Brotherband Chronicles Books in Order

Recommended Reading Path

For the absolute best experience, readers should start with The Outcasts, the first book in the series. Because the series follows a single continuous storyline (especially the initial trilogy), it is highly recommended to read the books in their official publication order. This lets you watch Hal and his crew grow from outcast teens into legendary Skandian warriors.

Brotherband Chronicles Reading Order

Here is the list of all books in the Brotherband Chronicles in their official reading and publication order:

1. The Outcasts (2011) - Hal Mikkelson and his crew of misfits form the Heron brotherband to compete in the grueling Skandian training trials.
2. The Invaders (2012) - The Herons set sail in pursuit of a ruthless pirate who has stolen Skandia's most sacred artifact.
3. The Hunters (2012) - The thrilling conclusion to the initial pirate-hunting trilogy, where the Herons must track Zavac into dangerous waters.
4. Slaves of Socorro (2014) - The crew travels to Araluen and teams up with a familiar Ranger to rescue captured slaves.
5. Scorpion Mountain (2014) - The Herons, alongside Rangers Halt and Gilan, are sent to track down a deadly cult of assassins.
6. The Ghostfaces (2016) - Stranded in a foreign land across the ocean, the crew must survive and protect a peaceful tribe from invaders.
7. The Caldera (2017) - The Herons embark on a rescue mission to retrieve the son of a Skandian commander from a volcanic pirate stronghold.
8. Return of the Temujai (2019) - The Herons return home to defend Skandia against their ultimate, tactically brilliant rival nation.
9. The Stern Chase (2022) - Hal and his crew must pursue a stolen Skandian ship and outmaneuver a cunning old nemesis.

How It Connects to Ranger's Apprentice

The Brotherband Chronicles is a spin-off of the beloved Ranger's Apprentice series and takes place in the same shared world. The stories overlap chronologically with the later stages of the original series and the early stages of The Royal Ranger sequel series. Here is how they tie together:

• Shared Characters: Erak Starfollower, the Oberjarl of Skandia, is a major recurring figure who bridges both series.
• Direct Crossovers: The Ranger Gilan plays a major role in Slaves of Socorro (Book 4) and Scorpion Mountain (Book 5), where Halt and other Araluen characters also make appearances.
• Chronological Placement: If you want to read the entire shared universe chronologically, the first three Brotherband books take place shortly after the events of Halt's Peril (Ranger's Apprentice Book 9) and before The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (Ranger's Apprentice Book 10). Books 4 through 9 take place before The Royal Ranger series begins.

Is There a Book 10?

While author John Flanagan has previously indicated plans to write a tenth volume to continue the adventures of the Heron crew, no title or release date has been officially announced or published as of mid-2026. Fans waiting for the next installment can read the companion Ranger's Apprentice: The Royal Ranger series to stay immersed in the same universe.