Over 50 books, multiple timelines, magical Companions, and one fantasy universe that does not believe in starting small.
The best Valdemar reading order for most new readers starts with Arrows of the Queen, then moves through the major Valdemar arcs in a reader-friendly path. Save the anthologies and companion reads for later, unless you already know you want every side quest, short story, and timeline detour.
There are a few ways to read Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar books. You can follow publication order, chronological order, or a curated path that keeps the main arcs together. For first-time readers, that curated path is usually the least confusing option.
You don’t need to master the full Valdemar timeline before starting. No one is checking your notes. Start with the books that introduce the Heralds, the Companions, and the emotional core of the world, then keep going once the kingdom has politely claimed your reading life.
We pulled together a reader-friendly Valdemar list on Amazon, one place, right order, no timeline math required.
What Is the Best Valdemar Reading Order?
For most new readers, the best Valdemar reading order is a reader-friendly publication order. That means starting with Arrows of the Queen, moving through the major trilogies and connected arcs, and saving the anthologies for later.
Publication order works well because it lets the world unfold the way many readers originally discovered it. You meet Valdemar through the Heralds first, then branch into deeper history, older magic, gryphons, political fallout, and later generations.
Chronological order can be satisfying, but it’s usually better for rereads or lore-heavy readers. Starting at the earliest point in the timeline sounds tidy until you realize fantasy worlds love making “the beginning” more complicated than necessary.
For most new readers, start with Arrows of the Queen. It introduces Valdemar, the Heralds, and the Companions without doing the timeline homework.
Where Should New Readers Start With Valdemar?
There are three good Valdemar entry points, depending on what kind of reader you are.
Arrows of the Queen is the best overall starting point. It introduces Talia, the Heralds, the Companions, and the emotional shape of Valdemar in the clearest way.
Magic’s Pawn is the best starting point for readers who specifically want Vanyel’s story, a heavier emotional arc, and an important piece of fantasy history.
Beyond is the best starting point for readers who insist on chronological order. It begins the Founding of Valdemar arc, but it is not the default first-read recommendation.
If you’re new and unsure, choose Arrows of the Queen. There’s a reason it keeps getting treated as the front door.
Publication Order vs Chronological Order
There is no single correct Valdemar reading order for every reader. The right path depends on whether you want the smoothest first read, the full timeline, or the strict release sequence.
If you want the full timeline version, we also have a chronological Valdemar reading order PDF you can use as a reference.
The Reader-Friendly Valdemar Reading Order
This order is built for readers who want a clean path through Valdemar without stopping every few books to figure out where an anthology belongs. It keeps the major arcs together first, then places the companion reads near the end where they are easier to appreciate.
Start Here: Heralds of Valdemar
- Arrows of the Queen
- Arrow’s Flight
- Arrow’s Fall
This is the cleanest starting point for most readers. It introduces the Heralds, the Companions, and the kingdom of Valdemar through Talia’s story.
Vows and Honor
- The Oathbound
- Oathbreakers
- Oathblood
Tarma and Kethry’s books expand the world beyond the Heralds and give Valdemar readers one of the series’ most beloved partnerships.
The Last Herald-Mage
- Magic’s Pawn
- Magic’s Promise
- Magic’s Price
Vanyel’s trilogy is one of the most emotionally significant arcs in Valdemar. It is also a major reason the series still matters to so many fantasy readers.
Kerowyn’s Story
- By the Sword
This standalone connects beautifully to earlier characters while giving Kerowyn her own sword-forward, destiny-adjacent path through the world.
Mage Winds
- Winds of Fate
- Winds of Change
- Winds of Fury
The Mage Winds trilogy brings readers deeper into Valdemar’s magic, politics, and larger threats. This is where the world starts feeling much bigger.
Mage Wars
- The Black Gryphon
- The White Gryphon
- The Silver Gryphon
The Mage Wars books move far back into Valdemar’s history and expand the lore around magic, war, and gryphons. Yes, the gryphons are a feature, not a side note.
