Story Order
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Enter the Realm of the Elderlings universe

Realm of the Elderlings Books in Chronological Order

Follow Fitz. Discover everyone his story touches.

Follow Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings across Farseer, Liveship Traders, Tawny Man, Rain Wilds and Fitz and the Fool, with connected shorter fiction placed alongside the main arcs.

Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings is a connected sequence of trilogies and quadrilogies, with Fitz’s story interwoven with the Liveship, Rain Wilds and Fool arcs.

Open the full timeline ↓
Last editorial check

Universe orientation

Five arcs. One living world.

The quick answer

Start with Assassin’s Apprentice. Follow the Farseer, Liveship Traders, Tawny Man, Rain Wilds and Fitz and the Fool arcs in that order.

Switch to release order or use Starter Mode for a shorter route.

Universe explored

The Realm of the Elderlings universe, story by story

Every mapped story, with adaptations and editions grouped together.

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Story chronology · Full mapped list

The list follows in-universe chronology. Era and continuity remain visible on each record.

Showing 23 of 23 released stories.

  1. NovellaCanon

    Homecoming

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    Placed early Rain Wild settlement / long before Liveship era. Source status: C.

    Story eraEARLY / HISTORICAL REALM STORIESContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementearly Rain Wild settlement / long before Liveship eraFirst releaseRelease year not listed in sourcePlacement confidenceApproximate
  2. NovellaCanon

    The Wilful Princess and the Piebald Prince

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    Placed generations before Farseer; Six Duchies history. Source status: C.

    Story eraEARLY / HISTORICAL REALM STORIESContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementgenerations before Farseer; Six Duchies historyFirst releaseRelease year not listed in sourcePlacement confidenceApproximate
    Goodreads
  3. Short storyCanon unclearC/A

    Her Father’s Sword

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Placed earlier Six Duchies / historical placement approximate. Source status: C/A.

    Story eraEARLY / HISTORICAL REALM STORIESContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementearlier Six Duchies / historical placement approximateFirst releaseRelease year not listed in sourcePlacement confidenceApproximate
    Goodreads
  4. Short storyCanon unclearC/A

    Words Like Coins

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Placed Realm side story; exact macro-date uncertain. Source status: C/A.

    Story eraEARLY / HISTORICAL REALM STORIESContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementRealm side story; exact macro-date uncertainFirst releaseRelease year not listed in sourcePlacement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  5. Short storyCanon unclearC/A

    Cat’s Meat

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Placed Realm side story; exact date uncertain. Source status: C/A.

    Story eraEARLY / HISTORICAL REALM STORIESContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementRealm side story; exact date uncertainFirst releaseRelease year not listed in sourcePlacement confidenceStrong
  6. Short storyCanon unclearC/A

    Blue Boots

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Placed Realm side story; exact date uncertain. Source status: C/A.

    Story eraEARLY / HISTORICAL REALM STORIESContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementRealm side story; exact date uncertainFirst releaseRelease year not listed in sourcePlacement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  7. NovelCanon

    Assassin’s Apprentice

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    The definitive opening to Fitz’s story and the Realm of the Elderlings. The graphic-novel adaptation stays attached to this story rather than becoming another chronology event.

    Story eraFARSEER TRILOGYContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementFarseer 1First release1995Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  8. NovelCanon

    Royal Assassin

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    Continue Fitz’s first trilogy.

    Story eraFARSEER TRILOGYContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementFarseer 2First release1996Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  9. NovelCanon

    Assassin’s Quest

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    Completes the opening Fitz arc.

    Story eraFARSEER TRILOGYContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementFarseer 3First release1997Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  10. NovelCanon

    Ship of Magic

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    Shift to the Bingtown Traders and sentient liveships; the recommended next trilogy.

    Story eraLIVESHIP TRADERSContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementLiveship 1First release1998Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  11. NovelCanon

    The Mad Ship

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    Continue the Liveship Traders arc.

    Story eraLIVESHIP TRADERSContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementLiveship 2First release1999Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  12. NovelCanon

    Ship of Destiny

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    Completes the Liveship Traders trilogy.

    Story eraLIVESHIP TRADERSContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementLiveship 3First release2000Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  13. Short storyCanon unclearC/A

    The Inheritance

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Placed Bingtown / Liveship cultural context; exact date approximate. Source status: C/A.

    Story eraLiveship-adjacent short storyContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementBingtown / Liveship cultural context; exact date approximateFirst releaseRelease year not listed in sourcePlacement confidenceApproximate
    Goodreads
  14. NovelCanon

    Fool’s Errand

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    Returns to Fitz after the first two trilogies.

    Story eraTAWNY MANContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementTawny Man 1First release2001Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  15. NovelCanon

    The Golden Fool

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    The second Tawny Man novel.

    Story eraTAWNY MANContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementTawny Man 2First release2002Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  16. NovelCanon

    Fool’s Fate

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    Completes the Tawny Man trilogy.

    Story eraTAWNY MANContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementTawny Man 3First release2003Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  17. NovelCanon

    Dragon Keeper

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    Opens the Rain Wilds sequence after the Liveship Traders arc.

    Story eraRAIN WILD CHRONICLESContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementRain Wild 1First release2009Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  18. NovelCanon

    Dragon Haven

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    Continue the Rain Wilds sequence after Dragon Keeper.

    Story eraRAIN WILD CHRONICLESContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementRain Wild 2First release2010Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  19. NovelCanon

    City of Dragons

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    The third Rain Wilds novel.

    Story eraRAIN WILD CHRONICLESContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementRain Wild 3First release2012Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  20. NovelCanon

    Blood of Dragons

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    Completes the Rain Wilds sequence.

    Story eraRAIN WILD CHRONICLESContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementRain Wild 4First release2013Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  21. NovelCanon

    Fool’s Assassin

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    Reunites Fitz and the Fool after the Rain Wilds arc.

    Story eraFITZ AND THE FOOLContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementFitz/Fool 1First release2014Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  22. NovelCanon

    Fool’s Quest

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    The middle book of the concluding Fitz trilogy.

    Story eraFITZ AND THE FOOLContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementFitz/Fool 2First release2015Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  23. NovelCanon

    Assassin’s Fate

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon
    ListenAudiobook / audioCanon

    The concluding Fitz and the Fool novel.

    Story eraFITZ AND THE FOOLContinuityRealm of the Elderlings literary canonIn-world placementFitz/Fool 3 / saga conclusionFirst release2017Placement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads

Find your route

Realm of the Elderlings order guide

Use one authoritative timeline, then choose the view that matches how you want to experience the universe.

Realm of the Elderlings Books Books in Order

Books, comics and other reading material are placed by story chronology while publication order remains available as a separate view.

Realm of the Elderlings Books Release Order

Release order re-sorts the same mapped stories by first publication or release instead of creating a duplicate guide page.

What Order Should You Read Realm of the Elderlings?

Start with the guide’s recommended route if this is your first time. Use the full chronology when you want the complete cross-media timeline.

Quick answers

Common Realm of the Elderlings order questions

Direct answers based on the same chronology, continuity labels and coverage notes used in the guide.

What Order Should You Read Realm of the Elderlings?

Start with Assassin’s Apprentice. Follow the Farseer, Liveship Traders, Tawny Man, Rain Wilds and Fitz and the Fool arcs in that order.

Should you use chronological or release order for Realm of the Elderlings?

Use chronological order to follow events as they happen. Use release order when you want to preserve the sequence of the original reveals. Both views use the same researched stories.

What does this Realm of the Elderlings order guide include?

All-media guide: 23 unique novels, novellas and short stories across the complete Realm chronology. Audiobooks and the Assassin’s Apprentice graphic adaptation stay attached to their source stories. Coverage is current through released and confirmed story material available by 22 September 2026.

Suggested routes

Choose a way in.

Use the full chronology or follow a shorter route.

01 · Fitz route

Assassin’s Apprentice

Farseer → Tawny Man → Fitz and the Fool, with Liveships and Rain Wilds between.

02 · Complete route

Read every arc

Farseer → Liveship Traders → Tawny Man → Rain Wilds → Fitz and the Fool.

03 · Audio route

Same order, spoken

Audiobooks follow the same connected sequence as the print editions.

Abstract branching map representing separate story continuities

Story versions

Choose how to experience it.

Researched editions and adaptations stay together under one story.

See how stories are organised

Sources

What anchors this order.

Official franchise, creator and publisher sources anchor the chronology. Conflicts and uncertain placements are labelled.

Robin Hobb’s official site ↗HarperCollins Robin Hobb page ↗

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Missing something?

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Story Order

Every story has a place.

Story Order is an independent editorial guide to watching, reading and playing fictional universes in chronological or release order across film, television, books, comics, games and audio.

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