Wardstone Chronicles/Last Apprentice Books in Order

How to Read The Wardstone Chronicles: The Recommended Order

The Wardstone Chronicles (published as The Last Apprentice in North America) is a dark fantasy series written by British author Joseph Delaney. Because the series follows a continuous, serialized narrative following young Thomas Ward's training under the Spook, the absolute best way to experience this universe is in publication order. Skipping around is not recommended, as key characters evolve, major enemies are introduced, and the stakes continuously escalate from one book to the next.

This reading path guides you from the very first day of Tom's apprenticeship all the way through the main series, into the sequel arcs, and through the essential companion stories that flesh out the County's deep lore.

The Main Series: The Wardstone Chronicles (Last Apprentice)

The main series consists of thirteen books. In North America, the publisher changed the titles significantly. To help you track them down no matter where you are reading, we have listed both the UK and US titles for every entry in the correct reading order:

1. The Spook's Apprentice (UK) / Revenge of the Witch (US) (2004) – Tom Ward is apprenticed to the Spook, John Gregory, and must learn to stand against the forces of the Dark.
2. The Spook's Curse (UK) / Curse of the Bane (US) (2005) – Tom and the Spook travel to Priestown to confront a terrifying, ancient entity known as the Bane.
3. The Spook's Secret (UK) / Night of the Soul Stealer (US) (2007) – As winter arrives, the Spook retreats to his winter house in Anglezarke, where secrets from his past resurface.
4. The Spook's Battle (UK) / Attack of the Fiend (US) (2007) – The witch clans of Pendle unite, posing a deadly threat that forces Tom to fight alongside dangerous allies.
5. The Spook's Mistake (UK) / Wrath of the Bloodeye (US) (2008) – Tom is sent north to train under a different, more brutal Spook named Bill Arkwright.
6. The Spook's Sacrifice (UK) / Clash of the Demons (US) (2008) – The Spook, Tom, and Alice travel to Ireland to face Ord, a bloodthirsty ancient deity.
7. The Spook's Nightmare (UK) / Rise of the Huntress (US) (2010) – Following the destruction of the Spook's home, the group escapes to the Isle of Mona, where a terrifying entity hunts them.
8. The Spook's Destiny (UK) / Rage of the Fallen (US) (2011) – Tom travels to Ireland once more to search for a weapon that can defeat the Fiend once and for all.
9. I Am Grimalkin (UK) / Grimalkin, the Witch Assassin (US) (2011) – This entry shifts perspective to Grimalkin, the deadly Malkin assassin, as she runs for her life while protecting a critical package.
10. The Spook's Blood (UK) / Lure of the Dead (US) (2012) – The fight against the Dark heads to Romania, where Tom must confront a coven of vampires.
11. Slither's Tale (UK) / Slither (US) (2012) – A side narrative focusing on Slither, a creature of the dark who makes a deal with a human, which directly impacts Tom's journey in later books.
12. I Am Alice (UK) / Spook's: Alice (US) (2013) – Alice Deane ventures into the dark territory of the Fiend to recover the final domain weapon.
13. The Spook's Revenge (UK) / Fury of the Seventh Son (US) (2013) – The epic, climactic finale of the original Wardstone Chronicles series.

The Sequel Series: The Starblade Chronicles

After the events of the original 13 books, Joseph Delaney continued Thomas Ward's journey in a three-book sequel series. In these books, Tom is no longer an apprentice; he has become a fully fledged Spook himself, facing a new threat from across the sea. Read these books immediately after finishing the main series:

1. A New Darkness (2014)
2. The Dark Army (2016)
3. The Dark Assassin (2017)

The Final Arc: The Brother Wulf Series

Set after the events of The Starblade Chronicles, this four-book sequel series shifts focus to a new protagonist, a young monk named Wulf who becomes apprenticed to the Spook. While Wulf takes center stage, classic characters from the original series play critical roles in this final chapter of the County's history:

1. Brother Wulf (2020)
2. Wulf's Bane (2021)
3. The Last Spook (2022)
4. Wulf's War (2023)

Essential Companion Books & Short Stories

Delaney also released collections and short stories that fill in the gaps of his world's history. They can be read alongside the main books to enrich your understanding of the characters:

• Witches / A Coven of Witches (2009) – A collection of short stories about the various witch characters in the series. It includes the standalone story Alice and the Brain Guzzler, which explains Alice's dark childhood and training. Best read after The Spook's Battle.
• The Spook's Tale: And Other Horrors (2009) – Originally released in the UK for World Book Day, this collection details John Gregory's own history as an apprentice Spook. Best read after The Spook's Secret.
• The Spook's Bestiary: The Guide to Creatures of the Dark (2010) – An illustrated in-universe guide detailing the various ghosts, boggarts, witches, and demons that inhabit the County. Best read after The Spook's Sacrifice.
• The Seventh Apprentice (2014) – A short standalone novella about Will Johnson, a previous apprentice who attempted to learn under the Spook while Gregory was away.

What to Know Before You Start

The series is heavily inspired by the folklore and real geography of Lancashire in Northern England. The County corresponds to Lancashire, and landmarks like Pendle Hill (home to the Pendle witches) play central roles. While categorized as young adult fiction, the series does not shy away from genuine horror. It is atmospheric, creepy, and often violent, featuring complex moral dilemmas where the heroes must frequently align with dark forces—such as Grimalkin the assassin—to survive.