Tamora Pierce is one of the defining authors of modern young adult fantasy, particularly known for creating young female heroes who challenge the rules of the societies around them. Her books are filled with magic, knights, gods, political conflicts, friendship, and characters learning how to use power responsibly.

Her bibliography can look complicated at first because she has created two major interconnected fantasy worlds. Tortall contains Alanna, Daine, Keladry, Aly, Beka Cooper, and Numair, while the Circle Universe follows Sandry, Tris, Daja, Briar, and other young mages in Emelan. Pierce’s own bibliography organizes the books by universe and publication sequence rather than by the chronological timeline of each world.

Tamora Pierce Books by Series

That gives readers 29 main novels across the two fantasy universes, excluding short stories, reference books, anthologies, and comic adaptations. Pierce’s official bibliography separately lists Tortall and Other Lands and Tortall: A Spy’s Guide, along with her short stories and comics.

The Tortall Universe Books in Order

The Tortall books span several generations and different protagonists. The five completed main series are The Song of the Lioness, The Immortals, The Protector of the Small, Tricksters, and Beka Cooper, while The Numair Chronicles currently has one published novel.

The Song of the Lioness Books in Order

The Song of the Lioness is where Tamora Pierce’s Tortall saga begins in publication order. The four-book series follows Alanna of Trebond, a girl determined to become a knight in a society that does not allow girls to train for knighthood.

1. Alanna: The First Adventure (1983)

Alanna of Trebond has always wanted the life traditionally reserved for boys: adventure, combat, and knighthood. Her twin brother Thom wants to become a mage, so the two secretly exchange identities, sending Alanna to the royal court to train as a page while Thom studies magic.

The novel establishes many of the ideas that become central to Pierce’s work, including gender expectations, friendship, magical ability, and the question of whether a young person should accept the role society has assigned to them.

2. In the Hand of the Goddess (1984)

Alanna is now progressing through her training as a squire while continuing to hide her true identity. Her relationships with Prince Jonathan, George Cooper, and the people around her become increasingly complicated as her abilities and responsibilities grow.

The goddess who watches over Alanna also becomes increasingly important, pushing the young knight toward a destiny much larger than simply proving that girls can become knights.

3. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man (1986)

After becoming a knight, Alanna leaves Tortall and travels into the desert, where she encounters a very different culture and is forced to confront questions about leadership, magic, and independence.

Her journey also introduces new magical apprentices and challenges her assumptions about what being a powerful woman actually means.

4. Lioness Rampant (1988)

Alanna has achieved the dream that began her journey, but becoming a knight has not made her life simpler. When Tortall faces a powerful threat, she must return to the center of events and seek the Dominion Jewel, a legendary artifact capable of tremendous good or destruction.

The fourth novel brings Alanna’s original story to its major conclusion and completes her transformation from a girl secretly training as a page into one of Tortall’s legendary heroes.

The Immortals Books in Order

The Immortals quartet introduces Daine, another major heroine in the Tortall universe. It takes place after the events of The Song of the Lioness and expands Pierce’s fantasy world by exploring wild magic, magical creatures, gods, and the relationship between humans and the natural world.

1. Wild Magic (1992)

Daine is an orphan who has developed an unusual ability to communicate with animals. After tragedy leaves her alone, she eventually discovers that her strange talent is connected to a much greater form of magic.

Her powers attract the attention of powerful people in Tortall, bringing her into a world of war, magical creatures, and dangers she is barely prepared to understand.

2. Wolf-Speaker (1994)

Daine continues developing her wild magic and becomes increasingly connected to the animals and natural world around her. When she encounters environmental destruction and political conflict, her abilities become essential to protecting both people and creatures.

The book deepens the series’ exploration of nature and establishes Daine as a very different kind of hero from Alanna.

3. Emperor Mage (1995)

Daine travels to the Carthaki Empire, where she becomes involved in imperial politics and encounters a culture very different from Tortall. Her unusual magical abilities once again attract attention, and she must decide how much power she is willing to use.

