Chris Wooding Books in Order

Where to Start with Chris Wooding

Because Chris Wooding writes across so many subgenres—from steampunk and epic fantasy to dark YA and graphic hybrids—the best place to start depends entirely on what you enjoy reading. Here are the three best entry points into his bibliography:

• For Steampunk and Adventure Lovers: Start with Retribution Falls, the first book in the Tales of the Ketty Jay. Often described as a fantasy version of Firefly, it features a crew of lovable misfits, high-flying action, and quick-witted banter.
• For Classic Epic Fantasy Fans: Start with The Ember Blade, the opening volume of The Darkwater Legacy. It is a substantial, richly built epic fantasy that pays homage to classic quest tropes while subverting them with grit and modern depth.
• For Dark Gothic Fantasy Seekers: Start with The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray. This standalone YA novel is set in a chilling alternate Victorian London overrun by terrifying supernatural beasts known as wyches.

Tales of the Ketty Jay

This is arguably Wooding's most popular series for adult readers. It follows Captain Darian Frey and his crew of airship smugglers, outcasts, and rogues. The series is complete and should be read in strict publication order:

1. Retribution Falls (2009)
2. The Black Lung Captain (2010)
3. The Iron Jackal (2011)
4. The Ace of Skulls (2013)

The Darkwater Legacy

This is Wooding's current flagship epic fantasy series. It focuses on a young man named Aren and his companions as they rebel against an occupying empire. It is planned as a trilogy, and the author has confirmed he is writing the final volume. The reading order is simple:

1. The Ember Blade (2018)
2. The Shadow Casket (2023)

The Braided Path Trilogy

If you prefer finished grimdark fantasy with unique settings, this trilogy is heavily inspired by feudal Japanese aesthetics and features a dark, magic-infused world ruled by an oppressive empire. Read them in order:

1. The Weavers of Saramyr (2003)
2. The Skein of Lament (2004)
3. The Ascendancy Veil (2005)

Broken Sky (Anime-Inspired YA)

One of Wooding's most famous early works, Broken Sky, has a complex publication history. Originally published in 1999–2001 as a series of 9 short parts (Act 1), it was later repackaged into larger volumes. Act 2 and Act 3 titles also saw publication later, culminating in a final release in 2017. To follow the adventures of twins Ryushi and Kia, read in this order:

• Broken Sky Parts 1 to 9 (1999–2001) (Often collected into three omnibuses or books representing Act 1)
• Broken Sky Act 2: Communion (2008)
• Broken Sky Act 3: The Citadel (2008)
• Broken Sky: The Twilight War (2017)

Malice Duology

This unique YA series blends traditional text with comic-book style graphic novel sections. It follows kids who get sucked into a sinister, deadly comic book world. Read them in order:

1. Malice (2009)
2. Havoc (2010)

Standalone Novels & Clarifications

Wooding has written a wide variety of standalone books. They can be read in any order at any time:

• Crashing (1998) — Wooding's debut YA novel focused on realistic teen life.
• Kerosene (1999) — A dark YA contemporary novel.
• Endgame (2000) — A psychological thriller.
• The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray (2001) — A gothic horror award-winner.
• Poison (2003) — A dark, twisted fairytale adventure that won the Lancashire Children's Book of the Year.
• Storm Thief (2006) — A dystopian sci-fi set in a city governed by chaotic probability waves.
• The Fade (2007) — An underground sci-fi/fantasy thriller.
• Silver (2013) — A fast-paced YA horror thriller about metal-parasite beetles.
• Velocity (2015) — A high-octane post-apocalyptic racing novel.

The Point Horror Unleashed Confusion

Some bibliographies list a large number of books under a 'Point Horror Unleashed' category for Chris Wooding. To clarify: Point Horror Unleashed was a UK-specific YA horror line featuring multiple authors. Chris Wooding only wrote Catchman (1998) in this series. The other titles sometimes linked to him (such as Celia Rees's Blood Sinister or Philip Gross's Transformer) were written by other authors and are not part of Wooding's bibliography.

The Middle-Grade Duplicate Title

If you see listings for both Jack from Earth (2019) and Out of This World (2020), note that these are the exact same book. This middle-grade sci-fi adventure about a boy mistaken for an intergalactic spy was released under different titles depending on the region.