Books On Board
series Reading Order

Broken Empire Books in Order

4 Books
2011 – 2013 Published
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Reading order
01
Prince of Thorns
Prince of Thorns
2011
Amazon
02
King of Thorns
King of Thorns
2012
Amazon
03
Sleeping Beauty
2013
04
Emperor of Thorns
Emperor of Thorns
2013
Amazon

Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path

For the best experience, we strongly recommend reading the books in publication order. While some spin-offs occur concurrently, starting with the core trilogy provides the vital foundation you need to understand the world's history, the nature of magic, and the relics of the past.

1. The Broken Empire Trilogy

This is the core story following the brutal rise of Jorg Ancrath. Read these three novels in order:

  • Prince of Thorns (2011)
  • King of Thorns (2012)
  • Emperor of Thorns (2013)

2. Road Brothers: Tales from the Broken Empire

Published in 2017, this collection contains 10 short stories focusing on Jorg's companions. While stories like Select Mode (often numbered as #1.5) and Sleeping Beauty (#2.5) take place chronologically between the novels, they are best read after completing the main trilogy to avoid spoilers and appreciate the character backgrounds fully.

3. The Red Queen's War Trilogy

This sister trilogy runs parallel to the events of the Broken Empire, featuring the cowardly Prince Jalan Kendeth. While Mark Lawrence notes you can technically read this trilogy first, starting with Jorg's story makes the overlapping events and character cameos much more satisfying. Read these in order:

  • Prince of Fools (2014)
  • The Liar's Key (2015)
  • The Wheel of Osheim (2016)

Chronological Caveats and Universe Connections

Because The Broken Empire and The Red Queen's War happen at the exact same time, a strict chronological order would require jumping between chapters of different books, which is not recommended for first-time readers. Additionally, Lawrence's wider fantasy series—The Book of the Ancestor and The Book of the Ice—are set on the distant world of Abeth, but contain subtle multiversal links (such as the recurring character Elias Taproot) that reward eagle-eyed fans.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended starting point for the Broken Empire universe?

You should start with Prince of Thorns. It introduces the protagonist Jorg Ancrath and establishes the grimdark tone, rules, and history of this post-apocalyptic world.

QCan I read The Red Queen's War before The Broken Empire?

Yes, you can. The Red Queen's War is generally lighter in tone and follows a different protagonist, but reading The Broken Empire first helps you recognize shared events and character crossovers.

QWhere do the short stories 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'Select Mode' fit in?

Chronologically, Select Mode takes place between books 1 and 2, while Sleeping Beauty takes place between books 2 and 3. Both are collected in the anthology Road Brothers, which is best read after finishing the core trilogy.

QIs the Broken Empire set in our world?

Yes. The setting is a post-apocalyptic Europe, thousands of years after a nuclear collapse. What the medieval-level inhabitants call magic and 'Builders' relics' are actually remnants of advanced modern technology.

QAre Mark Lawrence's other series set in the same universe?

While series like The Book of the Ancestor take place on the ice planet Abeth, they are connected to the Broken Empire through a shared multiverse, featuring Easter eggs and recurring cosmic characters like Elias Taproot.