Shannara Books In Order

Below is the complete list of Terry Brooks’ Original Shannara books in order. For this series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.

Publication Order of Original Shannara Books

1. 

   The Sword of Shannara (1977)
   by Terry Brooks
   The Sword of Shannara was published in 1977 and is listed as book #1 in the Original Shannara series.
2. 

   The Elfstones of Shannara (1982)
   by Terry Brooks
   Published in 1982, The Elfstones of Shannara is listed as book #2 in the Original Shannara series.
3. 

   The Wishsong of Shannara (1985)
   by Terry Brooks
   The Wishsong of Shannara is a 1985 release and appears as book #3 in the Original Shannara series.
4. 

   First King of Shannara (1996)
   by Terry Brooks
   In the Original Shannara series, First King of Shannara is book #4 and was published in 1996.
5. 

   Indomitable (2003)
   by Terry Brooks
   Indomitable was first published in 2003; within the Original Shannara series, it is listed as book #5.

Publication Order of Heritage Of Shannara Books

1. 

   The Scions of Shannara (1990)
   by Terry Brooks
   The Scions of Shannara was published in 1990 and is listed as book #1 in the Heritage Of Shannara series.
2. 

   The Druid of Shannara (1991)
   by Terry Brooks
   Published in 1991, The Druid of Shannara is listed as book #2 in the Heritage Of Shannara series.
3. 

   The Elf Queen of Shannara (1992)
   by Terry Brooks
   The Elf Queen of Shannara is a 1992 release and appears as book #3 in the Heritage Of Shannara series.
4. 

   The Talismans of Shannara (1993)
   by Terry Brooks
   In the Heritage Of Shannara series, The Talismans of Shannara is book #4 and was published in 1993.

Publication Order of Voyage Of The Jerl Shannara Books

1. 

   Ilse Witch (2000)
   by Terry Brooks
   Ilse Witch was published in 2000 and is listed as book #1 in the Voyage Of The Jerl Shannara series.
2. 

   Antrax (2001)
   by Terry Brooks
   Published in 2001, Antrax is listed as book #2 in the Voyage Of The Jerl Shannara series.
3. 

   Morgawr (2002)
   by Terry Brooks
   Morgawr is a 2002 release and appears as book #3 in the Voyage Of The Jerl Shannara series.

Publication Order of High Druid Of Shannara Books

1. 

   Jarka Ruus (2003)
   by Terry Brooks
   Jarka Ruus was published in 2003 and is listed as book #1 in the High Druid Of Shannara series.
2. 

   Tanequil (2004)
   by Terry Brooks
   Published in 2004, Tanequil is listed as book #2 in the High Druid Of Shannara series.
3. 

   Straken (2005)
   by Terry Brooks
   Straken is a 2005 release and appears as book #3 in the High Druid Of Shannara series.

Publication Order of Genesis Of Shannara Books

1. 

   Armageddon’s Children (2006)
   by Terry Brooks
   Armageddon’s Children was published in 2006 and is listed as book #1 in the Genesis Of Shannara series.
2. 

   The Elves of Cintra (2007)
   by Terry Brooks
   Published in 2007, The Elves of Cintra is listed as book #2 in the Genesis Of Shannara series.
3. 

   The Gypsy Morph (2008)
   by Terry Brooks
   The Gypsy Morph is a 2008 release and appears as book #3 in the Genesis Of Shannara series.

Publication Order of Legends Of Shannara Books

1. 

   Bearers of the Black Staff (2010)
   by Terry Brooks
   Bearers of the Black Staff was published in 2010 and is listed as book #1 in the Legends Of Shannara series.
2. 

   The Measure of the Magic (2011)
   by Terry Brooks
   Published in 2011, The Measure of the Magic is listed as book #2 in the Legends Of Shannara series.

Publication Order of Dark Legacy Of Shannara Books

1. 

   Wards of Faerie (2012)
   by Terry Brooks
   Wards of Faerie was published in 2012 and is listed as book #1 in the Dark Legacy Of Shannara series.
2. 

   Bloodfire Quest (2012)
   by Terry Brooks
   Published in 2012, Bloodfire Quest is listed as book #2 in the Dark Legacy Of Shannara series.
3. 

   Witch Wraith (2013)
   by Terry Brooks
   Witch Wraith is a 2013 release and appears as book #3 in the Dark Legacy Of Shannara series.

Publication Order of Paladins Of Shannara Books

1. 

   Allanon’s Quest (2012)
   by Terry Brooks
   Allanon’s Quest was published in 2012 and is listed as book #1 in the Paladins Of Shannara series.
2. 

   The Weapons Master’s Choice (2013)
   by Terry Brooks
   Published in 2013, The Weapons Master’s Choice is listed as book #2 in the Paladins Of Shannara series.
3. 

   The Black Irix (2013)
   by Terry Brooks
   The Black Irix is a 2013 release and appears as book #3 in the Paladins Of Shannara series.

Publication Order of Defenders Of Shannara Books

1. 

   The High Druid’s Blade (2014)
   by Terry Brooks
   The High Druid’s Blade was published in 2014 and is listed as book #1 in the Defenders Of Shannara series.
2. 

