How many books has Marie Lu written?

Marie Lu has published 12 novels and 4 children's books that we list, as of September 2026.

What order should I read Marie Lu's books in?

Read each series in its own order: start Legend with Legend and The Young Elites with The Young Elites. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.

What is Marie Lu's most famous book?

Prodigy (2013) is Marie Lu's most widely read book.

Are Marie Lu's books connected?

7 books belong to 2 series (Legend and The Young Elites); the other 9 books stand alone.

Marie Lu books in order

American writer

Born: 1984
Country: United States
Books: 16
Series: 2

Marie Lu has published 12 novels and 4 children's books, beginning with Legend (2011). The 2 series include Legend (4 books, starting with Legend) and The Young Elites (3 books, starting with The Young Elites). The best-known is Prodigy (2013). The latest is Stars and Smoke (2023).

Updated September 2026

Legend books in order (4)Series page

Reading order: 1 Legend (2011) · 2 Prodigy (2013) · 3 Champion (2013) · 4 Rebel (2019)

1.
Legend (Nov 2011)
313 pages★ 4.2 (14 ratings)
Buy
2.
Prodigy (Jan 2013)
400 pages★ 4.3 (25 ratings)
Buy
3.
Champion (2013)
392 pages★ 4.0 (13 ratings)
Buy
4.
Rebel (2019)
360 pages
Buy

The Young Elites books in order (3)Series page

Reading order: 1 The Young Elites (2014) · 2 The Rose Society (2015) · 3 The Midnight Star (2016)

1.
The Young Elites (2014)
392 pages★ 3.3 (7 ratings)
Buy
2.
The Rose Society (2015)
432 pages
Buy
3.
The Midnight Star (2016)
368 pages
Buy

Where to start with Marie Lu

Start here
Legend
Book 1 of Legend, the series that includes Prodigy, Marie Lu's most-read book.
Highest rated
Prodigy
Rated 4.3 out of 5 by 25 readers.
Newest
Stars and Smoke
Published 2023.

Standalone novels in order

Batman (2018)
288 pages
Buy
Legend and Prodigy (2019)
736 pages
Buy
The Kingdom of Back (2019)
328 pages
Buy
Skyhunter (2020)
432 pages
Buy
Steelstriker (2021)
416 pages
Buy
Stars and Smoke (2023)
336 pages
Buy

Children's books in order

The Evertree (2015)
190 pages
Buy
Warcross (2017)
416 pages★ 4.0 (9 ratings)
Buy
Wildcard (2018)
352 pages
Buy

About Marie Lu

Marie Lu is an American young adult science fiction and fantasy author. She is best known for the Legend series, novels set in a dystopian and militarized future, as well as the Young Elites series, the Warcross series, and Batman: Nightwalker in the DC Icons series.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Marie Lu FAQ

How many books has Marie Lu written?: Marie Lu has published 12 novels and 4 children's books that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Marie Lu's books in?: Read each series in its own order: start Legend with Legend and The Young Elites with The Young Elites. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
What is Marie Lu's latest book?: Stars and Smoke (2023).
What is Marie Lu's most famous book?: Prodigy (2013) is Marie Lu's most widely read book.
Are Marie Lu's books connected?: 7 books belong to 2 series (Legend and The Young Elites); the other 9 books stand alone.