Mercedes Lackey books in order
American novelist and short story writer
- Born
- 1950
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 160
- Series
- 11
Mercedes Lackey has published 140 novels, 8 short story collections, 4 children's books and 8 other books, beginning with Arrow's Flight (1987). The 11 series include Elemental Masters (18 books, starting with The Fire Rose), Heirs of Alexandria (5 books, starting with The Shadow of the Lion) and Collegium Chronicles (5 books, starting with Foundation). 4 feature Eric Banyon. The best-known is Arrows of the Queen (1987). The latest is Smoke and Mirrors (2025).
Updated September 2026
Elemental Masters books in order (18)Series page
Reading order: 1 The Fire Rose (1995) · 2 The Serpent's Shadow (2001) · 3 The Gates of Sleep (2002) · 4 Phoenix and Ashes (2004) · 5 The Wizard of London (2005) · 6 Reserved for the Cat (2007) · 7 Unnatural Issue (2011) · 8 Home From the Sea (2012) · 9 Steadfast (2013) · 10 Blood Red (Elemental Masters #9) (2014) · … all 18 below
- 1.
The Fire Rose (1995)
- 2.
The Serpent's Shadow (2001)
- 3.
The Gates of Sleep (2002)
- 4.
Phoenix and Ashes (2004)
- 5.
The Wizard of London (Oct 2005)
- 6.
Reserved for the Cat (Oct 2007)
- 7.
Unnatural Issue (Jun 2011)
- 8.
Home From the Sea (Jun 2012)
- 9.
Steadfast (2013)
- 10.
Blood Red (Elemental Masters #9) (2014)
- 11.
From a High Tower (Jun 2015)
- 12.
A Study in Sable (2016)
- 13.
A Scandal in Battersea (Oct 2017)
- 14.
The Bartered Brides (Elemental Masters) (2018)
- 15.
The Case of the Spellbound Child (2019)
- 16.
Jolene (2020)
- 17.
The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley (2022)
- 18.
Miss Amelia's List (2024)
Heirs of Alexandria books in order (5)Series page
Reading order: 1 The Shadow of the Lion (2002) · 2 A Mankind Witch (2005) · 3 This Rough Magic (Lackey, Mercedes) (2003) · 4 Much Fall of Blood (2010) · 5 Burdens of the Dead (2013)
- 1.
The Shadow of the Lion (2002)
- 2.
A Mankind Witch (2005)
- 3.
This Rough Magic (Lackey, Mercedes) (2003)
- 4.
Much Fall of Blood (2010)
- 5.
Burdens of the Dead (2013)
Collegium Chronicles books in order (5)Series page
Reading order: 1 Foundation (2008) · 2 Intrigues (Collegium Chronicles #2) (2010) · 3 Changes (2011) · 4 Redoubt (2012) · 5 Bastion (2013)
- 1.
Foundation (2008)
- 2.
Intrigues (Collegium Chronicles #2) (2010)
- 3.
Changes (2011)
- 4.
Redoubt (2012)
- 5.
Bastion (2013)
Diana Tregarde books in order (4)Series page
Reading order: 1 Burning Water (1989) · 2 Children of the Night (1990) · 3 Jinx High (1991) · Trio of Sorcery (2010)
- 1.
Burning Water (1989)
- 2.
Children of the Night (1990)
- 3.
Jinx High (1991)
Trio of Sorcery (2010)
Heralds of Valdemar books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 1 Arrows of the Queen (1987) · 2 Arrow's Flight (1987) · 3 Arrow's Fall (1988)
- 1.
Arrows of the Queen (Mar 1987)
- 2.
Arrow's Flight (1987)
- 3.
Arrow's Fall (Jan 1988)
Vows and Honor books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 1 The Oathbound (1988) · 2 Oathbreakers (1989) · 3 Oathblood (1998)
- 1.
The Oathbound (1988)
- 2.
Oathbreakers (1989)
- 3.
Oathblood (1998)
The Last Herald-Mage books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 1 Magic's Pawn (1989) · 2 Magic's Promise (1990) · 3 Magic's Price (1991)
- 1.
Magic's Pawn (1989)
- 2.
Magic's Promise (1990)
- 3.
Magic's Price (1991)
Mage Winds books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 1 Winds of Fate (1991) · 2 Winds of Change (Valdemar: Mage Winds #2) (1992) · 3 Winds of Fury (1993)
- 1.
Winds of Fate (1991)
- 2.
Winds of Change (Valdemar: Mage Winds #2) (1992)
- 3.
Winds of Fury (1993)
The Obsidian Trilogy books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 1 The Outstretched Shadow (2003) · 2 To Light a Candle (2004) · 3 When Darkness Falls (2006)
- 1.
The Outstretched Shadow (Oct 2003)
- 2.
To Light a Candle (2004)
- 3.
When Darkness Falls (Jul 2006)
The Enduring Flame Trilogy books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 1 The Phoenix Unchained (2007) · 2 The Phoenix Endangered (2008) · 3 The Phoenix Transformed (2009)
- 1.
The Phoenix Unchained (2007)
- 2.
The Phoenix Endangered (2008)
- 3.
The Phoenix Transformed (2009)
Hunter books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 1 Hunter (2015) · 2 Elite (2016) · 3 Apex (2017)
- 1.
Hunter (2015)
- 2.
Elite (2016)
- 3.
Apex (2017)
Where to start with Mercedes Lackey
Start here
Arrows of the Queen
Mercedes Lackey's most-read book and the first of the 3 Heralds of Valdemar books.
Shortest way in
The Ship Who Searched
One of the most-read, at about 312 pages.
