Author guide
Mercedes Lackey Books in Order
Mercedes Lackey is an American author of fantasy, science fiction, urban fantasy, historical fantasy, and young-adult fiction. Her extensive bibliography includes the Valdemar novels, Elemental Masters, Bardic Voices, Diana Tregarde, The Five Hundred Kingdoms, the SERRAted Edge, and many collaborative series. She has frequently co-authored works with Andre Norton, James Mallory, Eric Flint, Rosemary Edghill, Larry Dixon, and others.
fantasyurban fantasyhistorical fantasyyoung adult fantasyscience fictionparanormal fantasyromantic fantasy
Mercedes Lackey's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Arrows of the Queen
The original Valdemar novel and the clearest entry point to Lackey's best-known universe.
The Fire Rose
A self-contained historical fantasy and the beginning of the Elemental Masters sequence.
The Fairy Godmother
A self-contained, humorous fairy-tale retelling that introduces The Five Hundred Kingdoms.
Burning Water
A compact occult-detective novel and the start of Diana Tregarde.
Hunter
A self-contained young-adult post-apocalyptic fantasy.
Read in order
Books by series
fantasy series · complete
Arrows Trilogy
The foundational Valdemar trilogy following Talia and the Queen's Own Heralds.
fantasy series · complete
Vows and Honor
Valdemar-world adventures of the mercenary warrior Tarma and mage Kethry.
fantasy trilogy · complete
The Last Herald-Mage
The tragic Valdemar story of Herald-Mage Vanyel Ashkevron.
fantasy trilogy · complete
Mage Winds
The Valdemar trilogy concerning Elspeth's transformation into a Herald-Mage.
fantasy trilogy · complete
Mage Storms
A Valdemar trilogy set during a catastrophic magical storm and international conflict.
fantasy trilogy · complete
Mage Wars
The ancient Valdemar trilogy about the gryphons and the war against the Kaled'a'in's enemies.
fantasy trilogy · complete
Darian's Tale
The Valdemar trilogy following the young mage Darian and the Owlclan.
fantasy series · complete
The Collegium Chronicles
The Valdemar series following Mags through the Heraldic Collegium.
fantasy trilogy · complete
The Herald Spy
The continuation of Mags's story as a full Herald and intelligence agent.
fantasy trilogy · complete
Family Spies
A Valdemar series following Mags's children and the family spy tradition.
fantasy trilogy · complete
The Founding of Valdemar
A Valdemar trilogy about the founding of the kingdom and its early Heraldic traditions.
shared-world anthology series · ongoing
Valdemar Anthologies
Collections of original short fiction set in the world of Valdemar.
- 1 Sword of Ice and Other Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 1 · short-story collection · 1997
- 2
Sun in Glory and Other Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗Book 2 · short-story collection · 2003
- 3 Exiles of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 3 · short-story anthology · 2004
- 4 Crossroads and Other Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 4 · short-story anthology · 2005
- 5 Moving Targets and Other Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 5 · short-story anthology · 2008
- 6 Changing the World: All-New Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 6 · short-story anthology · 2009
- 7 Finding the Way and Other Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 7 · short-story anthology · 2010
- 8
Under the Vale and Other Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗Book 8 · short-story anthology · 2011
- 9 No True Way: All-New Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 9 · short-story anthology · 2014
- 10 Crucible: All-New Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 10 · short-story anthology · 2015
- 11 Tempest: All-New Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 11 · short-story anthology · 2016
- 12 Pathways: All-New Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 12 · short-story anthology · 2017
- 13 Choices: All-New Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 13 · short-story anthology · 2018
- 14 Seasons: All-New Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 14 · short-story anthology · 2019
- 15 Passages: All-New Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 15 · short-story anthology · 2020
- 16 Boundaries: All-New Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 16 · short-story anthology · 2021
- 17 Shenanigans: All-New Tales of ValdemarAmazon ↗
Book 17 · short-story anthology · 2022
- 18 Anything With NothingAmazon ↗
Book 18 · short-story anthology · 2023
- 19
FeudsAmazon ↗Book 19 · short-story anthology · 2024
historical fantasy series · ongoing
Elemental Masters
Historical fantasy retellings involving elemental magicians in an alternate Earth.
