Can the Code Name Verity books be read as standalones?

Yes, each novel in the Code Name Verity Cycle is a self-contained story with its own protagonist. However, reading them in publication or chronological order enhances the experience because of recurring characters, family relationships, and background context.

Who is Julie's brother, and which books is he in?

Julie's brother is Jamie Beaufort-Stuart . He is a primary character in The Enigma Game and also appears as a supporting character in both The Pearl Thief and Code Name Verity .

What is the relation between the Arthurian and Mark of Solomon books?

They are parts of the same series, commonly known as The Lion Hunters . The first three books focus on the fallout of Arthurian Britain, while the final two books (the Mark of Solomon duology) continue the story focusing on the next generation in the Kingdom of Aksum.

Where is Black Dove White Raven set?

It is set primarily in Ethiopia during the mid-1930s , leading up to the Italian invasion, and centers on two step-siblings raised by mothers who were daredevil pilots.

Is Firebird related to Code Name Verity?

No, Firebird is a standalone historical novella about a Soviet female military pilot , though it shares the same WWII aviation themes found throughout Wein's other works.

Elizabeth E. Wein Books in Order

Where to Start with Elizabeth E. Wein

For most readers, the best starting point is her masterpiece, Code Name Verity (2012). While it is technically the first book published in the Code Name Verity Cycle, internal timelines place other books earlier. However, starting here is highly recommended. It establishes the emotional core of the series, introduces the key themes of pilot aviation and intense female friendship, and features a brilliant, complex structure that makes subsequent prequels and companion novels much more rewarding.

If you prefer a lighter, mystery-focused entry point before diving into the heavy emotional stakes of World War II, you could start with the prequel The Pearl Thief, which follows a fifteen-year-old Julie Beaufort-Stuart before she becomes the spy known as Verity.

The Code Name Verity Cycle (Young Pilots Series)

This series follows the lives of young pilots, spies, and resistance fighters during World War II. The books are companion novels; they feature overlapping characters and shared history, but each is a self-contained story. You can read them in two different sequences depending on your preference.

Option 1: Publication Order (Recommended)

Reading in publication order allows you to experience the characters and their histories in the way they were originally unveiled. The author herself notes that this is often the most meaningful experience, as the reveals and character connections build naturally.

Code Name Verity (2012)
Rose Under Fire (2013)
The Pearl Thief (2017)
The Enigma Game (2020)

Option 2: Chronological Reading Order

If you want to follow the characters' lives and the historical timeline of the war in order, follow this sequence:

The Pearl Thief (Set in 1938) – A pre-war mystery introducing fifteen-year-old Julie Beaufort-Stuart at her family's Scottish estate.
The Enigma Game (Set in 1940) – Set in Scotland during the early days of the war. It features Julie's brother, Jamie Beaufort-Stuart, as a pilot, alongside Ellen McEwen and Louisa Adair as they discover an intact Enigma machine.
Code Name Verity (Set in 1943) – The core novel centering on the friendship between pilot Maddie Brodmann and spy Julie Beaufort-Stuart after their plane crashes in occupied France.
Rose Under Fire (Set in 1943–1944) – Follows Rose Justice, an American ATA pilot captured by the Nazis and sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp.

The Lion Hunters Series (Arthurian / Aksumite Cycle)

Wein's first series is a unique blend of Arthurian legend and historical fiction set in the ancient African Kingdom of Aksum (modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea). Unlike the WWII books, these form a single continuous narrative and must be read in order. The series is split into two halves, but they should be read sequentially.

Part 1: The Lion Hunter: Arthurian Books

The Winter Prince (1993)
A Coalition of Lions (2003)
The Sunbird (2004)

Part 2: The Lion Hunters: Mark of Solomon Books

The Lion Hunter (2007)
The Empty Kingdom (2008)

Standalone Historical Novels

Wein has written several other historical novels that stand completely on their own, though they share her signature passion for aviation and strong, resilient protagonists.

Black Dove White Raven (2015) – Set in the 1930s, following two teens, Emilia and Teo, who move to Ethiopia to pursue aviation, only to be caught in the onset of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.
White Eagles (2019) – A fast-paced novella published by Barrington Stoke, focusing on a teenage Polish pilot attempting a daring flight to escape the German invasion of Poland in 1939.
Stateless (2023) – A historical mystery set in 1937, featuring a diverse group of young pilots competing in a sporting race across Europe just as political tensions are reaching a boiling point.

Short Stories, Novellas, and Tie-ins

Firebird (2018) – A short, accessible novella set in the Soviet Union during WWII, following a young female pilot training under Marina Raskova.
Cobalt Squadron (2017) – A canonical Star Wars tie-in novel focusing on Rose and Paige Tico before the events of The Last Jedi.

Non-Fiction Works

For readers who want to learn the real history behind the fiction, Wein has written two acclaimed non-fiction books focusing on aviation history:

A Thousand Sisters: The Heroic Women of the Soviet Union's Only All-Female Bombing Regiment in World War II (2019)
American Wings: Chicago's Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky (2024)