   The Darkling Child (2015)
   by Terry Brooks
   Published in 2015, The Darkling Child is listed as book #2 in the Defenders Of Shannara series.
3. 

   The Sorcerer’s Daughter (2016)
   by Terry Brooks
   The Sorcerer’s Daughter is a 2016 release and appears as book #3 in the Defenders Of Shannara series.

Publication Order of Fall Of Shannara Books

1. 

   The Black Elfstone (2017)
   by Terry Brooks
   The Black Elfstone was published in 2017 and is listed as book #1 in the Fall Of Shannara series.
2. 

   The Skaar Invasion (2018)
   by Terry Brooks
   Published in 2018, The Skaar Invasion is listed as book #2 in the Fall Of Shannara series.
3. 

   The Stiehl Assassin (2019)
   by Terry Brooks
   The Stiehl Assassin is a 2019 release and appears as book #3 in the Fall Of Shannara series.
4. 

   The Last Druid (2020)
   by Terry Brooks
   In the Fall Of Shannara series, The Last Druid is book #4 and was published in 2020.

Publication Order of Shannara Graphic Novels Books

1. 

   Dark Wraith of Shannara (2008)
   by Terry Brooks
   Dark Wraith of Shannara was published in 2008 and is listed as book #1 in the Shannara Graphic Novels series.

Publication Order of Shannara Companion Books

1. 

   The World of Shannara (2011)
   by Terry Brooks
   The World of Shannara was published in 2011 and is listed as book #1 in the Shannara Companion series.

Publication Order of The First Druids of Shannara Books

1. 

   Galaphile (2025)
   by Terry Brooks
   Galaphile was published in 2025 and is listed as book #1 in the The First Druids of Shannara series.
2. 

   Brona (2026)
   by Terry Brooks
   Published in 2026, Brona is listed as book #2 in the The First Druids of Shannara series.

About Original Shannara

Terry Brooks’s Shannara series is a vast, multigenerational fantasy saga set in the Four Lands, a world of Elves, humans, Dwarves, Trolls, magic, and ruined technologies. Although its landscapes initially resemble those of traditional epic fantasy, the setting is actually Earth thousands of years after the Great Wars destroyed modern civilization. The tension between inherited magic and rediscovered science becomes increasingly important as successive generations confront threats created by both.

The Sword of Shannara introduced the world in 1977 through Shea Ohmsford, a young man whose bloodline connects him to the ancient Elven house of Shannara. Guided by the enigmatic Druid Allanon, Shea becomes central to the struggle against the Warlock Lord. The original trilogy continues with later members of the Ohmsford family, establishing the pattern Brooks would use throughout the saga: long intervals separate many subseries, allowing descendants to inherit magical abilities, family obligations, and consequences left unresolved by earlier heroes.

The Four Lands possess their own continuing history rather than resetting for each adventure. Kingdoms rise and weaken, races disappear and return, political institutions change, and technology gradually re-enters societies that often distrust it. The Druids of Paranor attempt to preserve knowledge and guide civilization, but they are not consistently united or benevolent. Figures such as Allanon, Bremen, Walker Boh, Grianne Ohmsford, and later Druids demonstrate how easily guardianship can become secrecy, manipulation, or authoritarian control.

The Heritage of Shannara quartet greatly expanded the original framework, following several descendants on interconnected missions involving vanished peoples, forbidden magic, and the restoration of a damaged world. Later sequences widened the geography and mythology. The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara introduced airship exploration and ancient technological horrors, while High Druid of Shannara examined the political struggles surrounding Paranor and the dangerous realm known as the Forbidding.

Dark Legacy of Shannara returned to the consequences of weakened magic and the Ellcrys, the sacred tree holding imprisoned demons behind the Forbidding. Defenders of Shannara used three comparatively self-contained adventures to explore new heroes and conflicts within the established world. The Fall of Shannara quartet then brought many longstanding tensions to a major culmination as the Druids, Elves, Federation, and invading Skaar struggled over the future of the Four Lands.

Shannara’s history extends far beyond the novels set after Shea’s lifetime. First King of Shannara provides essential background on Bremen, the young Allanon, and the earlier struggle against Brona. The Word and the Void, Genesis of Shannara, and Legends of Shannara sequences trace the transformation of recognizable modern America into the post-apocalyptic world from which the Four Lands eventually emerge. They explain the Great Wars, the survival of magic, and the origins of several peoples and institutions found in the main saga.

The First Druids of Shannara moves to another formative period. Beginning with Galaphile, it explores the creation of the Druid order and the effort to gather knowledge after the destruction of the Old World. Brona, written with Delilah S. Dawson and scheduled for publication in August 2026, continues that early history.

Publication order remains the most natural approach for first-time readers because major revelations about Shannara’s true past were designed to unfold gradually. Chronological reading creates a continuous historical narrative, but it reveals connections long before Brooks originally intended. Short stories, companion volumes, and the graphic novel Dark Wraith of Shannara enrich the world without being necessary to understand the principal saga.

Across its many eras, Shannara is ultimately concerned with inheritance. Magic, knowledge, trauma, courage, and political mistakes pass from one generation to another, leaving each new group of heroes to decide which traditions deserve preservation and which must finally be broken.