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series Reading Order

Children Of The Lamp Books in Order

7 Books
2004 – 2011 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order

To follow the magical growth of twins John and Philippa Gaunt, the Children of the Lamp series should be read strictly in order of publication. The narrative moves chronologically, with each book building directly on the events, character relationships, and djinn lore established in the previous novel.

  1. The Akhenaten Adventure (2004)
  2. The Blue Djinn of Babylon (2005 in the UK / 2006 in the US)
  3. The Cobra King of Kathmandu (2006)
  4. The Day of the Djinn Warriors (2007)
  5. The Eye of the Forest (2009, though sometimes listed as 2008 in catalog databases)
  6. The Five Fakirs of Faizabad (2010)
  7. The Grave Robbers of Genghis Khan (2011)

Exploring the Seven Books

Here is a closer look at each installment in this spellbinding fantasy saga:

1. The Akhenaten Adventure

Twelve-year-old twins John and Philippa Gaunt discover they are djinn—magical beings with the ability to grant wishes, travel on the wind, and manipulate objects. Under the guidance of their eccentric Uncle Nimrod, they set off to Egypt to secure the lost tomb of the pharaoh Akhenaten before the villainous Iblis unleashes chaos.

2. The Blue Djinn of Babylon

Philippa is kidnapped and taken to Iraq, where she is pressured to become the next Blue Djinn of Babylon, the neutral arbiter of all djinn. John must team up with their uncle and travel to Babylon to rescue his sister from a cold, emotionless fate.

3. The Cobra King of Kathmandu

The twins travel to Nepal to solve the mystery of a cult dedicated to the Cobra King. In the process, they must locate a talisman that maintains the balance of good and evil luck in the world.

4. The Day of the Djinn Warriors

An ancient army of clay warriors is brought to life, threatening the world. The twins travel from London to New York to Xi'an to halt this terracotta threat before the djinn world is exposed.

5. The Eye of the Forest

Set in the dense Amazon rainforest, the twins search for a magical portal that can control minds. Their search is complicated by their former friend Dybbuk, who seeks to reclaim his lost djinn abilities.

6. The Five Fakirs of Faizabad

The Gaunt twins must locate the legendary five fakirs to retrieve a stolen treasure and prevent the world's luck from being permanently corrupted by dark forces.

7. The Grave Robbers of Genghis Khan

In the final installment of the series, the twins must stop volcanic eruptions and natural disasters tied to the long-lost tomb of Genghis Khan, facing a final, high-stakes battle to save the world.

Are There Any Spin-offs or Companion Books?

No, P.B. Kerr did not write any spin-offs, short story collections, or companion novels set in the Children of the Lamp universe. The story of the Gaunt twins begins in The Akhenaten Adventure and concludes definitively in The Grave Robbers of Genghis Khan.

Frequently Asked

QWho is the author of Children of the Lamp?

The series was written by British author Philip Kerr under the pen name P.B. Kerr. He created the series to write something his own children would enjoy reading.

QWhat is the target age group for these books?

The books are written for a middle-grade audience, making them ideal for readers aged 8 and up. Fans of series like Percy Jackson or Harry Potter will feel right at home.

QIs there a movie or TV show adaptation of Children of the Lamp?

No, there is currently no movie or TV adaptation. While Paramount Pictures originally optioned the rights and had a script in development, the project was ultimately shelved.

QIs the Children of the Lamp series finished?

Yes, the series is complete. The overarching narrative concludes with the seventh book, The Grave Robbers of Genghis Khan, which was published in 2011.

QCan the books be read out of order?

It is highly recommended to read them in order. The books follow a continuous timeline, and later entries rely heavily on characters, rules, and events introduced in the earlier novels.

QWhat are the main powers of the djinn in the series?

The djinn can grant wishes, generate heat (since they are made of fire), and travel through space using the wind. However, using their powers drains their life force, forcing them to use magic wisely.