What Is The Reading Order For The Old Kingdom Series?

2026-07-18 23:17:55
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4 Answers

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My two cents: the reading order debate is overblown. Publication order is fine, but if you're the type who loves chronological order, you could start with 'Clariel'. It's set a few hundred years before 'Sabriel'. I don't recommend it, though, because 'Clariel' is tonally darker and more morally ambiguous—it's a character study of a future villain, really. Starting there might give you the wrong idea about the series' heroic heart. 'Sabriel' is a more straightforward introduction to the magic system and the threat of the Dead. Plus, the trilogy has a beautiful narrative progression from one Abhorsen to the next. Skipping ahead to 'Goldenhand' without the emotional payoff of 'Lirael' and 'Abhorsen' would leave you cold. The novellas? Nice bonus material, but not required for the main journey.
2026-07-19 20:06:09
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Naomi
Naomi
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Okay, here's the order I followed and it worked perfectly: 1. Sabriel 2. Lirael 3. Abhorsen. That's the core trilogy. Then I read 'Clariel', which is a distant prequel, and finally 'Goldenhand', which continues from Abhorsen. There's also a short story collection, 'Across the Wall', which has a few Old Kingdom stories—you can read those pretty much whenever after the first book. I tried reading Clariel first once and was totally confused; it assumes you know how the Charter works. So yeah, publication order is the way.
2026-07-20 13:34:53
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Sophia
Sophia
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Sabriel first, no question. Lirael next, then Abhorsen. After that, Goldenhand. Read Clariel whenever you want more backstory, but it's a separate thing. That's it.
2026-07-22 03:52:49
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I re-read 'Sabriel' last month and got sucked right back into the Old Kingdom. For reading order, I always go with publication order: 'Sabriel', then 'Lirael', and 'Abhorsen'. That's how the story unfolds chronologically for the main arc, and you get the world-building in the right sequence. After that, the prequel 'Clariel' fits in, but honestly, I'd save it for after the original trilogy—it's a different feel and hits harder with the context of what the Abhorsen's office becomes. 'Goldenhand' is a direct sequel to 'Abhorsen' and needs to come last, tying up threads from 'Lirael' and the novella 'To Hold the Bridge'. Speaking of which, the novella collection is great but non-essential; slot it in anytime after 'Abhorsen' if you want extra flavor.

Some folks jump into 'Clariel' first because it's a prequel, but I think that ruins the mystery of the Old Kingdom's decay in 'Sabriel'. You're supposed to discover its broken state alongside Sabriel herself. Starting with 'Clariel' gives you answers to questions you haven't even asked yet, which sort of flattens the experience. Stick to the release order, trust me.
2026-07-24 09:29:41
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What is the reading order for the Old Kingdom book series?

4 Answers2026-07-18 08:01:12
A question that still pops up on every forum! Honestly, if you're diving into the Abhorsen books, publication order is king. Start with 'Sabriel'. People sometimes suggest 'Clariel' first because it's chronologically earlier, but that book is a prequel for a reason—it hits way harder when you already know how the Old Kingdom's systems are supposed to work. Then it's 'Liriel' and 'Abhorsen'. Those two are basically one giant story split in half, so read them back-to-back. After that, you can go to 'Clariel' and then 'Goldenhand'. 'Goldenhand' wraps up threads from all the books, so you really need the earlier ones for it to land. I tried jumping into 'Liriel' once after seeing a cool cover at a used bookstore, and I was so lost on the magic and the bells. Just stick to the order Garth Nix wrote them in. It's the cleanest way to follow the lore.

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