- 1 The Fire RoseAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 1995
- 2 GreyAmazon ↗
Book 2 · novella · 1997 Optional
- 3 Grey's GhostAmazon ↗
Book 3 · novella · 1999 Optional
- 4
The Serpent's ShadowAmazon ↗Book 4 · novel · 2001
- 5
The Gates of SleepAmazon ↗Book 5 · novel · 2002
- 6
Phoenix and AshesAmazon ↗Book 6 · novel · 2004
- 7
The Wizard of LondonAmazon ↗Book 7 · novel · 2005
- 8
Reserved for the CatAmazon ↗Book 8 · novel · 2007
- 9
Unnatural IssueAmazon ↗Book 9 · novel · 2011
- 10
Home from the SeaAmazon ↗Book 10 · novel · 2012
- 11
SteadfastAmazon ↗Book 11 · novel · 2013
- 12
Blood RedAmazon ↗Book 12 · novel · 2014
- 13
From a High TowerAmazon ↗Book 13 · novel · 2015
- 14
A Study in SableAmazon ↗Book 14 · novel · 2016
- 15
A Scandal in BatterseaAmazon ↗Book 15 · novel · 2017
- 16
The Bartered BridesAmazon ↗Book 16 · novel · 2018
- 17
The Case of the Spellbound ChildAmazon ↗Book 17 · novel · 2019
- 18
JoleneAmazon ↗Book 18 · novel · 2020
- 19
The Silver Bullets of Annie OakleyAmazon ↗Book 19 · novel · 2022
- 20
Miss Amelia's ListAmazon ↗Book 20 · novel · 2024
- 21
The CyprianAmazon ↗Book 21 · novel · 2025
fantasy series · complete
Bardic Voices
The Free Bards fantasy series about musicians whose art is entwined with magic.
urban fantasy series · complete
Diana Tregarde
Occult detective novels and novellas featuring the witch and romance novelist Diana Tregarde.
- 1 Burning WaterAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 1989
- 2
Children of the NightAmazon ↗Book 2 · novel · 1990
- 3
Jinx HighAmazon ↗Book 3 · novel · 1991
- 4 NightsideAmazon ↗
Book 4 · novella · 1989 Optional
- 5 Satanic, VersusAmazon ↗
Book 5 · novella · 1990 Optional
- 6
Trio of SorceryAmazon ↗Book 6 · novella collection · 2010 Optional
- 7 Magic 101Amazon ↗
Book 7 · novella collection · 2018 Optional
urban fantasy series · complete
Bedlam's Bard
Urban fantasy adventures involving elves, music, and the modern world.
- 1
A Knight of Ghosts and ShadowsAmazon ↗Book 1 · novel · 1990
- 2 Summoned to TourneyAmazon ↗
Book 2 · novel · 1992
- 3 The Chrome BorneAmazon ↗
Book 3 · novel · 1999
- 4 The OtherworldAmazon ↗
Book 4 · novel · 2000
- 5
Beyond World's EndAmazon ↗Book 5 · novel · 2001
- 6
Spirits White as LightningAmazon ↗Book 6 · novel · 2001
- 7
Mad MaudlinAmazon ↗Book 7 · novel · 2003
- 10
Music to My SorrowAmazon ↗Book 10 · novel · 2005
- 9
The Waters and the WildAmazon ↗Book 9 · novel · 2005
- 8
Bedlam's EdgeAmazon ↗Book 8 · short-story collection · 2005 Optional
urban fantasy series · ongoing
The SERRAted Edge
Urban fantasy about elves, cars, racing, and endangered young people.
- 1
Born to RunAmazon ↗Book 1 · novel · 1992
- 2
When the Bough BreaksAmazon ↗Book 2 · novel · 1993
- 3
Chrome CircleAmazon ↗Book 3 · novel · 1994
- 4 The Waters and the WildAmazon ↗
Book 4 · novel · 2005 Optional
- 5 False Knight on the RoadAmazon ↗
Book 5 · novella · 2014 Optional
- 6
The Red SeaAmazon ↗Book 6 · short story · 2020 Optional
- 7
Breaking SilenceAmazon ↗Book 7 · novel · 2020
romantic fantasy series · complete
The Five Hundred Kingdoms
Romantic fantasy retellings governed by the magical force called the Tradition.
- 1 The Fairy GodmotherAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 2004
- 2 MoontideAmazon ↗
Book 2 · novella · 2005 Optional
- 3
One Good KnightAmazon ↗Book 3 · novel · 2006
- 4
Fortune's FoolAmazon ↗Book 4 · novel · 2007
- 5
The Snow QueenAmazon ↗Book 5 · novel · 2008
- 6
The Sleeping BeautyAmazon ↗Book 6 · novel · 2010
- 7
A Tangled WebAmazon ↗Book 7 · novella · 2010 Optional
- 8
Beauty and the WerewolfAmazon ↗Book 8 · novel · 2011
fantasy series · complete
The Dragon Jousters
Ancient-Egypt-inspired fantasy about elite soldiers who ride dragons into battle.
young adult fantasy trilogy · complete
Hunter
Post-apocalyptic young-adult fantasy about monster-fighting Hunters and their magical Hounds.
young adult fantasy series · complete
Shadow Grail
Young-adult fantasy set at the mysterious Oakhurst Academy.
superhero fantasy series · ongoing
The Secret World Chronicles
Superhero fantasy novels created by Mercedes Lackey and collaborators.
fantasy trilogy · complete
The Halfblood Chronicles
The Elvenbane trilogy, co-authored with Andre Norton.
epic fantasy trilogy · complete
The Obsidian Mountain
The first trilogy of the Obsidian Universe, co-authored with James Mallory.
epic fantasy trilogy · complete
Enduring Flame
A second Obsidian Universe trilogy, co-authored with James Mallory.
epic fantasy series · ongoing
Dragon Prophecy
A later Obsidian Universe sequence co-authored with James Mallory.
fantasy universe · ongoing
The Obsidian Universe
Epic high fantasy universe co-authored with James Mallory.
historical fantasy series · ongoing
Heirs of Alexandria
Alternate-history fantasy set in a magical Venetian Empire, co-authored with Eric Flint and Dave Freer.
- 1
The Shadow of the LionAmazon ↗Book 1 · novel · 2002
- 2
This Rough MagicAmazon ↗Book 2 · novel · 2003
- 3
The Wizard of KarresAmazon ↗Book 3 · novel · 2004
- 4
Much Fall of BloodAmazon ↗Book 4 · novel · 2010
- 5
Burdens of the DeadAmazon ↗Book 5 · novel · 2013
- 6 All the Plagues of HellAmazon ↗
Book 6 · novel · 2018
science fiction series · complete
Shipscat
Science-fiction adventures about genetically engineered ship cats.
alternate-history series · ongoing
Ring of Fire
Mercedes Lackey's contributions to the shared-world 1632 universe.
science fantasy series · complete
Darkover
Shared-world Darkover works co-authored or written with Marion Zimmer Bradley.
historical fantasy series · complete
Gwenhwyfar
A historical fantasy work centered on the Arthurian figure Gwenhwyfar.
- 1 The White SpiritAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 2009
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (15)
- Freedom FlightAmazon ↗
novel · 1992
- Lammas NightAmazon ↗
novel · 1996
-
The Black SwanAmazon ↗novel · 1999
- The River's GiftAmazon ↗
novel · 1999
-
Brightly BurningAmazon ↗novel · 2000
-
Take a ThiefAmazon ↗novel · 2001
-
Exile's HonorAmazon ↗novel · 2002
-
Exile's ValorAmazon ↗novel · 2003
-
This Scepter'd IsleAmazon ↗novel · 2004
-
Castle of DeceptionAmazon ↗novel · 1992
-
Fortress of Frost and FireAmazon ↗novel · 1993
-
Arcanum 101Amazon ↗novella · 2012
-
RebootsAmazon ↗novella collection · 2013
-
BriarheartAmazon ↗novel · 2021
- The Ship Who DaredAmazon ↗
novel · 2026
Short fiction (12)
-
Fiddler FairAmazon ↗short-story collection · 1998
-
WerehunterAmazon ↗short-story collection · 1999
- Flights of FantasyAmazon ↗
short-story collection · 1999
- Galactic GamesAmazon ↗
short-story collection · 2016
- RoadkillAmazon ↗
short-story collection · 2017
-
Echo One: Stories from the Secret World ChroniclesAmazon ↗short-story collection · 2020
- A Dragon and Her GirlAmazon ↗
short-story collection · 2024
- Feisty Felines and Other Fantastical FamiliarsAmazon ↗
short-story collection · 2024
- Killer ByteAmazon ↗
short story · 1994
- Going DownAmazon ↗
short story · 2016
- In Small PackagesAmazon ↗
short fiction · 2019
- Grey EminenceAmazon ↗
short story · 2025
