Raymond E. Feist Books in Order

Raymond E. Feist’s best-known books are set in the world of Midkemia, where wars between worlds, royal rivalries and powerful magic shape a sweeping fantasy saga. The story spans several connected series, so knowing where to begin can make the journey easier.

For a first read, follow the main series below in order. The books are best enjoyed this way, although some events in different series take place at the same time.

Recommended Midkemia Reading Order

1. The Riftwar Saga
   1. Magician (1982) — published in two volumes in some editions as Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master
   2. Silverthorn (1985)
   3. A Darkness at Sethanon (1986)
2. The Empire Trilogy, co-written with Janny Wurts
   1. Daughter of the Empire (1987)
   2. Servant of the Empire (1990)
   3. Mistress of the Empire (1992)
3. Krondor’s Sons
   1. Prince of the Blood (1989)
   2. The King’s Buccaneer (1992)
4. The Serpentwar Saga
   1. Shadow of a Dark Queen (1994)
   2. Rise of a Merchant Prince (1995)
   3. Rage of a Demon King (1997)
   4. Shards of a Broken Crown (1998)
5. Conclave of Shadows
   1. Talon of the Silver Hawk (2002)
   2. King of Foxes (2003)
   3. Exile’s Return (2004)
6. The Darkwar Saga
   1. Flight of the Nighthawks (2005)
   2. Into a Dark Realm (2006)
   3. Wrath of a Mad God (2008)
7. The Demonwar Saga
   1. Rides a Dread Legion (2009)
   2. At the Gates of Darkness (2010)
8. The Chaoswar Saga
   1. A Kingdom Besieged (2011)
   2. A Crown Imperilled (2012)
   3. Magician’s End (2013)

Where Do the Krondor Books Fit?

The Riftwar Legacy novels are additional adventures connected to the Riftwar books and the computer game Betrayal at Krondor. They are not essential to following the main saga, but can be read after A Darkness at Sethanon:

1. Krondor: The Betrayal (1998)
2. Murder in LaMut (2001)
3. Tear of the Gods (2002)

These stories add detail to the world and its characters. Readers who want to stick to the central storyline can skip them and continue with the other series.

Is the Empire Trilogy a Prequel?

The Empire Trilogy follows Mara of the Acoma and explores the Tsurani world introduced in Magician. Its events overlap with the Riftwar, but it works particularly well after the original Riftwar Saga: readers will recognise the wider conflict, while the trilogy offers a fresh perspective on it.

Raymond E. Feist’s Firemane Saga

The Firemane Saga is a separate fantasy series, set in a different world from Midkemia. It can be read independently:

1. King of Ashes (2018)
2. Queen of Storms (2020)
3. Master of Furies (2022)

Which Raymond E. Feist Book Should You Read First?

Start with Magician for the best introduction to Feist’s most famous fantasy world. If your edition divides it into two books, read Magician: Apprentice before Magician: Master. Continue with Silverthorn and A Darkness at Sethanon, then move on through the connected series.

For a shorter introduction, read the original Riftwar Saga on its own. For the full story of Midkemia, follow the series order above. And if you would rather begin with a completely new setting, start with King of Ashes.

Guiding the Journey: Understanding Raymond Feist’s Book Order for a Seamless Reading Experience

1. Makes a long fantasy saga easier to follow
2. Shows where each series fits in the wider story
3. Helps readers avoid missing key plot developments
4. Clarifies where the Empire Trilogy belongs
5. Separates Midkemia books from the Firemane Saga
6. Offers a clear starting point for new readers

Challenges Faced by New Readers in Navigating Raymond Feist’s Book Order

1. The long series order can feel daunting to new readers.
2. Some books overlap in their timelines, which can be confusing.
3. The Empire Trilogy is co-written with Janny Wurts, so the style may differ.
4. Optional Krondor novels make the reading order less straightforward.

Makes a long fantasy saga easier to follow

Following Raymond E. Feist’s books in order makes his long fantasy saga easier to follow. The stories span generations, introduce a large cast of characters and build on events from earlier novels, so reading them in sequence helps you keep track of changing alliances, family histories and the consequences of past conflicts. It also lets the world and its magic unfold naturally, making each new series easier to enjoy.

Shows where each series fits in the wider story

Following Raymond E. Feist’s books in order shows how each series fits into the wider Midkemia story. You can see how events, characters and conflicts carry across the books, while understanding where companion series such as The Empire Trilogy sit alongside the main sequence. This makes the larger saga easier to follow and helps each new series feel connected to the world that came before.

Helps readers avoid missing key plot developments

Following Raymond E. Feist’s books in order helps readers avoid missing key plot developments. The Midkemia novels build on events, relationships and revelations introduced in earlier books, so reading them in sequence makes the story easier to follow and gives important twists their full impact. It also helps explain how characters and conflicts change over time, making each new series feel like a natural continuation.

Clarifies where the Empire Trilogy belongs

Clarifying where the Empire Trilogy belongs helps readers follow the wider Riftwar story without disrupting its flow. Although the trilogy’s events overlap with the original Riftwar Saga, reading it after those books lets you appreciate the Tsurani perspective and recognise how its events connect to the conflict already introduced.

Separates Midkemia books from the Firemane Saga

Separating the Midkemia books from the Firemane Saga makes Raymond E. Feist’s reading order much easier to follow. The Midkemia novels form a long, interconnected sequence, while the Firemane Saga is set in a different world and can be read independently. Keeping the two series distinct helps readers choose whether to follow the complete Midkemia storyline or begin a fresh fantasy adventure without confusing characters, settings or plotlines.

Offers a clear starting point for new readers

A recommended Raymond E. Feist book order gives new readers a clear place to begin, making the expansive Midkemia saga feel far less daunting. Starting with Magician introduces the world, its characters and central conflicts before the story branches into later series, helping readers follow events and enjoy familiar faces as the saga unfolds.

The long series order can feel daunting to new readers.

The long reading order can feel daunting to new readers, especially when the story spans multiple series, spin-offs and decades of publication. Fortunately, you don’t need to tackle every book at once: starting with the original Riftwar Saga—beginning with Magician—offers a satisfying introduction before you decide whether to explore the rest of Midkemia.

Some books overlap in their timelines, which can be confusing.

One drawback of Raymond E. Feist’s book order is that some stories overlap in their timelines, which can make the reading sequence confusing. Events may unfold simultaneously in different parts of Midkemia, and characters or plotlines can cross between series. Following the publication order is usually the simplest approach, but readers may still need to check dates or revisit earlier events to keep track of how the stories fit together.

The Empire Trilogy is co-written with Janny Wurts, so the style may differ.

One thing to bear in mind is that The Empire Trilogy is co-written by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts, so its style and perspective may feel different from Feist’s solo Midkemia books. It offers a fresh viewpoint on the events of the Riftwar, but readers expecting exactly the same tone may notice the change.

Optional Krondor novels make the reading order less straightforward.

One drawback of Raymond E. Feist’s book order is that the optional Krondor novels can make it less straightforward. They add extra adventures to the wider Midkemia story, but aren’t essential to following the main series, so readers may be unsure when to fit them in—or whether to read them at all. A simple approach is to follow the main series first and return to the Krondor books later if you want more time in Feist’s world.