Valdemar: First Cycle
Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar books were hugely impactful to me as a teenager, and as such I have very specific ideas about the best order in which to read the first 26 books because of the way that they work together to tell a single cohesive story. 😅 If this is your first introduction to the country of Valdemar and the world of Vallarta, start at the top of the list and work your way down to the bottom. I have an explanation in the pinned comment, and feel free to ask any questions here!
created by GriefAstronomer
last updated September, 2026
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Reading Order Explained
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Heralds of Valdemar trilogy (aka, the Arrows trilogy) - Mercedes Lackey had previously published some short stories set in the world of Velgarth, but Arrows of the Queen was her first full-length novel and this is, I think, the best place to be introduced to the country of Valdemar and also start to learn a little bit more about the wider world of Velgarth.
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Vows and Honor duology - This series takes the reader outside the boundaries of Valdemar and the reader learns more about the world outside of Valdemar's borders. These two books incorporate and expand upon some of Lackey's short stories that were originally published before the Arrows trilogy. These are also the books that I think have aged the worst, culturally speaking. I think it's best not to skip them because they give significant context for the geopolitical situation of later books.
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Last Herald-Mage trilogy - Return to Valdemar approximately 600 years before the events of the Arrows trilogy to learn the tragic story of one of the country's greatest heroes!
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Oathblood - This is a short story collection that ties directly into the Vows and Honor duology. Some stories can be skipped if you want because they were reworked to be part of the previous novels. I like to read this after the Last Herald-Mage trilogy because the novella at the end is a really good lead-in to the next (standalone) entry in the series.
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By the Sword - This book covers a period of time that starts shortly before the Arrows trilogy, but ends after it. It also serves to connect the Vows and Honor storyline directly to the story of the two trilogies set in Valdemar.
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Mage Winds trilogy - This trilogy directly follows the events of the By the Sword and the Arrows trilogy and promotes side characters from both converging storylines to main characters.
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Mage Wars trilogy (aka the Gryphon trilogy) - Return to the ancient past of Velgarth, 1,000 years before the founding of Valdemar. Even though this is the first series chronologically, it will make very little sense if you read it first.
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Mage Storms trilogy - These follow directly after the Mage Winds trilogy, but also will make MUCH more sense if you have read the Gryphon trilogy.
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Owl Mage trilogy - These books deal with the aftermath of the Mage Storms trilogy,
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Brightly Burning/Take A Thief/Exile's duology - These books were all written after the Owl Mage trilogy and fill in some of the history of Valdemar's heroes. Brightly Burning can be slotted in anytime after the Last-Herald Mage trilogy, whereas I think that Take a Thief and the Exiles duology should not be read for the first time until anytime after the Mage Winds trilogy.
Ok - but this made me curious about the publication order. And it's normal but then:
-1993 - The Black Gryphon -1994 - Storm Warning -1995 - The White Gryphon -1995 - Storm Rising -1996 - The Silver Gryphon -1996 - Storm Breaking
Diabolical, Misty. Can you imagine reading these as they came out?
RIGHT?!?!?!?!?
I literally discovered this series in 1999, THANK GOD. Although I'm doing a memory refresh reread right now before I start a buddy read with some folks who are new to the series next month and I'm lowkey wondering if I should try this order just to see what it's like.
I don't remember when I started reading these - my best guess is around when Owlflight came out? So 1997ish? I remember reading that trilogy as they came out.
I think that reading Black Gryphon then Storm Warning would be interesting (now that I think of it).
I only remember the exact year because my friend gave me her copy of Arrows of the Queen to borrow while we were sitting waiting for our first period Algebra class in 8th grade. 🤣 It’s one of those very silly things that my brain has decided to remember forever.
Yeah! I thought the same about Black Gryphon into Storm Warning. And that made me wonder if there are any purposeful parallels between White Gryphon/Storm Rising and Silver Gryphon/Storm Breaking that I would have missed when I was younger but would notice now.
My mom was a huge fantasy reader so they were always in the house. Tbh the reason I remember Owlflight is because the hardcover was a different size then the hardcovers for Mage Wars and Mage Storms 😆
That's an interesting question! I think those two trilogies are my favourites but I've never read them in that order.
The list I didn't know I needed. I want to dwell into this series too, tbh. Can't wait for a readalong🥰