Newest
Smoke and Mirrors
Published 2025.
Standalone novels in order
Queen's Own (1989)
Knight of Ghosts & Shadows (Bedlam's Bard, Bk. 1) (1990)
The Last Herald-Mage (Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage, #1-3) (1990)
By the Sword (1991)
The Elevenbane (1991)
The Lark And The Wren (1991)
The Mage Winds (1991)
Born to Run (1992)
Castle of Deception (1992)
The Ship Who Searched (1992), with Anne McCaffrey
Wheels of Fire (1992)
Wing Commander (1992)
Fortress of Frost and Fire (1993)
If I Pay Thee Not in Gold (1993)
Prison of Souls (1993)
Rediscovery (1993), with Marion Zimmer Bradley
When the Bough Breaks (1993)
A Cast of Corbies (1994)
Sacred Ground (1994)
Storm Warning (1994)
The Black Gryphon (1994)
Elvenblood (1995)
Tiger Burning Bright (1995), with Andre Norton and Marion Zimmer Bradley
Storm Rising (Sep 1995)
Firebird (1996)
Storm Breaking (1996)
The Silver Gryphon (Valdemar: Mage Wars #3) (1996)
Four & Twenty Blackbirds (Bardic Voices #4) (1997)
Owlflight (Valdemar: Darian's Tale, Book 1) (1997)
The White Gryphon (1997)
Fiddler Fair (Bardic Voices) (1998)
Owlsight (Valdemar: Darian's Tale, Book 2) (1998)
Owlknight (Valdemar: Darian's Tale, Book 3) (1999)
The Black Swan (1999)
Werehunter (1999)
Brightly Burning (Valdemar (Chronological) #18) (2000)
Take a Thief (2001)
Exile's Honor (2002)
Elvenborn (Halfblood Chronicles (2003)
Exile's Valor (2003)
Mad Maudlin (2003)
Joust (Mar 2003)
Alta (The Dragon Jousters, Book 2) (2004)
The Fairy Godmother (2004)
This Scepter'd Isle (2004)
Ill Met by Moonlight (2005)
Sanctuary (The Dragon Jousters, Book 3) (2005)
Aerie (The Dragon Jousters, Book 4) (2006)
Bedlam's Bard (2006)
One Good Knight (2006)
By Slanderous Tongues (2007)
Fortune's Fool (2007)
And Less Than Kind (2008)
The Snow Queen (2008)
Changing the World (2009)
Gwenhwyfar (2009)
Beauty And The Werewolf (2011)
Once Upon A Tale (2011)
Reboots (2011)
Crown of Vengeance (2012)
Shadow Grail #3 (2013)
Closer to Home (2014)
Shadow Grail #4 (2014)
The House of the Four Winds (2014)
Closer to the Heart: Book 2 (The Herald Spy) (2015)
Closer to the Chest (Valdemar: The Herald Spy) (2016)
Silence (Serrated Edge) (2016)
Blade of Empire (2017)
Elite: A Hunter Novel (2017)
Tale of the Five Hundred Kingdoms Volume 1 (2017)
The Hills Have Spies (2018)
Eye Spy (Family Spies #2) (2019)
The Waters and the Wild (2019)
Breaking Silence (2020)
Elemental Masters (2020)
Passages (2020)
Spy, Spy Again (2020)
Boundaries (2021)
Briarheart (2021)
Hunter Collection (2021)
Into the West (2022)
Gryphon in Light (2023)
Valdemar (2023)
Deliverance of Dragons (2025)
Smoke and Mirrors (2025)
Short story collections in order
Sword of Ice and Other Tales of Valdemar (Tales of Valdemar #1) (1997)
Sun in Glory and Other Tales of Valdemar (Tales of Valdemar #2) (2003)
Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar (Tales of Valdemar #3) (2005)
Finding the Way and Other Tales of Valdemar (2010)
The Sleeping Beauty (Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms #5) (2010)
Under The Vale And Other Tales Of Valdemar (Tales of Valdemar #7) (2011)
Dragon's Teeth (2013)
Children's books in order
Legacies (2010)
Conspiracies (2011)
Dead Reckoning (2012)
Other books in order
Tangled Web (2012)
Fire Rose, The (2015)
Fairy Godmother, The (2016)
Beyond (2021)
Beyond, the Founding of Valdemar (2022)
Elemental Masters -- the Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley (2022)
Shenanigans (2022)
Gryphon's Valor (2024)
About Mercedes Lackey
Mercedes Ritchie Lackey is an American writer of fantasy novels. Many of her novels and trilogies are interlinked and set in the world of Velgarth, mostly in and around the country of Valdemar. Her Valdemar novels include interaction between human and non-human protagonists with many different cultures and social mores.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Mercedes Lackey FAQ
- How many books has Mercedes Lackey written?
- Mercedes Lackey has published 140 novels, 8 short story collections, 4 children's books and 8 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Mercedes Lackey's books in?
- Read each series in its own order: start Elemental Masters with The Fire Rose, Heirs of Alexandria with The Shadow of the Lion and Collegium Chronicles with Foundation. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
- What is Mercedes Lackey's latest book?
- Smoke and Mirrors (2025).
- What is Mercedes Lackey's most famous book?
- Arrows of the Queen (1987) is Mercedes Lackey's most widely read book.
- Are Mercedes Lackey's books connected?
- 53 books belong to 11 series (Elemental Masters, Heirs of Alexandria, Collegium Chronicles and Diana Tregarde); the other 107 books stand alone.
Authors like Mercedes Lackey
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.