Raven’s Shadow Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order for Raven’s Shadow

For readers diving into the world of Anthony Ryan’s masterwork for the first time, the best path forward is the Publication Order. Because the core narrative of Vaelin Al Sorna is linear and relies heavily on character development, jumping into prequels first can spoil major plot points or dilute the emotional impact of Vaelin’s journey.

Here is the recommended reading path:

1. Blood Song (Original Trilogy Book 1) — Start here. This coming-of-age story introduces Vaelin as a young trainee in the Sixth Order and establishes the foundation of the world.
2. Tower Lord (Original Trilogy Book 2) — Continues the story, expanding the perspective from a single point of view to a broader, multi-POV structure.
3. Queen of Fire (Original Trilogy Book 3) — The conclusion to the original Raven's Shadow trilogy.
4. Songs of the Dark (Novella Collection) — Read this after the main trilogy. It contains crucial companion stories, including A Duel of Evils, Many Are the Dead, The Lady of Crows, and The Lord Collector.
5. The Book Burner's Fall (Standalone Novella) — Read this next. It is a historical prequel set a century prior to the main books.
6. The Wolf's Call (Raven’s Blade Duology Book 1) — Begin the sequel series here, which picks up Vaelin's story years after the events of Queen of Fire.
7. The Black Song (Raven’s Blade Duology Book 2) — The epic conclusion to Vaelin’s story in the sequel duology.

Raven’s Shadow Publication Order

If you want to read everything exactly as Anthony Ryan wrote and released it, follow the publication timeline. This list includes the original self-published debut of the first book, the core trilogy, the companion novellas, and the later standalone entries.

• Blood Song (2011)
• Tower Lord (2014)
• Queen of Fire (2015)
• The Lord Collector (2016) — Novella
• A Duel of Evils (2017) — Novella
• Many Are the Dead (2018) — Novella
• The Wolf's Call (2019) — Raven’s Blade Sequel Book 1
• The Black Song (2020) — Raven’s Blade Sequel Book 2
• Songs of the Dark (2021) — Collection containing the four key novellas: A Duel of Evils, Many Are the Dead, The Lady of Crows, and The Lord Collector.
• The Book Burner's Fall (2024) — Standalone Novella

Chronological Order & Timeline Caveats

For veteran fans embarking on a re-read, organizing the timeline chronologically offers a fresh perspective on the lore and history of the realm. However, note that some events overlap or are told as historical accounts, meaning a perfect chronological order has a few overlaps.

Based on the story timelines, the chronological progression flows as follows:

1. A Duel of Evils — Set centuries before the main series, detailing the historical conflict between Kethia and the Volarian Empire.
2. The Book Burner's Fall — Set roughly a century before the trilogy, focusing on Kestra Saero, an assassin of the Seventh Order sent to kill the tyrannical King Lakril.
3. Many Are the Dead — Set approximately 10 years before the start of the first novel, focusing on Vaelin's mentor, Brother Sollis.
4. Blood Song — The main narrative beginning. Note that the novellas The Lady of Crows (focusing on the Varinshold underworld) and The Lord Collector (focusing on the character Jerhid) both take place concurrently with the timeline of Blood Song.
5. Tower Lord — Picks up after the fallout of the first book.
6. Queen of Fire — Direct continuation leading to the climax of the war.
7. The Wolf's Call — Sequel series starter.
8. The Black Song — Final chronological entry.

Note: The local database chronological order arranges the stories slightly differently by placing the main trilogy first, followed by the respective novellas in their release sequence. For the best narrative coherence, we advise reading the main novels first before filling in the historical gaps with the short stories.

The Sequel Duology: Raven's Blade

For readers who finish Queen of Fire and find themselves wanting more of Vaelin Al Sorna, Anthony Ryan returned to his iconic hero in the Raven's Blade duology. Comprising The Wolf's Call (2019) and The Black Song (2020), this sequel series shifts the action to the Far West. Vaelin, now older and seeking peace, is pulled back into conflict when he learns that the woman he once loved is in grave danger from a rising warlord who claims to be a living god. This duology is highly recommended for fans of the original trilogy, as it returns to the fast-paced, high-stakes action and martial focus that made the first book a hit.

What to Know Before You Start

The Narrative POV Shift

One of the most common discussion points among fantasy fans is the structural shift after the first book. Blood Song is written as a framed memoir with a single, highly focused point of view centered on Vaelin’s growth and training. Starting with Tower Lord, the series shifts into a multi-POV epic fantasy style, introducing viewpoints from other key characters like Queen Lyrna and Reva. Knowing this ahead of time helps manage expectations, as the intimate feel of the debut expands into a sprawling political and military conflict.

Grimdark and Historical Influences

Anthony Ryan draws heavily on medieval history and classic gritty fantasy writers like David Gemmell and Robin Hobb. The series features a low-magic, high-consequence world where combat is visceral, injuries are lasting, and moral compromise is a necessity. While not as relentlessly bleak as some grimdark series, it handles mature themes of faith, religious manipulation, and the human cost of empire-building with sober realism.

Potential Adaptations

In 2022, the screen rights to the Raven's Shadow series were acquired by Lone Wolf Pictures, meaning a television adaptation is a possibility. Reading the books now ensures you are ahead of any potential on-screen version of Vaelin’s journey.