Elizabeth Wein Books in Order

Where to Start with Elizabeth Wein

If you are new to Elizabeth Wein’s work, the absolute best place to start is with Code Name Verity (2012). This groundbreaking, award-winning World War II novel sets the gold standard for her signature blend of meticulous historical research, intense aviation thriller elements, and deeply emotional character studies. It introduces readers to the thematic complexity and the high-stakes survival scenarios that define her historical fiction.

For readers who prefer ancient settings, mythological revisionism, and political intrigue, The Winter Prince (1993) serves as an alternative entry point, launching her Arthurian and Aksumite saga. However, the World War II series remains her most famous and widely read work, and starting there will immediately show you why she is celebrated in young adult literature.

The Code Name Verity Series (Young Pilots)

Often referred to by fans as the Young Pilots series, these books are connected by the shadow of World War II, overlapping characters, and a shared timeline. However, they do not follow a strictly linear narrative, which leaves readers with two distinct options for approaching them.

Option 1: Publication Order (Recommended)

Most readers, along with Elizabeth Wein herself, suggest reading the series in the order the books were published. This sequence preserves the mystery, emotional payoffs, and character revelations of the main narrative, allowing the prequels to build on details you already know.

• Code Name Verity (2012): The core novel of the series, detailing the friendship and survival of a British spy and a female pilot during World War II.
• Rose Under Fire (2013): A companion novel following American pilot Rose Justice, who is captured and sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp.
• The Pearl Thief (2017): A prequel set in 1938 that explores a teenage Julie Beaufort-Stuart (from Code Name Verity) solving a mystery at her family estate before the outbreak of the war.
• The Enigma Game (2020): A prequel set in 1940 Scotland that brings together a pilot, an evacuee, and a translator working with an Enigma machine, featuring a cameo from Julie.

Option 2: Chronological Reading Order

If you prefer to follow the characters and history as they unfold in a straight line from past to future, you can read them chronologically. Keep in mind that this might lessen some of the suspense and emotional impact of the original book.

1. The Pearl Thief (Set in 1938, before World War II)
2. The Enigma Game (Set in 1940–1941, during the early stages of the war)
3. Code Name Verity (Set in 1943, during the height of the conflict)
4. Rose Under Fire (Set in 1944–1945, focusing on the later war years and camp liberation)

WWII Companion Novellas

To fully round out the World War II pilot experience, you should also read Firebird (2018). This short novella tells the story of Anastasia Lygina, a female Soviet fighter pilot during WWII, capturing the same aviation passion and historical intensity as the main novels.

The Lion Hunters Saga (Arthurian & Aksumite Cycle)

Elizabeth Wein’s first major series reimagines Arthurian legend from a psychological and political perspective, moving the setting from Britain to the ancient Red Sea empire of Aksum (modern-day Ethiopia). Unlike the WWII books, this series is a generational saga that should be read in order.

Part 1: The Lion Hunter Arthurian Books

The first part of the cycle establishes the Arthurian framework and shifts the narrative focus to the Kingdom of Aksum.

• The Winter Prince (1993): Focuses on the tragic relationship between Mordred and his father, Artos (King Arthur), in Britain.
• A Coalition of Lions (2003): Follows Artos's daughter, Goewin, as she flees war-torn Britain for the prosperous and complex empire of Aksum.
• The Sunbird (2004): Tells the story of Telemakos, the grandson of Artos, as he goes on a dangerous diplomatic mission to stop a deadly plague in Aksum.

Part 2: The Mark of Solomon Books

The saga continues with Telemakos as he grows older, facing exile and political gamesmanship.

• The Lion Hunter (2007): Telemakos is sent to the remote sanctuary of Afar to protect him from political enemies, where he must learn to survive.
• The Empty Kingdom (2008): The final chapter of the saga, where Telemakos and his sister, Athena, struggle to protect Aksum from internal decay and external threats.

Standalone Novels & Aviation Companions

For readers looking for self-contained historical fiction, Wein has written several acclaimed standalones and short novels that share the themes of flight, international politics, and youth resilience:

• Black Dove, White Raven (2015): Set in the 1930s, this novel follows two foster siblings who move to Ethiopia to pursue their mothers' dream of aviation, only to be caught in the Italian invasion. It serves as a spiritual bridge to the locations featured in the Lion Hunters saga, set in the modern era.
• White Eagles (2019): A fast-paced historical novella about a young Polish pilot fleeing the German invasion of Poland in 1939.
• Stateless (2023): A tense 1937 mystery set during a European peace race, where young pilots from various nations compete in the skies while political tensions boil over on the eve of WWII.

Non-Fiction & Media Tie-Ins

Wein’s passion for aviation and history extends beyond fictional stories into real-world accounts and popular media universes:

• Star Wars: Cobalt Squadron (2017): A canonical tie-in novel for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, focusing on the bomber pilots Rose and Paige Tico. It highlights Wein's ability to translate her real-world understanding of flight and crew dynamics into a sci-fi setting.
• A Thousand Sisters (2019): A non-fiction account detailing the brave women of the Soviet Union's three all-female aviation regiments (the Night Witches) who flew combat missions during WWII.
• American Wings (2024): A co-authored non-fiction book focusing on the pioneering Black aviators of Chicago who fought for racial equality in the skies and paved the way for the Tuskegee Airmen.