How many books has Robin Hobb written?

Robin Hobb has published 32 novels, 1 novella and 2 short story collections that we list, as of September 2026.

What order should I read Robin Hobb's books in?

Read each series in its own order: start Realm of the Elderlings with Assassin's Apprentice, The Ki and Vandien Quartet with Harpy's Flight and Soldier Son Trilogy with Shaman's Crossing. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.

What is Robin Hobb's most famous book?

Assassin's Apprentice (1995) is Robin Hobb's most widely read book.

Are Robin Hobb's books connected?

25 books belong to 4 series (Realm of the Elderlings, The Ki and Vandien Quartet, Soldier Son Trilogy and The Reindeer People); the other 10 books stand alone.

Does Robin Hobb write under a pen name?

Yes: Robin Hobb has also published as Megan Lindholm.

Robin Hobb books in order

American fiction writer (pseudonym)

Born: 1952
Country: United States
Books: 35
Series: 4
Also writes as: Megan Lindholm

Fantasy

Robin Hobb has published 32 novels, 1 novella and 2 short story collections, beginning with Wizard of the Pigeons (1986). The 4 series include Realm of the Elderlings (16 books, starting with Assassin's Apprentice), The Ki and Vandien Quartet (4 books, starting with Harpy's Flight) and Soldier Son Trilogy (3 books, starting with Shaman's Crossing). The best-known is Assassin's Apprentice (1995). The latest is Assassin's Fate (2017).

Updated September 2026

Realm of the Elderlings books in order (16)Series page

Reading order: 1 Assassin's Apprentice (1995) · 2 Royal Assassin (1996) · 3 Assassin's Quest (1997) · 4 Ship of Magic (1998) · 5 The Mad Ship (1998) · 6 Ship of Destiny (2000) · 7 Fool's Errand (2001) · 8 The Golden Fool (2002) · 9 Fool's Fate (2003) · 10 Dragon Keeper (2009) · … all 16 below

1.
Assassin's Apprentice (Apr 1995)
400 pages★ 3.9 (61 ratings)
Buy
2.
Royal Assassin (Mar 1996)
581 pages★ 3.8 (41 ratings)
Buy
3.
Assassin's Quest (Mar 1997)
757 pages★ 3.8 (28 ratings)
Buy
4.
Ship of Magic (Jan 1998)
699 pages★ 4.0 (25 ratings)
Buy
5.
The Mad Ship (Nov 1998)
769 pages★ 4.0 (20 ratings)
Buy
6.
Ship of Destiny (Aug 2000)
683 pages★ 4.2 (9 ratings)
Buy
7.
Fool's Errand (Oct 2001)
620 pages
Buy
8.
The Golden Fool (Oct 2002)
640 pages★ 4.0 (19 ratings)
Buy
9.
Fool's Fate (Nov 2003)
805 pages★ 3.9 (18 ratings)
Buy
10.
Dragon Keeper (2009)
560 pages★ 3.4 (7 ratings)
Buy
11.
Dragon Haven (Mar 2010)
570 pages
Buy
12.
City of Dragons (Sep 2011)
375 pages★ 3.8 (6 ratings)
Buy
13.
Blood of Dragons (Mar 2013)
481 pages★ 3.9 (7 ratings)
Buy
14.
Fool's Assassin (Aug 2014)
Buy
15.
Fool's Quest (Aug 2015)
714 pages★ 4.0 (11 ratings)
Buy
16.
Assassin's Fate (May 2017)
864 pages★ 4.5 (6 ratings)
Buy

The Ki and Vandien Quartet books in order (4)Series page

Reading order: 1 Harpy's Flight (1983) · 2 The Windsingers (1984) · 3 The Limbreth Gate (1984) · 4 Luck of the Wheels (1989)

1.
Harpy's Flight (Feb 1983)
312 pages
Buy
2.
The Windsingers (1984)
392 pages
Buy
3.
The Limbreth Gate (Jul 1984)
304 pages
Buy
4.
Luck of the Wheels (Dec 1989)
332 pages
Buy

Soldier Son Trilogy books in order (3)Series page

Reading order: 1 Shaman's Crossing (2005) · 2 Forest Mage (2006) · 3 Renegade's Magic (2007)

1.
Shaman's Crossing (Jul 2005)
592 pages★ 3.4 (9 ratings)
Buy
2.
Forest Mage (Jul 2006)
559 pages★ 3.2 (6 ratings)
Buy
3.
Renegade's Magic (Sep 2007)
672 pages
Buy

The Reindeer People books in order (2)

Reading order: 1 The Reindeer People (1988) · 2 Wolf's Brother (1988)

1.
The Reindeer People (May 1988)
288 pages
Buy
2.
Wolf's Brother (Oct 1988)
240 pages
Buy

Where to start with Robin Hobb

Start here
Assassin's Apprentice
Robin Hobb's most-read book and the first of the 16 Realm of the Elderlings books.
Highest rated
Ship of Magic
Rated 4.0 out of 5 by 25 readers.
Newest
Assassin's Fate
Published May 2017.

Standalone novels in order

Wizard of the Pigeons (Jan 1986)
264 pages
Buy
Cloven Hooves (Nov 1991)
368 pages
Buy
Alien Earth (Jun 1992)
Buy
Liveship Traders (1998)
Buy
Atlanta Nights (2004)
Buy
Gypsy (2005)
288 pages
Buy
Rain Wild Chronicles (2014)
Buy

Novellas in order

Homecoming (2003)
Buy

Short story collections in order

Legends II (2003), with George R. R. Martin and Neil Gaiman
Buy
The Inheritance (2011)
396 pages
Buy

About Robin Hobb

Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden, known by her pen names Robin Hobb and Megan Lindholm, is an American writer of speculative fiction. As Hobb, she is best known for her fantasy novels set in the Realm of the Elderlings, which comprise the Farseer, Liveship Traders and Tawny Man trilogies, the Rain Wild Chronicles, and the Fitz and the Fool trilogy. Lindholm's writing includes the urban fantasy novel Wizard of the Pigeons and science fiction short stories, among other works. As of 2018, her fiction has been translated into 22 languages and sold more than 4 million copies.

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

Robin Hobb FAQ

How many books has Robin Hobb written?: Robin Hobb has published 32 novels, 1 novella and 2 short story collections that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Robin Hobb's books in?: Read each series in its own order: start Realm of the Elderlings with Assassin's Apprentice, The Ki and Vandien Quartet with Harpy's Flight and Soldier Son Trilogy with Shaman's Crossing. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
What is Robin Hobb's latest book?: Assassin's Fate (2017).
What is Robin Hobb's most famous book?: Assassin's Apprentice (1995) is Robin Hobb's most widely read book.
Are Robin Hobb's books connected?: 25 books belong to 4 series (Realm of the Elderlings, The Ki and Vandien Quartet, Soldier Son Trilogy and The Reindeer People); the other 10 books stand alone.
Does Robin Hobb write under a pen name?: Yes: Robin Hobb has also published as Megan Lindholm.