Red Queen’s War Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path for The Red Queen’s War

Mark Lawrence’s The Red Queen’s War trilogy is a companion series to his debut work, the acclaimed The Broken Empire trilogy. Set in the exact same post-apocalyptic world and taking place during the exact same timeframe, these two series offer vastly different perspectives on a shared crisis. Because of this overlap, readers generally choose between two primary reading orders, depending on whether they prefer experiencing the world as it was published or starting with a lighter, more humorous narrative tone.

Option 1: The Publication Order (Highly Recommended)

For the most complete and rewarding experience, reading the books in publication order is highly recommended. The world-building, magical laws, and historical context of this future Earth are introduced step-by-step in Lawrence's first trilogy, making the events of The Red Queen’s War easier to follow. Furthermore, seeing characters and world-shaping events from a different perspective later on provides several satisfying "aha!" moments.

• Prince of Thorns (2011) – The Broken Empire Book 1
• King of Thorns (2012) – The Broken Empire Book 2
• Emperor of Thorns (2013) – The Broken Empire Book 3
• Prince of Fools (2014) – The Red Queen's War Book 1
• The Liar’s Key (2015) – The Red Queen's War Book 2
• The Wheel of Osheim (2016) – The Red Queen's War Book 3
• Road Brothers (2017) – Broken Empire World Short Story Collection
• The New World (2023) – Red Queen’s War Novella

Option 2: The Red Queen’s War First (The Lighter Entry Point)

If you find the grimdark tone of The Broken Empire and its brutally ruthless protagonist, Jorg Ancrath, too bleak or difficult to digest, starting with The Red Queen’s War is a completely viable alternative. The series is self-contained enough to be understood on its own, and the main protagonist, Jalan Kendeth, is a cowardly, charming rogue whose humorous internal monologue provides a much lighter entry point into Lawrence's dark world.

• Prince of Fools (2014)
• The Liar’s Key (2015)
• The Wheel of Osheim (2016)
• The New World (2023)

The Red Queen’s War Books in Detail

Here is the breakdown of the books comprising The Red Queen’s War saga, including the core trilogy and the follow-up novella:

1. Prince of Fools (2014): The series opens with Prince Jalan Kendeth, tenth in line to the throne of the Red March, who is magically bound to the stoic Norse warrior Snorri ver Snagason. Forced together by a curse, this mismatched pair must travel north to escape a deadly threat and battle forces of the undead.
2. The Liar’s Key (2015): Following the events of the first book, Jalan and Snorri find themselves in possession of Loki’s Key—an artifact capable of unlocking any door, including the boundary between life and death. Their journey takes them through dangerous lands as multiple factions try to seize the key.
3. The Wheel of Osheim (2016): In the epic conclusion, Jalan must return to the south and finally face the ultimate threats to his world. The mysterious Builders' technology, specifically the failing Wheel of Osheim, threatens to tear the fabric of reality apart.
4. The New World (2023): Originally published in a limited-edition omnibus by Grim Oak Press and later released digitally, this 25,000-word sequel novella catches up with Jalan and Snorri years after the trilogy's end. It follows them on a perilous voyage across the ocean to the remnants of North America.

What to Know Before You Start: The Post-Apocalyptic Universe

While the setting feels like a traditional medieval dark fantasy world complete with magic, monsters, and knights, it is actually a post-apocalyptic Earth. A catastrophic conflict in our future—referred to by the characters as the time of the "Builders"—destroyed modern civilization and altered the laws of physics, allowing human belief and willpower to manifest as magic. In this world, the Red Queen plays a silent, chess-like game against the Lady Blue, manipulating monarchs and heroes behind the scenes to prevent or prepare for a world-ending catastrophe.

Connections and Crossover Caveats

Because the events of The Red Queen’s War occur concurrently with The Broken Empire, their paths cross in subtle but fascinating ways. For example, Prince Jalan and Jorg Ancrath meet briefly in person, and both stories visit the same locations, such as the city of Vyene, at similar times. Reading both trilogies reveals the broader, intricate web of political intrigue that neither protagonist fully understands on his own. However, these crossovers are structured so that they do not ruin the plot of the alternate series if read out of order; they simply enrich the overall lore.

Short Stories and the Expanded Universe

For readers who want to dive deeper into the world, the anthology Road Brothers: Tales from the Broken Empire (2017) is an essential companion. It contains fourteen short stories focusing on the backstories and side adventures of various characters from both trilogies, including Jalan Kendeth and several of Jorg's companion fighters. It is highly recommended to read this collection after finishing the main trilogies to avoid spoilers and to fully appreciate the character origins.