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series Reading Order

Books of the Raksura Books in Order

5 Books
2011 – 2017 Published
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Reading order
01
The Cloud Roads
The Cloud Roads
2011
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02
The Serpent Sea
The Serpent Sea
2012
Amazon
03
The Siren Depths
The Siren Depths
2012
Amazon
04
The Edge of Worlds
The Edge of Worlds
2016
Amazon
05
The Harbors of the Sun
The Harbors of the Sun
2017
Amazon

The Recommended Reading Path

For the best experience, we strongly recommend reading the Books of the Raksura in publication order. While the short stories jump around in time, starting with the main novels allows you to experience the world-building, character growth, and the mysteries of Raksuran society exactly as Martha Wells intended.

Here is the recommended reading path for first-time readers:

  • Step 1: The Core Trilogy — Read The Cloud Roads, The Serpent Sea, and The Siren Depths first. This establishes Moon's journey and his place in the Indigo Cloud Court.
  • Step 2: The Short Story Collections — Dive into Stories of the Raksura, Volume 1 and Stories of the Raksura, Volume 2. These expand on the history and secondary characters.
  • Step 3: The Final Duology — Finish with The Edge of Worlds and The Harbors of the Sun. These two novels form a single, continuous story arc and should be read back-to-back.

Publication Order of Raksura Books

If you want to read the books exactly as they were released, follow this order:

  1. The Cloud Roads (Novel, 2011)
  2. The Serpent Sea (Novel, 2012)
  3. The Siren Depths (Novel, 2012)
  4. Stories of the Raksura, Volume 1: The Falling World & The Tale of Indigo and Cloud (Collection, 2014)
  5. Stories of the Raksura, Volume 2: The Dead City & The Dark Earth Below (Collection, 2015)
  6. The Edge of Worlds (Novel, 2016)
  7. The Harbors of the Sun (Novel, 2017)

Chronological Timeline Order

For completionists and re-readers, Martha Wells has outlined a chronological timeline of the Three Worlds. The short stories and novellas are interspersed throughout this timeline, detailing events long before Moon's arrival as well as quiet moments between the larger adventures:

  1. "The Tale of Indigo and Cloud" (Novella set in the distant past; found in Stories, Vol. 1)
  2. "The Forest Boy" (Short story about Moon's childhood; found in Stories, Vol. 1)
  3. "The Dead City" (Novella about Moon's life before joining the court; found in Stories, Vol. 2)
  4. "Adaptation" (Novella detailing Chime's transformation; found in Stories, Vol. 1)
  5. The Cloud Roads (Novel #1)
  6. The Serpent Sea (Novel #2)
  7. The Siren Depths (Novel #3)
  8. "Mimesis" (Short story set three months after Siren Depths; found in Stories, Vol. 2)
  9. "Trading Lesson" (Short story set shortly after "Mimesis"; found in Stories, Vol. 2)
  10. "The Falling World" (Novella set one turn after arrival at the Reaches; found in Stories, Vol. 1)
  11. "The Dark Earth Below" (Novella set half a turn after "The Falling World"; found in Stories, Vol. 2)
  12. The Edge of Worlds (Novel #4)
  13. The Harbors of the Sun (Novel #5)

Crucial Reading Tips for the Three Worlds

Keep these tips in mind as you explore the series:

  • Do not skip the final two books: The Edge of Worlds and The Harbors of the Sun are not standalone stories; they form a tightly knit duology. Do not start the fourth book without the fifth close at hand, as the fourth ends on a massive cliffhanger.
  • The short stories are optional but highly rewarding: While you can read just the five main novels, the novellas in the two collections add valuable lore about court history, magic, and character relationships.
  • Leave expectations behind: There are no humans in this series. The world is entirely non-human, and the Raksura have their own unique biology, matriarchal social structures, and social norms (like cuddle piles and greeting rituals) that make them feel genuinely alien.

Frequently Asked

QWhere is the best place to start reading the Books of the Raksura?

You should start with the first novel, The Cloud Roads. It introduces Moon, the Indigo Cloud Court, and the unique, completely non-human world of the Three Worlds.

QAre the Books of the Raksura related to The Murderbot Diaries?

No. While both series are written by Martha Wells, the Books of the Raksura is a biological high-fantasy series set in an alien world, whereas The Murderbot Diaries is a sci-fi series following a security android.

QCan I read the Books of the Raksura in chronological order?

You can, but it is not recommended for first-time readers. Starting chronologically with "The Tale of Indigo and Cloud" or "The Forest Boy" may spoil certain details of the world and lacks the grand introduction to the setting provided in The Cloud Roads.

QIs the Raksura series complete?

Yes, the main storyline concludes with the duology ending in The Harbors of the Sun, which wraps up the primary character arcs and conflicts.

QDo I need to read the short stories to understand the main novels?

No, the main plot of the novels can be fully understood without the short story collections. However, the stories in Stories of the Raksura (Volumes 1 and 2) provide excellent background lore and character development that enhance the overall experience.

QWhy is the final duology treated differently?

Unlike the first three books which function as self-contained adventures, The Edge of Worlds and The Harbors of the Sun tell one continuous story split across two volumes, complete with a major cliffhanger in the first part.