Mage Storms
- Storm Warning
- Storm Rising
- Storm Breaking
Mage Storms works best after Mage Winds and Mage Wars. This arc deals with the consequences of older magic, fragile alliances, and the kind of world-level problems fantasy kingdoms insist on having.
Owl Mage
- Owlflight
- Owlsight
- Owlknight
The Owl Mage trilogy shifts into a more contained arc while still keeping ties to the larger Valdemar world. It is a good place to settle after the bigger magical stakes of the previous trilogies.
Standalone and Bridge Books
- Brightly Burning
- Take a Thief
These books are useful bridges for readers who want more Herald-focused stories and background before moving into later Valdemar eras.
Exiles of Valdemar
- Exile’s Honor
- Exile’s Valor
The Exiles books add more depth to Alberich and Valdemar’s political world. They work best once you already understand why Heralds matter and why the kingdom is always one crisis away from needing several more of them.
Collegium Chronicles
- Foundation
- Intrigues
- Changes
- Redoubt
- Bastion
The Collegium Chronicles begin Mags’ story and shift toward Herald training, court pressure, and a younger generation of Valdemar characters.
Herald Spy
- Closer to Home
- Closer to the Heart
- Closer to the Chest
Herald Spy continues Mags’ arc after Collegium Chronicles. Read these after the Collegium books so the character and political threads have room to make sense.
Family Spies
- The Hills Have Spies
- Eye Spy
- Spy, Spy Again
Family Spies moves into the next generation, keeping the later Valdemar timeline going with more family ties, spy work, and Herald-adjacent complications.
Founding of Valdemar
- Beyond
- Into the West
- Valdemar
The Founding of Valdemar books go back to the beginning of the kingdom’s story. Chronologically, they come early. For new readers, they work better once you already care about what Valdemar becomes.
Gryphon Continuation
- Gryphon in Light
- Gryphon’s Valor
These books continue the gryphon side of the Valdemar world. Read them after the Mage Wars trilogy so you have the background that makes the return to this thread more satisfying.
Valdemar Anthologies and Companion Reads
- Sword of Ice
- Sun in Glory and Other Tales of Valdemar
- Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar
- Moving Targets and Other Tales of Valdemar
- Changing the World
- Finding the Way and Other Tales of Valdemar
- Under the Vale and Other Tales of Valdemar
- No True Way
- Crucible
- Tempest
- Pathways
- Choices
- Seasons
- Passages
- Boundaries
- Shenanigans
- Anything With Nothing
- Feuds
- Smoke and Mirrors
- A Many-Splintered Thing
- Vanyel and Vixen
The anthologies and companion reads are best treated as enrichment, not required homework. They add texture to the world, but you do not need to pause the main arcs every time one appears.
Do You Need to Read the Anthologies?
No, you don’t need to read the Valdemar anthologies at first.
The anthologies are most useful for completionists, longtime fans, and readers who already know they want more Valdemar worldbuilding. They can add side stories, extra context, and smaller windows into the world, but they are not the easiest way to begin.
If you’re new, focus on the main arcs first. The anthologies will still be there later.
Can You Skip Around in Valdemar?
Yes, you can skip around in Valdemar, but it helps to use a little restraint.
You can choose your entry point based on interest. Arrows of the Queen, Magic’s Pawn, and Beyond all make sense for different kinds of readers.
Once you start a trilogy, read that trilogy in order. Valdemar is full of emotional arcs, political consequences, and character growth that land better when you let the story build properly.
Don’t interrupt major arcs with anthologies unless you already know you want that detour. The short stories are worth exploring, but they do not need to stand between you and the main storyline.
Best Valdemar Reading Path by Reader Type
If you still are not sure where to begin, choose based on what you want from the reading experience.
Valdemar has enough books to make overthinking feel reasonable. This table is your permission slip to stop doing that.
A Better Way to Start Valdemar
You don’t need to conquer every Valdemar book at once. Start with the main path, keep the trilogies together, and let the anthologies wait until you want more corners of the world to explore.
If you want an easier way to keep track, we put together a reader-friendly Valdemar list on Amazon so you can follow the main path without losing the plot, the timeline, or your will to continue.
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