Raymond Feist Reading Order: Where to Start

Raymond E. Feist’s Riftwar Cycle is a long-running fantasy series set in the world of Midkemia. Its books follow different characters and generations, so the best reading order is not always obvious. For a first read, following the main story in publication order is a reliable way to experience the world as it unfolds.

Magician is sometimes published as two volumes: Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master. These are the parts of one novel, so read both before moving on.

Recommended reading order

The Riftwar Saga

1. Magician (also published as Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master)
2. Silverthorn
3. A Darkness at Sethanon

This trilogy introduces Midkemia, the kingdom of the Isles and the conflict that gives the wider cycle its name.

The Empire Trilogy

1. Daughter of the Empire
2. Servant of the Empire
3. Mistress of the Empire

Written by Feist and Janny Wurts, these novels follow Mara of the Acoma in the Tsurani Empire. Their events overlap with the Riftwar, but the trilogy works well after the original Riftwar Saga.

Krondor’s Sons

1. Prince of the Blood
2. The King’s Buccaneer

These books move the story on to the next generation and are a useful bridge to the later series.

The Serpentwar Saga

1. Shadow of a Dark Queen
2. Rise of a Merchant Prince
3. Rage of a Demon King
4. Shards of a Broken Crown

The four novels broaden the scope of the story, introducing new characters and conflicts across the kingdom.

Conclave of Shadows

1. Talon of the Silver Hawk
2. King of Foxes
3. Exile’s Return

The Darkwar Saga

1. Flight of the Nighthawks
2. Into a Dark Realm
3. Wrath of a Mad God

The Demonwar Saga

1. Rides a Dread Legion
2. At the Gates of Darkness

The Chaoswar Saga

1. A Kingdom Besieged
2. A Crown Imperilled
3. Magician’s End

Magician’s End brings the central Riftwar story to a conclusion.

Where do the Krondor books fit?

The Riftwar Legacy novels are optional additions set in the period after The King’s Buccaneer and before Shadow of a Dark Queen. For a broadly chronological read, place them there:

1. Krondor: The Betrayal
2. Krondor: The Assassins
3. Krondor: Tear of the Gods

They add more adventures in and around Krondor, but the main sequence can be followed without them.

Optional Riftwar stories

The Legends of the Riftwar books are collaborations with other authors. They take place during the original Riftwar, so they are best treated as companion stories rather than essential steps in the main sequence:

1. Honoured Enemy
2. Murder in LaMut
3. Jimmy the Hand

Can you start with a later series?

Each saga has its own central cast and plot, but later books build on earlier events and reveal more of Midkemia’s history. Starting with Magician gives the fullest sense of the setting and recurring characters. If you would prefer a shorter introduction, try the first book of a later trilogy, but expect references to earlier adventures.

For the clearest first-time route, begin with Magician and follow the saga order above. Add the Krondor and Legends of the Riftwar books if you’d like to explore more of the world.

Guide to Reading Raymond Feist: Essential Tips for Navigating His Works

1. Start with *Magician*; some editions split it into *Apprentice* and *Master*.
2. Continue with the Riftwar Saga
3. Read the Empire Trilogy after the Riftwar Saga; it was co-written with Janny Wurts.
4. Read *King’s Buccaneer* before the Serpentwar Saga.
5. Follow the Serpentwar books in order, beginning with *Shadow of a Dark Queen*.
6. For later series, follow publication order rather than strict chronology; storylines overlap.

Start with *Magician*; some editions split it into *Apprentice* and *Master*.

Start with Magician, the novel that introduces Midkemia and launches Raymond Feist’s Riftwar Cycle. Some editions split it into two volumes, Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master; read both parts in that order before moving on to Silverthorn.

Continue with the Riftwar Saga

Continue with the Riftwar Saga, reading Magician (sometimes published as Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master), followed by Silverthorn and A Darkness at Sethanon. Together, these books introduce the world of Midkemia and follow the central conflict that launches Raymond E. Feist’s wider series.

Read the Empire Trilogy after the Riftwar Saga; it was co-written with Janny Wurts.

After finishing the Riftwar Saga, read the Empire Trilogy, co-written by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts. Beginning with Daughter of the Empire, the trilogy shifts focus to the Tsurani Empire and follows Mara of the Acoma through political intrigue, family duty and power struggles. Its story takes place alongside events in the Riftwar books, making it a rewarding next step for readers who want to explore another side of Feist’s world.

Read *King’s Buccaneer* before the Serpentwar Saga.

Read The King’s Buccaneer before starting the Serpentwar Saga. It introduces events and characters that help set the scene for the later books, making the transition into Shadow of a Dark Queen and the rest of the saga smoother. While you can follow the Serpentwar story without it, reading the books in this order gives you a fuller sense of how the world and its characters have developed.

Follow the Serpentwar books in order, beginning with *Shadow of a Dark Queen*.

Read the Serpentwar Saga in order, starting with Shadow of a Dark Queen, then continue with Rise of a Merchant Prince, Rage of a Demon King and Shards of a Broken Crown. The books follow the same unfolding conflict and build on the characters and events introduced in the previous instalments, so reading them in sequence gives the story its full impact.

For later series, follow publication order rather than strict chronology; storylines overlap.

For the later series, it’s best to follow publication order rather than trying to arrange every book in strict chronological sequence. Several storylines overlap, and reading the books as they were published helps preserve the intended reveals and connections between events.