Catherine Fisher Books in Order

Where to Start with Catherine Fisher

With a career spanning decades, Catherine Fisher has built a reputation for crafting lyrical, atmospheric fantasies that blend folklore, high-tech ruins, and archaeological mysteries. Because she writes across multiple subgenres—ranging from dystopian sci-fi to gothic fairy tales—your best starting point depends on your personal tastes:

• For Dystopian & Sci-Fi Fans: Start with Incarceron. It is her most famous work, featuring a living, sentient prison and a high-stakes escape plot that balances futuristic technology with simulated Victorian manners.
• For Fans of Classic Folklore & Magic: Start with The Clockwork Crow. This award-winning trilogy is shorter, atmospheric, and set in a snowy, Victorian-era Wales rich with faerie lore.
• For Lovers of Mythology & High Fantasy: Start with The Oracle Betrayed (originally published as The Oracle in the UK), which plunges readers into a hot, desert world ruled by a mysterious deity and complex religious intrigue.

Incarceron Duology

This bestselling young adult series is a masterclass in dark, claustrophobic world-building. The story splits its time between Finn, a prisoner struggling to survive inside a vast, self-contained living prison, and Claudia, the warden's daughter who lives outside in a world artificially locked in a technological stasis. To get the complete story, read these two books in order:

1. Incarceron (2007)
2. Sapphique (2008)

The Clockwork Crow Trilogy

Reimagining Victorian Wales with a cold, gothic beauty, this trilogy follows an orphan named Seren who is sent to live in a grand, remote estate. After discovering a mysterious package containing a broken clockwork crow, she is drawn into a battle of wits against the Fair Folk. The series won the Tir na n'Og Award and should be read sequentially:

1. The Clockwork Crow (2018)
2. The Velvet Fox (2019)
3. The Midnight Swan (2020)

The Oracle Prophecies

This trilogy is heavily inspired by Greek and Egyptian mythology. It follows Mirany, a young priestess-in-training who is chosen as the Bearer-of-the-God, thrusting her into political conspiracies and a quest to save her dying land. Note that the US and UK editions used different titles for the first two books:

1. The Oracle (UK) / The Oracle Betrayed (US) (2003)
2. The Archon (UK) / The Sphere of Secrets (US) (2003)
3. The Scarab (UK) / Day of the Scarab (US) (2005)

Relic Master / Book of the Crow Series

This science fantasy series is set on the dying planet of Anza, where the Order of Relic Masters is persecuted, and ancient, advanced technology is outlawed. It follows the master Galen and his apprentice Raffi as they search for lost relics to save their world. Depending on whether you buy US or UK editions, the series name and titles differ, but the reading order is identical:

1. The Relic Master (UK) / The Dark City (US) (1998)
2. The Interrex (UK) / The Lost Heiress (US) (1999)
3. Flain's Coronet (UK) / The Hidden Coronet (US) (2000)
4. The Margrave (UK/US) (2001)

Chronoptika Quartet (Obsidian Mirror Series)

The Chronoptika series is a complex, dark time-travel mystery set in a grand English manor house called Wintercombe. It features a mirror that acts as a portal through time, fae entities, and a group of characters trying to stop the end of the world. Read these books in order:

1. Obsidian Mirror (2012)
2. The Box of Red Brocade (UK) / The Slanted Worlds (US) (2013)
3. The Door in the Moon (2015)
4. The Speed of Darkness (2016)

The Snow-Walker Trilogy & the Belin's Hill Caveat

One of Fisher's earliest series is the Norse-inspired Snow-Walker trilogy, set in a harsh, icy world ruled by the terrifying sorceress Gudrun. The core trilogy consists of three novels:

1. The Snow-Walker's Son (1993)
2. The Empty Hand (1995)
3. The Soul Thieves (1996)

In 2003, these three books were compiled and re-released in a single omnibus volume titled Snow-Walker.

Caveat: Some online databases list the 1997 novel Belin's Hill as the fourth book in this series. This is incorrect. While it was written around the same time, Belin's Hill is a standalone Celtic fantasy set in contemporary Wales, sharing no characters, plotlines, or settings with the Snow-Walker trilogy.

Notable Standalone Novels

If you prefer a self-contained story, Fisher has written several celebrated standalone fantasy novels. These can be read in any order, though three stand out for their depth and accolades:

• The Conjuror's Game (1990): Fisher's debut novel, featuring a magical board game and dark Arthurian folklore.
• The Candle Man (1994): A haunting story set on the banks of the River Severn that won the prestigious Tir na n'Og Award.
• Corbenic (2002): A modern, gritty reimagining of the Grail legend following a troubled teenager who stumbles upon a mysterious castle.
• Darkhenge (2005): A story linking archaeological excavations, Celtic mythology, and a girl trapped in a coma.

Poetry & Short Story Collections

Before finding success in young adult fantasy, Catherine Fisher was an accomplished poet. Her poetry collections and short story anthologies offer a glimpse into the folklore and imagery that inspired her larger novels. Recommended collections include:

• Immrama (1988): Her debut collection of poetry, which draws heavily on historical and mythological motifs.
• The Red Gloves and Other Stories (2021): A collection of eerie, folklore-inspired short stories perfect for dark winter nights.