Stephen R. Lawhead Reading Order

5 books (2010–2014)

The Bright Empires series by Stephen R. Lawhead comprises five complete novels published between 2010 and 2014. This fantasy series should be read in publication order, beginning with The Skin Map and continuing through The Bone House, The Spirit Well, The Shadow Lamp, and concluding with The Fatal Tree. The series blends historical fiction and fantasy elements across its interconnected narrative arc.

Start with The Skin Map, the first of 5 books in the Bright Empires series.

#	Title
1	The Skin Map 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Bone House 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Spirit Well 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Shadow Lamp 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Fatal Tree 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1988–1990)

Stephen R. Lawhead's Brown Ears series consists of two complete fantasy novels published in the late 1980s. Both books should be read in publication order, beginning with Brown Ears followed by Brown Ears at Sea. This finished series blends elements of fantasy and historical fiction across its two installments.

Start with Brown Ears and read in order.

#	Title
1	Brown Ears 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Brown Ears at Sea 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2018–2020)

Stephen R. Lawhead's Eirlandia trilogy spans from 2018 to 2020 as a complete fantasy historical fiction series that should be read in publication order. The three books are In the Region of the Summer Stars, In the Land of the Everliving, and In the Kingdom of All Tomorrows, each building on the previous installment's narrative.

Start with In the Region of the Summer Stars and read in order.

#	Title
1	In the Region of the Summer Stars 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	In the Land of the Everliving 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	In the Kingdom of All Tomorrows 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1985–1986)

This complete two-book fantasy series by Stephen R. Lawhead was published in the mid-1980s and should be read in publication order. The Search for Fierra and The Siege of Dome form a connected narrative that takes readers through an expansive otherworldly adventure. Both installments were released between 1985 and 1986, offering a self-contained story arc within the author's broader body of speculative fiction work.

Start with The Search for Fierra and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Search for Fierra 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Siege of Dome 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2003–2017)

Stephen R. Lawhead's Hero series consists of two complete fantasy and historical fiction novels published fourteen years apart. The first book, City of Dreams, appeared in 2003, followed by World Without End in 2017, the latter co-authored with Ross Lawhead and Mark Gilroy. Reading the series in publication order is recommended to experience the narrative as intended by the authors.

Start with City of Dreams and read in order.

#	Title
1	City of Dreams 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	World Without End(With: Ross Lawhead,Mark Gilroy) 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2003–2004)

Stephen R. Lawhead's Hero series consists of two graphic novels published between 2003 and 2004, completing this fantasy-historical fiction collection. The first book, Hero, was followed by Rogue Nation, with the second installment co-written by Ross Lawhead. These standalone graphic novels should be read in publication order to experience the full narrative arc. The series blends fantastical elements with historical fiction settings, offering illustrated storytelling that complements Lawhead's prose fiction work.

Start with Hero and read in order.

#	Title
1	Hero 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Hero(With: Ross Lawhead) 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Rogue Nation 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (1986–1988)

The Howard series by Stephen R. Lawhead consists of four complete books published between 1986 and 1988. Each standalone novel follows the whimsical adventures of a character named Howard equipped with increasingly fantastical inventions, from a spaceship to a submarine, a shrinking machine, and a hot air balloon. Readers should begin with Howard Had a Spaceship and proceed in publication order through the remaining three titles to experience the full series as intended.

Start with Howard Had a Spaceship, the first of 4 books in the Howard series.

#	Title
1	Howard Had a Spaceship 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Howard Had a Submarine 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Howard Had A Shrinking Machine 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Howard Had a Hot Air Balloon 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2006–2009)

Stephen R. Lawhead's King Raven trilogy is a complete fantasy series that reimagines the Robin Hood legend with historical and magical elements. The three books—Hood, Scarlet, and Tuck—were published between 2006 and 2009 and should be read in publication order. This series blends Lawhead's signature storytelling style with the author's interests in fantasy and historical fiction, creating a fresh take on classic mythology.

Start with Hood and read in order.

#	Title
1	Hood 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Scarlet 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Tuck 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1990–1990)

Stephen R. Lawhead's Riverbank Stories is a complete three-book fantasy series published in 1990, following animal characters in standalone yet interconnected tales. Read the books in publication order beginning with The Tale of Anabelle Hedgehog, followed by The Tale of Jeremy Vole and concluding with The Tale of Timothy Mallard. Each entry tells its own story while contributing to the broader world of the series.

Start with The Tale of Anabelle Hedgehog and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Tale of Anabelle Hedgehog 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Tale of Jeremy Vole 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Tale of Timothy Mallard 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1996–2003)

Stephen R. Lawhead's trio of standalone fantasy and historical fiction novels spans from 1996 to 2003 and should be read in publication order. Though each novel stands alone with its own characters and setting, they were released as Byzantium, Dream Thief, and Patrick: Son of Ireland. The series is complete.

Start with Byzantium and read in order.

#	Title
1	Byzantium 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Dream Thief 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Patrick: Son of Ireland 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1985–2001)

Stephen R. Lawhead's completed Celtic Crusades trilogy spans from 1985 to 2001 and blends fantasy with historical fiction across three books. Reading in publication order—beginning with The Iron Lance, followed by The Black Rood and concluding with The Mystic Rose—provides the intended narrative progression for this series.

Start with The Iron Lance and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Iron Lance 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Black Rood 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Mystic Rose 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1982–1983)

Stephen R. Lawhead's Dragon King trilogy consists of three complete fantasy novels published between 1982 and 1983: In the Hall of the Dragon King, The Sword and the Flame, and The Warlords of Nin. These books should be read in publication order to follow the connected narrative. The series blends fantasy worldbuilding with historical fiction elements and concludes as a finished work rather than an ongoing saga.

Start with In the Hall of the Dragon King and read in order.

#	Title
1	In the Hall of the Dragon King 1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Sword and the Flame 1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Warlords of Nin 1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

7 books (1987–2025)

Stephen R. Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle is a seven-book fantasy and historical fiction series that began in 1987 and continues through 2025. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Merlin and continuing through Taliesin, Arthur, Pendragon, Grail, Avalon, and Aurelia. With the most recent installment released in 2025, the series is still ongoing.

Start with Merlin, the first of 7 books in the The Pendragon Cycle series.

#	Title
1	Merlin 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Taliesin 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Arthur 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Pendragon 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Grail 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Avalon 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Aurelia 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1991–1991)

The Song of Albion is a complete three-book fantasy series by Stephen R. Lawhead published in 1991, consisting of The Endless Knot, The Paradise War, and The Silver Hand. Readers should begin with The Endless Knot and proceed through the books in publication order, as the narrative builds across the trilogy. The series blends fantasy and historical fiction elements into a cohesive story arc that concludes with the final book.

Start with The Endless Knot and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Endless Knot 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Paradise War 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Silver Hand 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible