 1985 and 2014, now complete. The series includes Imaginary Lands, Dragons and Warrior Daughters, Spells of Enchantment, Silver Birch, Blood Moon, and contributions to Year's Best Fantasy and Horror and Lightspeed Magazine. These anthologies should be read in publication order to follow the series chronologically.

Start with Imaginary Lands, the first of 6 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	Imaginary Lands 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Dragons and Warrior Daughters 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Spells of Enchantment 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Silver Birch, Blood Moon 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Sixteenth Annual Collection 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Lightspeed Magazine, February 2014 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

6 books (1981–1998)

Robin McKinley's Damar series spans six books published between 1981 and 1998, following publication order for the complete saga. The collection blends short fiction and novels set in the same fantasy world, beginning with The Door in the Hedge and Other Stories and continuing through The Blue Sword, The Hero and the Crown, Imaginary Lands, A Knot in the Grain, and The Stone Fey. Though some entries function as standalones, reading in publication order provides the fullest experience of McKinley's world-building across this finished series.

Start with The Door in the Hedge and Other Stories, the first of 6 books in the Damar series.

#	Title
1	The Door in the Hedge and Other Stories 1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Blue Sword 1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Hero and the Crown 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Imaginary Lands 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	A Knot in the Grain 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Stone Fey 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1978–2000)

Robin McKinley's Folktales series consists of three standalone fantasy novels published between 1978 and 2000, each reimagining classic fairy tales for young adult readers. Though each book can be read independently, the series is best experienced in publication order: Beauty, Rose Daughter, and Spindle's End. The complete trilogy showcases McKinley's signature approach to transforming traditional folklore into richly detailed narratives. These books appeal to readers seeking atmospheric fantasy retellings with depth and originality.

Start with Beauty and read in order.

#	Title
1	Beauty 1978Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Rose Daughter 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Spindle's End 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2010–2010)

#	Title
1	Pegasus 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (1981–1981)

#	Title
1	The Door in the Hedge and Other Stories 1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

9 books (1986–2013)

Robin McKinley wrote nine standalone fantasy and young adult novels between 1986 and 2013, now complete and best read in publication order. Beginning with Black Beauty and concluding with Shadows, each book functions as an independent story requiring no prior knowledge of the others. This collection showcases McKinley's versatility across fantasy subgenres and narrative styles throughout her career.

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

#	Title
1	Black Beauty 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Outlaws of Sherwood 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	My Father is in the Navy 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Rowan 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Deerskin 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Sunshine 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Dragonhaven 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Chalice 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Shadows 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2002–2012)

This complete fantasy series consists of three books published between 2002 and 2012, with Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson collaborating on the first two volumes before Dickinson authored the final entry. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Water and continuing through Fire and Earth and Air. Designed for young adult readers, this series offers standalone stories connected by their focus on elemental spirits.

Start with Water(With: Peter Dickinson) and read in order.

#	Title
1	Water(With: Peter Dickinson) 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Fire(With: Peter Dickinson) 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Earth and Air(By: Peter Dickinson) 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible