Tortall Books in Order

The Best Starting Point: Where to Begin Your Journey

For decades, Tamora Pierce’s Tortall universe has stood as a cornerstone of young adult fantasy. With its rich history, feminist themes, and memorable characters, it offers a sprawling world of magic and adventure. But with more than twenty books spanning multiple subseries, knowing where to start can feel daunting. Fortunately, there is a clear, widely agreed-upon consensus: publication order is the best way to read the Tortall books.

Starting with Pierce's debut novel, Alanna: The First Adventure, provides the foundational world-building needed to understand Tortall's politics, class structure, and magical rules. Writing styles and world-building naturally evolve across the decades Pierce spent writing this series. By reading in publication order, you will experience this growth organically, catching character cameos, subtle nods to historical events, and emotional callbacks exactly as the author intended.

The Recommended Path: Tortall in Publication Order

To experience the realm of Tortall as it was created and revealed, follow this step-by-step publication path through the core quartets, trilogies, and duologies:

1. Song of the Lioness Quartet

This is where the magic begins. The series introduces Alanna of Trebond, a noble girl who swaps places with her twin brother to train secretly as a royal page, aiming to become the first female knight in centuries. It is the perfect introduction to the kingdom's culture and its royal court.

• Alanna: The First Adventure (1983)
• In the Hand of the Goddess (1984)
• The Woman Who Rides Like a Man (1986)
• Lioness Rampant (1988)

2. The Immortals Quartet

Set a few years after the events of Song of the Lioness, this series follows Daine, an orphaned girl with a unique form of "wild magic" that allows her to communicate and bond with animals. As mythic beasts invade the realm, Daine must learn to harness her gifts alongside characters from the first quartet, including the powerful mage Numair Salmalín.

• Wild Magic (1992)
• Wolf-Speaker (1994)
• Emperor Mage (1995)
• The Realms of the Gods (1996)

3. Protector of the Small Quartet

Set immediately after the Immortals, this quartet focuses on Keladry (Kel) of Mindelan. Unlike Alanna, Kel trains openly as a female page under a new decree, facing severe prejudice, bullying, and systemic skepticism. With no magical powers to aid her, Kel relies on raw determination, physical training, and a deep sense of empathy to protect the vulnerable.

• First Test (1999)
• Page (2000)
• Squire (2001)
• Lady Knight (2002)

4. Tricksters Duology (Daughter of the Lioness)

This duology shifts focus to Alanna’s daughter, Aly, who is captured by pirates and sold into slavery in the Copper Isles. Aly must use her wits, espionage skills, and a direct bet with a trickster god to orchestrate a rebellion and protect a royal family in exile.

• Trickster's Choice (2003)
• Trickster's Queen (2004)

5. Beka Cooper Trilogy (Provost's Dog)

Although published later, this trilogy takes place roughly 200 years before Alanna's time. It follows Beka Cooper, a rookie law enforcer (or "Puppy") in the slums of Corus. Written in a gritty, journal-entry style, the series blends street-level mystery with supernatural elements as Beka talks to the spirits of the dead carried by pigeons.

• Terrier (2006)
• Bloodhound (2009)
• Mastiff (2011)

6. The Numair Chronicles

This prequel series centers on the youth of one of Tortall's most beloved characters, the mage Numair Salmalín (then known as Arram Draper), during his schooling days in the foreign empire of Carthak. Only the first book is currently available, but it serves as an excellent companion to the wider universe.

• Tempests and Slaughter (2018)

Alternative Path: The Chronological Reading Order

If you prefer to follow the history of the realm strictly from the past to the future, you can read the series chronologically. However, this path comes with significant caveats for new readers. Here is how the timeline unfolds:

1. The Beka Cooper Trilogy: Sets the historical stage for the criminal underworld and police system of Tortall 200 years prior to the main era.
2. The Numair Chronicles (specifically Tempests and Slaughter): Begins in 435 HE, covering Arram Draper's youth. This timeline actually overlaps with the page training of Alanna in the first half of the Song of the Lioness quartet.
3. Song of the Lioness Quartet: The foundational era of modern Tortall, following Alanna's rise.
4. The Immortals Quartet: Follows Daine as she arrives in Tortall and deals with the fallout of wars and magical incursions.
5. Protector of the Small Quartet: Follows Kel's training and the border conflicts with Scanra.
6. Tricksters Duology: Follows Aly in the Copper Isles, showing the political changes outside of Tortall's main borders.

Crucial Caveats: Why Chronological Order Can Be Tricky

While a chronological read-through is highly rewarding for fans planning a reread, it is not recommended for first-timers. The major reasons include:

Spoilers and Cameos: The Beka Cooper trilogy is packed with easter eggs, family lineages, and historical callbacks that only make sense if you are already familiar with the later characters. Reading them first ruins the surprise of discovering these connections. Additionally, the ending of Mastiff reveals details about lineages that link directly back to characters you haven't met yet if you start chronologically.

Format and Tone Shift: Terrier is written as a series of diary entries and uses archaic, street-level slang. It is a slower, grittier detective story. Starting here can feel jarring if you are expecting the classic, fast-paced high fantasy adventure of Alanna: The First Adventure.

The Numair Chronicles Overlap: Because Tempests and Slaughter overlaps with Alanna's early years and builds heavily on characters introduced in The Immortals, reading it first ruins the mystery surrounding Numair's past, which is a major plot point in Daine's story.

Companion Works and Short Stories

For readers who want to dive even deeper into Tortall's lore, two companion volumes offer extra depth:

Tortall and Other Lands: A Collection of Tales (2011): This anthology features several short stories set in the Tortall universe. The stories highlight minor characters and offer snapshots of life in the kingdom outside of the main novels. It is best read after completing the Beka Cooper trilogy.

Tortall: A Spy's Guide (2017): Compiled as an in-universe dossier from the desk of George Cooper (the King of Thieves turned spymaster), this companion book contains timelines, letters, charts, and official documents. It is an excellent read for dedicated fans, but it is best enjoyed after reading the Tricksters duology to avoid spoilers about the royal family and espionage networks.