The story significantly expands the political and geographical scope of the Tortall world.

4. The Realms of the Gods (1996)

The conflict reaches its largest scale when Daine and her allies are pulled into a struggle involving the divine realms themselves. Her relationship with wild magic becomes crucial as the characters fight for survival.

The novel concludes Daine’s four-book arc while also strengthening the connections between the magical, human, and divine sides of Tortall.

The Protector of the Small Books in Order

The Protector of the Small follows Keladry of Mindelan, a girl who enters formal knight training after Alanna has already demonstrated that women can become knights. Instead of hiding her identity, Kel openly insists on her right to train, making her journey very different from Alanna’s.

1. First Test (1999)

Keladry becomes the first girl to openly enter Tortall’s traditional knight training after the rules change to permit female candidates. Her decision immediately puts her under intense scrutiny from teachers, fellow pages, and students who do not believe girls belong in the program.

Kel’s greatest strength is not simply combat ability. Her stubborn sense of fairness and willingness to protect vulnerable people quickly become defining parts of her character.

2. Page (2000)

Kel continues her training while dealing with bullying, demanding teachers, and the pressure of being the first girl to remain in the program. Her responsibilities increasingly extend beyond simply surviving her lessons.

The book shows Kel developing into a leader whose greatest advantage is her refusal to abandon people who need help.

3. Squire (2001)

Kel becomes a squire under the legendary knight Lord Raoul. Her training becomes more serious as she prepares for the Ordeal that every future knight must face.

At the same time, the threat of war and magical creatures makes her training more than an academic exercise. Her choices begin to have consequences for the kingdom itself.

4. Lady Knight (2002)

Kel finally becomes a knight and enters a war that tests everything she has learned. Her concern for ordinary people becomes as important as her skill with weapons.

The final book completes Kel’s journey from determined page to full knight while bringing the Protector of the Small storyline to a satisfying conclusion.

Tricksters Books in Order

The two Tricksters novels move the story to the Copper Isles and follow Alianne, the daughter of Alanna and George Cooper. Instead of becoming a knight like her famous mother, Aly wants to become a spy like her father.

1. Trickster’s Choice (2003)

Alianne is a teenager who has grown up surrounded by people with extraordinary reputations, but she wants to follow a very different path. After running away from home, she is captured and sold into slavery on the Copper Isles.

There she becomes entangled in local politics, competing cultures, and a prophecy involving the future of the islands. Her skills as a spy begin developing in circumstances she never expected.

2. Trickster’s Queen (2004)

Aly’s situation changes dramatically as she becomes involved with an underground rebellion against the rulers of the Copper Isles. The prophecy surrounding a future queen becomes increasingly difficult to ignore.

The novel expands Aly’s role from reluctant spy to an important participant in a political revolution and concludes the two-book Tricksters storyline.

Beka Cooper Books in Order

The Beka Cooper trilogy travels much further back in Tortall’s history. Beka is an ancestor of George Cooper and works for the Provost’s Guard rather than training to become a knight.

Because these books take place centuries before Alanna’s story, they are prequels to most of the Tortall books. They are also considerably more mystery-oriented, focusing on crime, investigations, street life, and the justice system.

1. Terrier (2006)

Beka Cooper is a rookie member of the Provost’s Guard working in the rougher parts of Tortall’s capital. Her unusual ability to communicate with the dead gives her access to information other guards cannot obtain.

As Beka investigates criminal activity, she discovers that her new career will require much more courage than simply knowing how to use a sword.

2. Bloodhound (2009)

Beka is now a more experienced investigator and becomes involved in a case involving counterfeit coins. What initially looks like an ordinary criminal investigation develops into a much larger conspiracy.

The book combines detective fiction with Tortall’s magical elements and shows how Beka’s instincts and supernatural abilities work together.

