Raven’s Shadow Books In Order: How to read Anthony Ryan’s Series?
Coming from Anthony Ryan, a Scottish writer of fantasy and science fiction, the Raven’s Shadow series is one of his Fantasy series, a trilogy completed with short stories and a sequel duology, Raven’s Blade–described by Fantasy Book Review as “Robin Hobb meets Joe Abercrombie”
The series focuses on Vaelin Al Sorna, a warrior of the Sixth Order, called Darkblade, called Hope Killer. More precisely, it’s the story of a child who was only ten years old when his father abandoned him at the gates of an order that was to train him in the arts of war. An order to which he had to pledge allegiance, giving up his rights as the son of a Warlord of the United Kingdom. During his training, Vaelin discovers that he has a gift. A gift that could get him into trouble… a magic perceived as evil in a world guided by Faith.
How to read the Raven’s Shadow Series In Order?
Raven’s Shadow Trilogy
- Blood Song – Vaelin Al Sorna was only a child of ten when his father left him at the iron gate of the Sixth Order to be trained and hardened to the austere, celibate and dangerous life of a warrior of the Faith. He has no family now save the Order. Vaelin’s father was Battle Lord to King Janus, ruler of the Unified Realm-and Vaelin’s rage at being deprived of his birthright knows no bounds. Even his cherished memories of his mother are soon challenged by what he learns within the Order. But one truth overpowers all the rest: Vaelin Al Sorna is destined for a future he has yet to comprehend. A future that will alter not only the Realm but the world.
- Tower Lord – Vaelin Al Sorna is the greatest warrior of his day and witness to the greatest defeat of his nation: King Janus’s vision of a Greater Unified Realm drowned in the blood of brave men fighting for a cause Vaelin alone knows was forged from a lie. Sick at heart, he comes home, determined to kill no more. Named Tower Lord of the Northern Reaches by King Janus’s grateful heir, he can perhaps find peace in a colder, more remote land far from the intrigues of a troubled Realm. But those gifted with the blood song are never destined to live a quiet life. Many died in King Janus’s wars, but many survived, and Vaelin is a target, not just for those seeking revenge but for those who know what he can do.
- Queen of Fire – After fighting back from the brink of death, Queen Lyrna is determined to repel the invading Volarian army and regain the independence of the Unified Realm. Except, to accomplish her goals, she must do more than rally her loyal supporters. She must align herself with forces she once found repugnant-those who possess the strange and varied gifts of the Dark-and take the war to her enemy’s doorstep. Victory rests on the shoulders of Vaelin Al Sorna, now named Battle Lord of the Realm. However, his path is riddled with difficulties.
- Songs of the Dark: Short Fiction from the World of Raven’s Shadow – This book collects all four novellas from the world of Anthony Ryan’s internationally best-selling Raven’s Shadow trilogy. See below to know where each story is placed in the reading order.
Raven’s Shadow Series in Order, including Short Stories
- The Lady of Crows
- Many Are the Dead
- Blood Song
- The Lord Collector
- Tower Lord
- Queen of Fire
- A Duel of Evils
Raven’s Blade Duology
Sequel Series to Raven’s Shadow Trilogy.
- The Wolf’s Call – Vaelin Al Sorna is a living legend. It was his leadership that overthrew empires and his sacrifice that saved the Unified Realm from destruction. Now he lives a quiet life, his days of warfare behind him. Yet whispers have spread across the sea of an army called the Steel Horde, led by a man who thinks himself a god. When Vaelin learns that Sherin, the woman he lost long ago, has fallen into the Horde’s grasp, he resolves to confront this powerful new threat.
- The Black Song – The Steel Horde has laid waste to the Venerable Kingdom, unleashing a storm of fire and blood. Now the leader of this mighty host – Kehlbrand, the warlord who thinks himself a god – turns his eyes to the other merchant kingdoms. No one can stop his divine conquest. No one, perhaps, except Vaelin Al Sorna.
If our article about the Raven’s Shadow reading order is useful to you, don’t forget to bookmark it! You may also be interested in reading John Gwynne’s novels or Robin Hobb’s book series.
