Is There A Timeline That Shows All Mercedes Lackey Books In Order
As a new fan working through her Valdemar series, spoiler-free reading orders are a must. Should I follow publication or internal chronology for Heralds and Companions?
2026-08-02 03:51:15
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ElizaCox
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7 Answers
EllaRyan
Bibliophile
Chef
I find the idea of a unified timeline oddly stressful. Her books are my comfort reads. I don't want to feel like I'm studying for an exam on a fictional history. I just pick up whichever Valdemar book calls to me that day, even if it's out of order. The world is consistent enough that it doesn't ruin anything.
2026-08-03 01:55:49
12
LydiaNeal
Story Interpreter
Worker
I just go by publication date within each series. It's the simplest method and ensures you won't hit spoilers the author didn't intend. For Valdemar, that means starting with 'Arrows of the Queen' (1987), not 'The Black Gryphon' (1994) even though the latter is set earlier. You experience the world as the author and her readers discovered it.
2026-08-04 16:03:49
8
MaryBrown
Frequent Answerer
Mechanic
Man, I wish. Someone should make a website with an interactive timeline. Click on an era and it shows all the books, short stories, and even the novellas from the anthologies set in that period. You could filter by character families too, like the Ashkevrons. That would be a killer fan project for someone with too much time and a love for her world.
2026-08-05 04:41:31
12
EliasCole
Bibliophile
Pharmacist
I've seen fans try to make these. They usually end up as massive forum posts with endless debate about where the 'Owl' trilogy fits or whether the 'Vows and Honor' books are prequels or concurrent. The fun part is watching those discussions unfold—people get really passionate about Heraldic eras. You might have better luck searching for 'Valdemar chronological order' on fan sites rather than a full Lackey bibliography timeline.
2026-08-05 08:09:56
4
KaiMason
Bibliophile
Nurse
I'd argue the 'Elemental Masters' series has a loose timeline based on the publication order and the real-world progression of the early 20th century, but the books aren't heavily sequential. You can see the world change slightly from book to book. But again, it's not a plot-driven timeline like Valdemar's. It's more of a backdrop.
2026-08-05 18:09:25
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My friend got into them by reading 'Owlflight' first, which is the start of the Owl trilogy, set in a different part of the world. She loved it and then branched into Valdemar proper. There's no gate here.
The publication order is a complete mess timeline-wise, and I'm here for it. It feels like digging through an archaeologist's midden—you uncover layers of history in a non-linear fashion. You'll start with Queen's Own Heralds in one era, jump back to the Mage Storms, then leap forward to the Collegium chronicles. It doesn't hinder enjoyment; it just means you have to hold a mental map. Some wikis have fantastic reading order guides that merge chronology with publication groups to avoid spoilers.
Her collaborations are a whole other can of worms. Books co-written with James Mallory (Obsidian) or Roberta Gellis (the Heirs of Alexandria series) exist in entirely separate worlds. So if you pick up a co-written book, assume it's not connected to Valdemar/Elemental Masters/Five Hundred Kingdoms unless explicitly stated.