3. Mastiff (2011)

Beka becomes involved in the investigation of a kidnapping involving a member of the royal family. The case takes her far beyond the streets she knows and puts her against powerful enemies.

The trilogy concludes with Beka operating at the highest level of the Provost’s Guard while revealing more about the foundations of the law-enforcement traditions seen in later Tortall stories.

The Numair Chronicles

The Numair Chronicles is a prequel series centered on Arram Draper, the young mage who eventually becomes the powerful wizard Numair Salmalín known to readers of the Tortall books.

Only one novel has been published so far.

1. Tempests and Slaughter (2018)

Arram Draper is a young student at the Imperial University of Carthak, where he studies magic alongside Varice and the future emperor Ozorne. The three become closely connected as they grow up inside a world filled with magical talent, political ambition, and dangerous choices.

The novel gives readers the early history of a character who had previously been seen mainly through the eyes of other Tortall protagonists. It is therefore especially rewarding for readers who already know Numair from The Immortals.

Tortall Companion Books

These aren’t essential novels, but they are useful for readers who want to go deeper into the world.

Tortall and Other Lands: A Collection of Tales (2011)

This collection brings together short stories connected to Tortall as well as other stories by Pierce. Several of the pieces provide additional perspectives on characters and events that are only briefly mentioned in the novels.

The author’s bibliography identifies stories including “Elder Brother,” “Student of Ostriches,” “Huntress,” “Mimic,” “Lost,” and “Nawat” among the material associated with the collection.

Tortall: A Spy’s Guide (2017)

Tortall: A Spy’s Guide is presented as a collection of documents and information from the world of Tortall rather than another conventional novel. It is particularly useful for readers who want additional world-building and background on the kingdom’s people, politics, and secret networks.

The Circle Universe Books in Order

The Circle Universe is separate from Tortall. It is set in Emelan and follows four young mages whose abilities complement one another: Sandry, Tris, Daja, and Briar.

The three connected sequences are Circle of Magic, The Circle Opens, and Circle Reforged. Pierce’s official bibliography lists them as separate series within the same universe.

Circle of Magic Books in Order

1. Sandry’s Book (1997)

Sandry is brought to Winding Circle Temple after discovering her ability to work magic through thread and weaving. There she meets three other children whose magical talents are completely different from hers.

The four children are initially strangers, but their unusual abilities and difficult personal histories gradually turn them into a tightly connected magical family.

2. Tris’s Book (1998)

Tris has an extraordinary connection to weather, but her personality and temper make life at Winding Circle difficult. When an earthquake damages the community and the threat of pirates grows, her abilities become essential.

The book also explores Tris’s complicated relationship with her family and the emotional cost of being treated as an outsider.

3. Daja’s Book (1998)

Daja, a Trader with powerful metalworking magic, travels with her friends to an area suffering from severe drought. Her magic allows her to create something extraordinary from living metal.

The journey also forces Daja to confront her complicated relationship with the Trader community that once rejected her.

4. Briar’s Book (1999)

Briar has a natural gift for plant magic and has moved far from his earlier life as a street thief. When disease threatens children in the community, his plant magic becomes connected to an urgent search for a cure.

The novel brings the original quartet’s first major sequence to a close while emphasizing Briar’s growth from a troubled street kid into a responsible young mage.

The Circle Opens Books in Order

The Circle Opens follows the four young mages after their initial training. Instead of keeping them together at Winding Circle, the books allow each character to travel and work with a different teacher and community.

1. Magic Steps (2000)

Sandry travels away from Winding Circle and becomes involved with a young dancer whose abilities reveal a new kind of magical talent. The story gives Sandry a chance to act independently after the events of the original quartet.

It also expands the Circle world by showing that magical ability can appear in unexpected forms.

2. Street Magic (2001)

Briar travels to the city and encounters a young girl whose plant magic is connected to the urban environment. His experience as a former street child makes him particularly suited to understanding her situation.

The book combines Briar’s developing magical skills with a story about poverty, loyalty, and finding a place where you belong.

3. Cold Fire (2002)

Tris travels to a volcanic region where she meets a young fire mage and becomes involved in a dangerous magical situation. Her own relationship with elemental power becomes more complicated as she learns how different magical traditions can be.

The book gives Tris one of the most intense magical challenges in the Circle universe.

4. Shatterglass (2003)

Daja meets a young glassblower whose magical talent is unusually dangerous. As she teaches and protects him, Daja must confront questions about power, responsibility, and the consequences of magical mistakes.

The novel completes the individual apprenticeships of the original four Circle mages before the story moves into the next phase of their lives.

Circle Reforged Books in Order

Circle Reforged returns to the original four mages as they become older and more experienced. These books have a wider scope than the first two Circle series and place the characters in increasingly complex political and magical situations.

1. The Will of the Empress (2005)

Sandry, Tris, Daja, and Briar reunite after spending years developing their own abilities. Their reunion is not as easy as they expected, because each has changed significantly since their childhood together.

The story explores friendship after separation and introduces a political conflict that forces the four to reconsider what their magical bond means.

2. Melting Stones (2007)

Melting Stones follows Evvy, a younger mage who has connections to the original Circle characters. She travels to an island where mysterious sickness and environmental problems suggest that something is seriously wrong.

The novel expands the Circle universe beyond the original four protagonists while keeping their magical tradition at its center.

3. Battle Magic (2013)

Battle Magic returns to Briar, Rosethorn, and Evvy during a period of war. Briar’s plant magic becomes directly connected to military conflict, forcing him to confront the difference between healing and destruction.

The book is darker in tone than the earliest Circle novels and provides important background for events referenced elsewhere in the Emelan universe.

Tamora Pierce Books in Publication Order

If you want to follow Pierce’s career rather than one universe at a time, the major novels were published in this order:

1. Alanna: The First Adventure (1983)
2. In the Hand of the Goddess (1984)
3. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man (1986)
4. Lioness Rampant (1988)
5. Wild Magic (1992)
6. Wolf-Speaker (1994)
7. Emperor Mage (1995)
8. The Realms of the Gods (1996)
9. Sandry’s Book (1997)
10. Tris’s Book (1998)
11. Daja’s Book (1998)
12. First Test (1999)
13. Briar’s Book (1999)
14. Magic Steps (2000)
15. Page (2000)
16. Street Magic (2001)
17. Squire (2001)
18. Cold Fire (2002)
19. Lady Knight (2002)
20. Trickster’s Choice (2003)
21. Shatterglass (2003)
22. Trickster’s Queen (2004)
23. The Will of the Empress (2005)
24. Terrier (2006)
25. Melting Stones (2007)
26. Bloodhound (2009)
27. Mastiff (2011)
28. Battle Magic (2013)
29. Tempests and Slaughter (2018)

This reflects the publication sequence of the main novels. Pierce’s own bibliography explicitly says its books are organized by universe and series publication order, rather than by the chronological order in which the stories happen.

Tamora Pierce’s Tortall Books in Chronological Order

This is where the reading order becomes more interesting.

If you want to experience Tortall according to the historical timeline, rather than publication date, start much earlier than Alanna. Beka Cooper lived generations before Alanna, while Tempests and Slaughter takes place during the youth of Numair.

A simplified chronological path is:

1. Terrier
2. Bloodhound
3. Mastiff
4. Tempests and Slaughter
5. Alanna: The First Adventure
6. In the Hand of the Goddess
7. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man
8. Lioness Rampant
9. Wild Magic
10. Wolf-Speaker
11. Emperor Mage
12. The Realms of the Gods
13. First Test
14. Page
15. Squire
16. Lady Knight
17. Trickster’s Choice
18. Trickster’s Queen

However, this is not the order I recommend for a first-time reader. The Beka Cooper books were written decades after the original Tortall stories and assume a reader’s interest in the world that eventually develops into the later kingdom. Likewise, Tempests and Slaughter works better once you already know Numair from The Immortals.

What Is the Best Way to Start Tamora Pierce?

For a first-time reader, start with The Song of the Lioness:

1. Alanna: The First Adventure
2. In the Hand of the Goddess
3. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man
4. Lioness Rampant

This is the original entry point into Tortall and introduces the kingdom, magic system, gods, political structure, and several characters who become important throughout the later books. Pierce’s official site describes the quartet as the story of Alanna’s making as a hero.

After that, a strong Tortall reading path is:

The Song of the Lioness → The Immortals → The Protector of the Small → Tricksters → Beka Cooper → Tempests and Slaughter

The Beka books can be moved earlier if you specifically prefer historical fantasy and detective stories, but they are not the best introduction to the world.

Should You Read the Tortall Books in Order?

Yes, but there are two different meanings of “in order.”

Within each series: absolutely read them in order. The character development and continuing storylines are designed around the sequence.

Across the entire Tortall universe: you have more freedom. Pierce’s individual quartets can be approached independently, although later books contain characters, history, and references that become more meaningful if you already know the earlier series.

The author’s own bibliography lists the Tortall series by publication sequence, while the universe itself covers multiple generations.

Tortall vs. Circle: Which Should You Read First?

The two universes are completely separate, so you do not need to read Tortall before Circle of Magic.

Choose Tortall if you want:

• Knights and royal courts
• Female warriors
• Political intrigue
• Gods and magical creatures
• Larger battles and kingdom-wide conflicts
• Long-running character development

Choose Circle of Magic if you prefer:

• A found-family story
• Young mages learning their abilities
• Elemental and craft-based magic
• Smaller communities and personal conflicts
• A more ensemble-driven story

The Circle books begin with four children brought together at Winding Circle, each possessing a different type of ambient magic.

The Importance of Female Heroes in Tamora Pierce’s Books

One of the most distinctive elements of Pierce’s work is the way her fantasy stories treat young women as active participants in traditionally male roles.

Alanna disguises herself as a boy because girls are forbidden from becoming knights. Keladry enters knight training openly after the rules change. Aly becomes a spy rather than a knight, while Daine develops a magical relationship with animals and the natural world.

These aren’t simply stories where a female character is placed into a conventional male hero’s role. Each protagonist has a different personality, skill set, and definition of strength. That variety is a major reason the Tortall books have remained influential in young adult fantasy.

Tamora Pierce’s Real-World Influence 

Pierce’s work has a strong connection to her own long-standing interest in fantasy and young readers. She developed the original Alanna story while studying at the University of Pennsylvania, and Alanna: The First Adventure became the starting point for a much larger fantasy universe.

Her official bibliography provides unusually useful primary-source information for readers researching the books because it distinguishes the two universes, identifies individual series, gives original publication years, and records associated short stories and adaptations.

Alanna: The First Adventure has also received significant recognition over the years. Pierce’s official site notes that the novel was included among Unbound Worlds’ 100 Best Fantasy Novels of All Time, describing Alanna as one of Pierce’s most compelling protagonists.

Tamora Pierce’s Short Stories and Other Works

Pierce has written numerous short stories connected to Tortall and other settings. Many of the Tortall stories were collected in Tortall and Other Lands: A Collection of Tales.

The author’s bibliography identifies stories such as “Elder Brother,” “Student of Ostriches,” “Huntress,” “Time of Proving,” “Mimic,” “Lost,” and “Nawat.” Some originally appeared in separate anthologies or magazines before being collected.

She has also contributed to comics, including White Tiger: A Hero’s Compulsion with Timothy Liebe and a Legends of Red Sonja story. These should not be counted as additional Tortall or Circle novels.

Tamora Pierce Graphic Novel Adaptations

Several of Pierce’s novels have also been adapted into graphic novels. These are adaptations of existing stories, not additional novels in the main reading order.

