Green Ember Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order: Blended Publication Path

For the most rewarding experience, author S. D. Smith recommends reading the Green Ember series in its official publication order. This blended path intertwines the main novels with prequels, midquels, and companion novellas. Reading in this sequence ensures that lore reveals, character introductions, and thematic payoffs land exactly when the author intended, avoiding spoilers and keeping the overarching mystery intact.

Here is the recommended reading path for the Green Ember universe:

1. The Green Ember (2014) – The essential starting point that introduces Heather and Picket Longtreader and the fall of Natalia.
2. The Black Star of Kingston (2015) – Tales of Old Natalia Book 1. A prequel set centuries earlier, establishing the history of the Mended Wood.
3. Ember Falls (2016) – The Green Ember Book II. The war escalates as Picket and Heather face rising stakes and internal betrayal.
4. The Last Archer (2017) – Green Ember Archer Book 1. A midquel focusing on the legendary marksman Jo Shanks.
5. Ember Rising (2018) – The Green Ember Book III. Heather and Picket fight alongside the resistance from a hidden refuge.
6. The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner (2018) – Tales of Old Natalia Book 2. Deepens the historical lore of Natalia's early sailors and heroes.
7. The First Fowler (2019) – Green Ember Archer Book 2. Continues Jo Shanks' special operations and defensive battles.
8. Ember's End (2020) – The Green Ember Book IV. The climactic conclusion to the core war against the wolf tyrant Morbin Blackhawk.
9. The Archer's Cup (2020) – Green Ember Archer Book 3. Concludes Jo Shanks' trilogy, taking place parallel to and slightly after the main sequence events.
10. Prince Lander and the Dragon War (2022) – Tales of Old Natalia Book 3. Culminates the prequel trilogy with the historic clash against the dragons.
11. The Lost Key (2024) – Green Ember Lost Tales Book 1. A companion novella exploring the early days of Heather and Picket at Halfwind Citadel.
12. Green Ember: Helmer in the Dragon Tomb (2023) – A standalone origin novel focusing on the past of the gruff, beloved mentor Helmer.
13. The Lost Legend (2026) – Green Ember Lost Tales Book 2. Follows the conspiracy of the crystal keys and ancient secrets of Natalia.

The Chronological Reading Order

For readers returning to Natalia for a re-read, or those who prefer to experience a fantasy world's history in strict linear time, the chronological order organizes the books by their internal timeline. This path separates the prequel history from the main narrative and places the side stories directly where they occur alongside Heather and Picket's adventures.

The chronological timeline is structured into two main eras:

Part 1: The Prequel Era (Tales of Old Natalia)

Set generations before the main events of The Green Ember, this trilogy documents the rise of the kingdom and the foundation of Natalia's ideals.

• The Black Star of Kingston
• The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner
• Prince Lander and the Dragon War

Part 2: The Rebellion Era (Main Sequence, Archer, & Lost Tales)

This sequence covers the lives of Heather and Picket Longtreader, the archer Jo Shanks, and the veteran warrior Helmer during the war against Morbin Blackhawk.

• The Green Ember (Main Book I)
• The Last Archer (Archer Book 1) – Overlaps with the aftermath of Book I.
• The First Fowler (Archer Book 2) – Occurs before Ember Falls.
• The Lost Key (Lost Tales Book 1) – Set chronologically between The First Fowler and Ember Falls.
• The Lost Legend (Lost Tales Book 2) – Continues directly after The Lost Key, leading into the main sequel.
• Ember Falls (Main Book II)
• Ember Rising (Main Book III)
• The Archer's Cup (Archer Book 3) – Parallel to the build-up toward the final battles.
• Ember's End (Main Book IV) – The grand finale of the main war.
• Green Ember: Helmer in the Dragon Tomb – Can be read as a standalone backstory highlighting Helmer's history, best enjoyed after the main sequence.

Breaking Down the Subseries

The Green Ember universe is comprised of several distinct series that fit together like pieces of a puzzle. Understanding these subseries helps readers navigate the library of Natalia:

The Main Green Ember Quartet

Following the siblings Heather and Picket Longtreader, this four-book series forms the spine of the entire saga. It documents their transition from simple rabbit children to leaders in the struggle to rebuild a peaceful society, the "Mended Wood."

Tales of Old Natalia

This prequel trilogy is set long before the events of the main series. It details the founding of the kingdom, the establishment of the code of Natalia, and the historical threats that shaped the rabbit civilization, including the dragons.

Green Ember Archer

Focused on Jo Shanks and his fellow archers, this trilogy acts as a midquel sequence. It fills in the gaps of the war effort, highlighting scout operations and elite archer defenses that happen off-stage in the main novels.

Green Ember Lost Tales

These shorter, fast-paced novellas explore specific gaps in the timeline, starting at Halfwind Citadel. They follow the core characters during moments of political intrigue, conspiracies, and hidden threats that occurred between the larger battles of the war.

Practical Reader Advice

Best Starting Point

New readers should always begin with The Green Ember. While the Tales of Old Natalia prequels are set chronologically first, they assume familiarity with the world's lore and lack the emotional hook of Heather and Picket's initial escape from the wolves. Starting with the first publication allows the magic and mechanics of Natalia to unfold naturally.

Are the Spin-offs Mandatory?

Technically, you can read only the main quartet (The Green Ember, Ember Falls, Ember Rising, and Ember's End) and follow the main plot. However, characters from the Green Ember Archer trilogy (like Jo Shanks) and elements from Tales of Old Natalia cross over directly into the main books. Skipping them makes certain character returns and lore developments in Ember Rising and Ember's End feel sudden or unexplained. Reading the blended publication order is highly recommended for the richest experience.

Tone and Themes

S. D. Smith describes his work as "new stories with an old soul." The series is written in the "noblebright" style—while there is real danger, darkness, and sacrifice, the overall tone is dominated by hope, loyalty, honor, and the dream of a restored world. It is highly compared to C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia and Brian Jacques's Redwall, making it a staple for family read-alouds and young fantasy enthusiasts.