How to Read the Forest Kingdom Series
The Forest Kingdom series by British author Simon R. Green is a masterclass in blending dark, atmospheric sword-and-sorcery with witty, subversive humor. Populated by reluctant princes, dry-witted dragons, and the ever-encroaching horror of the demonic Darkwood, the series offers a unique flavor of epic fantasy. However, because it directly intersects with Green’s famous Hawk & Fisher books, new readers often struggle with the best way to approach the saga.
Depending on how deeply you want to immerse yourself in the universe, there are two primary pathways to explore the Forest Kingdom and its associated realms.
Path 1: The Direct Forest Kingdom Order
If you want to focus strictly on the Forest Kingdom itself, you can read the books in order of their publication. This path takes you from the heroic subversions of the core books straight into the grand, multi-book conclusions. While Blood and Honor and Down Among the Dead Men function largely as standalones set in the same world, reading them in this order maintains the proper timeline progression of the realm.
- Blue Moon Rising (1989) – The core foundation of the series, introducing Prince Rupert, Princess Julia, and the dragon blue.
- Blood and Honor (1992) – A standalone royal succession intrigue story following Jordan, a skilled actor forced to impersonate a prince.
- Down Among the Dead Men (1993) – A horror-infused story set ten years after the Demon War, following a group of rangers investigating a haunted, blood-soaked fortress.
- Beyond the Blue Moon (2000) – The massive crossover novel that reunites readers with Rupert and Julia, linking the Forest Kingdom directly to the city of Haven.
- Once in a Blue Moon (2014) – The final epic conclusion to the Forest Kingdom saga, tying up long-running plotlines and character arcs.
Path 2: The Ultimate Shared Universe Order (Forest Kingdom & Hawk & Fisher)
For the complete experience, it is highly recommended to integrate the Hawk & Fisher series. The two protagonists of Hawk & Fisher are actually Prince Rupert and Princess Julia living under aliases in the corrupt city of Haven. Reading the first Forest Kingdom book first, followed by the Haven adventures, makes the crossover reveal and climax in Beyond the Blue Moon infinitely more rewarding.
- Blue Moon Rising (Forest Kingdom #1)
- Hawk & Fisher (Hawk & Fisher #1 / US Title: No Haven for the Guilty)
- Winner Takes All (Hawk & Fisher #2 / US Title: Devil Take the Hindmost)
- The God Killer (Hawk & Fisher #3)
- Wolf in the Fold (Hawk & Fisher #4)
- Guard Against Dishonor (Hawk & Fisher #5)
- Bones of Haven (Hawk & Fisher #6 / US Title: Two Kings in Haven)
- Beyond the Blue Moon (Forest Kingdom #4 / Hawk & Fisher #7)
- Once in a Blue Moon (Forest Kingdom #5)
Understanding the Forest Kingdom Books
To help you decide where to put your focus, here is a detailed look at each of the main books in the Forest Kingdom sequence and how they build this dark but comedic universe.
Blue Moon Rising
Published in 1989, this is where the magic begins. Prince Rupert is the classic disappointed second son, sent on what is meant to be a suicidal quest to slay a dragon. Instead, he finds a remarkably sensible, tea-drinking dragon, befriends it, rescues a highly independent princess named Julia, and must return home to stop a massive, demonic invasion originating from the corrupted forest known as the Darkwood. It is a brilliant subversion of classic fairy tale tropes.
Blood and Honor
Released in 1992, this book shifts the focus to a different part of the Forest Kingdom. Jordan is an actor, but when the prince of the realm is secretly assassinated, Jordan is hired—and magically altered—to play the part of the heir to prevent a bloody civil war. Packed with political intrigue, theater lore, and high stakes, it showcases Green's talent for plotting suspenseful, isolated adventures within his broader setting.
Down Among the Dead Men
Set a decade after the devastating Demon War depicted in earlier lore, this 1993 novel is arguably the darkest entry in the series, leaning heavily into horror. It follows Duncan McNeil and a desperate band of soldiers sent to investigate a remote border fortress. What they find is an ancient evil that has slaughtered the garrison, forcing the survivors into a claustrophobic fight for their lives.
Beyond the Blue Moon
Released in 2000, this book serves as the bridge between two of Simon R. Green's most beloved creations. After spending six novels as the street-tough, cynical city guards Hawk and Fisher in the city of Haven, the legendary duo must reclaim their true identities as Prince Rupert and Princess Julia. They return to the Forest Kingdom to confront an ancient menace, bringing the gritty, noir-like atmosphere of Haven into the high-fantasy Forest Kingdom.
Once in a Blue Moon
Published in 2014, this final volume serves as the ultimate swan song for Rupert, Julia, and the Forest Kingdom. Green pulls out all the stops to deliver a grand finale that rewards readers who have followed the characters across both series, resolving their fates and the destiny of the kingdom they fought so hard to protect.
Crucial Crossover & Reading Caveats
While Simon R. Green’s books are designed so that each can be picked up and enjoyed on its own, the deeper connections enrich the experience. The primary caveat is that Beyond the Blue Moon will spoil the mystery and backgrounds of the main characters in the Hawk & Fisher series. If you plan to read the Haven books, do not read Beyond the Blue Moon first.
Additionally, regional title differences can be confusing. When looking for the Hawk & Fisher novels, note that early US editions were sometimes published under different, pulpy titles (such as No Haven for the Guilty or Devil Take the Hindmost). Tracking them by their numerical order in the series remains the safest method.
What to Know Before You Start
Simon R. Green's writing style is highly distinct. It features an abundance of dry, cynical wit contrasted against genuinely gruesome and horrific elements. The Forest Kingdom isn't a clean, idealized Arthurian realm; it is a dirty, dangerous place where magic has a heavy cost, and heroes are usually ordinary people forced into extraordinary circumstances. If you enjoy the humor of Terry Pratchett mixed with the dark grit of classic sword-and-sorcery, this series is the perfect fit.