The Song of the Lioness graphic novel adaptation of Alanna: The First Adventure was published in 2025, while First Test has also received a graphic novel adaptation. These can be treated as alternative ways to experience the original stories rather than new entries in Pierce’s novel bibliography.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first Tamora Pierce book?

Alanna: The First Adventure, published in 1983, is Tamora Pierce’s first published novel and the first book in The Song of the Lioness. It also begins the Tortall Universe in publication order.

How many Tamora Pierce books are there?

The number depends on what you count. There are 29 main novels across the Tortall and Circle universes, while a broader bibliography also includes companion books, short stories, anthologies, graphic novels, and other contributions. Pierce’s own bibliography is the best source for separating these categories.

What is the best Tamora Pierce series to start with?

For most new readers, The Song of the Lioness is the best starting point. Begin with Alanna: The First Adventure and continue through the four-book quartet.

Do I need to read The Song of the Lioness before The Immortals?

It is strongly recommended, although not absolutely required. The Immortals introduces a new protagonist, Daine, but takes place in the same Tortall world and benefits from the foundation established by Alanna’s story.

Are Circle of Magic and Tortall connected?

No. They are separate fantasy universes. Tortall is the setting for Alanna, Daine, Keladry, Aly, Beka, and Numair, while the Circle books take place in Emelan and follow Sandry, Tris, Daja, Briar, and other mages.

What order should I read the Circle of Magic books?

Start with Sandry’s Book, followed by Tris’s Book, Daja’s Book, and Briar’s Book. Then continue with The Circle Opens and finally Circle Reforged. The author’s bibliography lists these three groups in exactly that sequence.

Should I read Beka Cooper before Alanna?

Not for a first read. Beka Cooper’s trilogy takes place much earlier in Tortall’s history, but it was published more than two decades after Alanna: The First Adventure. Reading Alanna first gives you a better introduction to the world before going back into its history.

Is Tempests and Slaughter a prequel?

Yes. Tempests and Slaughter is the first published book in The Numair Chronicles and follows Arram Draper when he is a young student mage. It takes place long before the main events of The Immortals.

Is there a sequel to Tempests and Slaughter?

As of October 2026, Tempests and Slaughter remains the only published novel in The Numair Chronicles. The author’s current website continues to identify it as Book One, so it should not be followed by an unpublished title in a reading-order list.

What is the difference between publication order and chronological order?

Publication order follows when Tamora Pierce released the books. Chronological order follows when the events occur inside the fictional world. This distinction matters especially in Tortall because Beka Cooper’s books and Tempests and Slaughter are prequels written long after the original Alanna books.

Final Verdict

If you are completely new to Tamora Pierce, start with Alanna: The First Adventure. The four Song of the Lioness books provide the foundation for Tortall and introduce the world that later expands through Daine, Kel, Aly, Beka, and Numair.

For the complete Tortall experience, continue with The Immortals, The Protector of the Small, and Tricksters, then explore the historical Beka Cooper trilogy and Tempests and Slaughter. If you want a completely different fantasy world, start a separate journey with Sandry’s Book, the first Circle of Magic novel.

The key is not to treat all of Tamora Pierce’s books as one enormous chronological list. Her bibliography is much easier to understand as two major universes, several interconnected series, and a handful of companion and short-story collections.

Written by

Emon Anam

Hi, I’m Emon. I’m the voice and heart behind Whimsy Read. After nine years in the world of banking, I followed my passion for storytelling into the world of SEO and content strategy. Now, I blend that analytical eye with a deep love for literature to bring you book reviews that are thoughtful, honest, and always focused on the stories that stay with you. When I’m not reading or writing, you’ll find me enjoying joyful chaos with my wife and three kids, getting lost in a new series, or revisiting my old loves: theater, music, and gaming. At the end of the day, I believe great books are meant to be shared, and I’m so glad you’re here to share them with me.