Legends of the First Empire Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Paths for Elan

When entering the expansive fantasy world of Elan created by Michael J. Sullivan, readers are faced with a classic fantasy dilemma: should you read in the order the books were published, or follow the chronological timeline of the universe? The Legends of the First Empire series stands as a crucial pillar of this world, taking place approximately 3,000 years before the events of Sullivan's debut series, The Riyria Revelations. Because of this massive chronological separation, both starting points have unique benefits and structural trade-offs.

The Publication Order (Recommended Starting Path)

Both the author and the core fan community strongly recommend reading the World of Elan in publication order. While this means starting with the chronologically later series, it aligns perfectly with how the lore and mysteries of the world were gradually revealed. When you read The Riyria Revelations first, you learn about the myths, historical legends, and religious beliefs of Elan's citizens. When you subsequently dive into Legends of the First Empire, you get to witness the actual, unvarnished historical events that spawned those myths. Seeing how history was distorted, forgotten, or rewritten over three millennia is one of the most rewarding aspects of the series.

Under the publication path, the reading sequence looks like this:

1. The Riyria Revelations (Beginning with Theft of Swords)
2. The Riyria Chronicles (Beginning with The Crown Tower)
3. Legends of the First Empire (Beginning with Age of Myth)
4. The Rise and Fall (Beginning with Nolyn)

The Chronological Order (The Historical Path)

If you prefer to watch the history of Elan unfold in linear fashion from the very beginning, starting directly with Legends of the First Empire is a fully viable option. Michael J. Sullivan specifically designed the first book, Age of Myth, to serve as a welcoming entry point for readers who have never picked up a Riyria book. There are no spoilers for the later series, and the narrative stands entirely on its own feet.

The main trade-off of this path is that some of the magical secrets, historical mysteries, and world-building twists central to the Riyria books will be resolved or explained early, which may lessen their impact when you read the Riyria series later.

Publication Order of the Legends of the First Empire

The Legends of the First Empire is a completed six-book epic fantasy cycle published between 2016 and 2020. The author also penned two prequel short stories focusing on key characters prior to the events of the main novels.

The Prequel Short Stories

• "Little Wren and the Big Forest" (Book 0.6) – Published in November 2016 in the Unfettered II anthology, this short story explores the origins of the "Gronbach" myth and is set in the same ancient era.
• "Pile of Bones" (Book 0.5) – Published in 2019, this short story features a young Suri the Mystic and her wolf companion, Minna. It follows them as they explore a mysterious cave behind a waterfall, setting the stage for Suri's role in the main novels. It can be read as a brief introduction before starting the main novels.

The Main Novels

1. Age of Myth (2016) – The rebellion begins when Raithe, a human, kills an immortal Fhrey in self-defense, shattering the myth of their divinity.
2. Age of Swords (2017) – Humanity searches for allies and technological advancements, leading Persephone to seek the aid of the dour, underground-dwelling Dherg.
3. Age of War (2018) – The war between the human clans and the Fhrey escalates into brutal, open conflict, forcing fragile alliances to be forged and tested.
4. Age of Legend (2019) – In the aftermath of devastating battles, both sides must adapt to a changing landscape and prepare for a final push.
5. Age of Death (2020) – The characters venture into the underworld itself in a high-stakes bid to shift the balance of the war.
6. Age of Empyre (2020) – The dramatic conclusion to the epic conflict, bringing satisfying resolution to the fates of humans, Fhrey, and Dherg alike.

Chronological Timeline of the World of Elan

To see how the Legends of the First Empire fits into the broader timeline of the world of Elan, here is the complete chronological sequence of Michael J. Sullivan's series:

• First Era: Legends of the First Empire (Set ~3,000 years before Riyria) – The foundational conflict that shapes the geography, magic, and political structure of the world.
• Second Era: The Rise and Fall Trilogy (Set ~1,000 to 2,000 years after Legends) – Consisting of Nolyn, Farilane, and Esrahaddon, this series acts as a bridge showing the transition of the empire over centuries.
• Third Era: The Riyria Chronicles (Set ~12 years before Riyria Revelations) – A prequel series focusing on the early thieving adventures of the iconic duo Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater.
• Fourth Era: The Riyria Revelations (The original trilogy) – The climactic story of Royce and Hadrian that started it all.

What to Know Before You Start

One of the most unique aspects of the creation of Legends of the First Empire is Michael J. Sullivan's writing methodology. Rather than publishing books individually as they were written, Sullivan drafted all six novels in the series before the first one was ever published. This allowed him to weave complex foreshadowing, maintain perfect character continuity, and revise early volumes to match late-series developments. The result is a highly cohesive, tightly plotted narrative arc with minimal filler.

In terms of tone, the series stands out in the modern fantasy landscape. While it deals with heavy themes of war, prejudice, slavery, and survival, it avoids the bleak cynicism of typical grimdark fantasy. Instead, the story is infused with humor, hope, and an optimistic belief in the power of ordinary, flawed individuals—especially its prominent cast of strong female leaders like Persephone, Suri, Brin, and Moya—to shape the course of history.

Readers will also encounter familiar fantasy races under unique names. Humans are known as "Rhunes," a derogatory term meaning primitive used by their elven-like rulers, the "Fhrey." The dwarven craftsmanship experts are the "Dherg." Understanding these distinctions early makes the political maneuvering and cultural clashes of the first book much easier to digest.