Judith Tarr writes fantasy and historical fiction shaped by ancient history, medieval Europe, mythology, religion, magic, and horses. Her bibliography includes several genuine series, several historical novels that are sometimes grouped together despite being independent, and additional books published under the names Caitlin Brennan and Kathleen Bryan.
The main reading-order question is not simply which book was published first.
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Some of Tarr’s worlds overlap. The Alamut duology, for example, takes place in the same continuity as The Hound and the Falcon but earlier in its internal history. The six Avaryan novels form another substantial fantasy sequence. Epona follows a prehistoric world across four novels.
Other apparent “series” are much looser. The Three Queens books are historical novels about different periods and characters, so they do not require sequential reading.
Choose Your Judith Tarr Starting Point
There are four especially useful entry routes.
For medieval historical fantasy:
- The Isle of Glass
For a long secondary-world fantasy sequence:
- The Hall of the Mountain King
For prehistoric historical fiction:
- White Mare’s Daughter
For ancient-world historical fantasy:
- Lord of the Two Lands
Readers who specifically want Tarr’s shared medieval Elf continuity have a separate choice. Publication order begins with The Isle of Glass, while internal chronology begins with Alamut.
For a first read, publication order is preferable.
The Hound and the Falcon Books in Order
The Hound and the Falcon trilogy is:
- The Isle of Glass (1985)
- The Golden Horn (1985)
- The Hounds of God (1986)
Included. Direct trilogy.
These books follow Alfred, usually called Alf, an Elf who has grown up as a Christian monk without fully understanding his own nature.
The trilogy blends fantasy with medieval history, eventually moving through England, Constantinople, and other parts of the medieval Christian world.
This is Tarr’s first published novel sequence and remains one of the easiest introductions to her fiction.
The Isle of Glass
Start here if you are using publication order.
The novel introduces Alf, his religious identity, his supernatural heritage, and the tension between the mortal and immortal worlds.
Later books build directly on his development.
The Golden Horn
Read second.
The story moves toward Constantinople during the era of the Fourth Crusade and continues characters and relationships established in The Isle of Glass.
It should not be treated as an independent historical fantasy simply because its geographical focus changes.
The Hounds of God
Read third.
This completes the main Hound and Falcon trilogy.
Character developments from the first two novels matter substantially, so there is no good reason to rearrange the three books.
The Hound and the Falcon Omnibus
The Hound and the Falcon is also the title of an omnibus containing:
- The Isle of Glass
- The Golden Horn
- The Hounds of God
Do not count the omnibus as Book 4.
If you own the collected edition, you already have the complete trilogy.
Alamut Books in Order
The Alamut sequence consists of:
- Alamut (1989)
- The Dagger and the Cross (1991)
Included. Same continuity as The Hound and the Falcon.
These novels take place earlier than the Hound and Falcon trilogy and focus heavily on Prince Aidan of Rhiyana.
The setting includes the Crusader states, Saladin’s era, and the Assassins of Alamut.
How Does Alamut Connect to The Hound and the Falcon?
The connection is genuine rather than thematic.
Characters and the kingdom of Rhiyana link the two sequences, and the Alamut books occur before Alf’s main story.
That creates two sensible reading orders.
Publication Order
- The Isle of Glass
- The Golden Horn
- The Hounds of God
- Alamut
- The Dagger and the Cross
Recommended for first-time readers.
This preserves the order in which Tarr introduced the world.
Chronological Order
- Alamut
- The Dagger and the Cross
- The Isle of Glass
- The Golden Horn
- The Hounds of God
Best for a reread.
Chronological order follows the fictional history more neatly, but it changes how some places and characters are first encountered.
Publication order gives the stronger first experience.
Death and the Lady
“Death and the Lady” is a short work associated with the Hound and Falcon world.
Optional.
It should not be treated as a fourth full-length novel.
Readers interested in every piece of the continuity can add it after they know the principal trilogy and Alamut material.
Avaryan Books in Order
The Avaryan Chronicles contain six novels:
- The Hall of the Mountain King (1986)
- The Lady of Han-Gilen (1987)
- A Fall of Princes (1988)
- Arrows of the Sun (1993)
- Spear of Heaven (1994)
- Tides of Darkness (2002)
Included. Continuing fantasy series.
This sequence is completely separate from the medieval world of Alf and Rhiyana.
It is Tarr’s major secondary-world fantasy saga and should be read in publication order.
The Hall of the Mountain King
Book 1 establishes the empire of Avaryan and begins the central dynastic and political story.
Start here.
The later novels assume familiarity with the royal family, relationships, magical structures, and conflicts introduced in this book.
The Lady of Han-Gilen
Book 2 continues directly from the political and personal circumstances of The Hall of the Mountain King.
Read it second.
A Fall of Princes
Book 3 completes the first major movement of the Avaryan story.
The first three books were later collected together as Avaryan Rising.
Arrows of the Sun
Book 4 begins the second major group of Avaryan novels.
It should still be read after A Fall of Princes. The shift in emphasis does not make it a separate starting trilogy.
Spear of Heaven
Book 5 continues the later Avaryan story.
Read after Arrows of the Sun.
Tides of Darkness
Book 6 appeared in 2002 after a substantial publication gap.
That gap does not indicate a reboot.
Tides of Darkness is the sixth Avaryan novel and follows the five earlier volumes.
Avaryan Omnibus Editions
Two omnibus titles can make the series appear shorter than it really is.
Avaryan Rising
Avaryan Rising collects:
- The Hall of the Mountain King
- The Lady of Han-Gilen
- A Fall of Princes
Avaryan Resplendent
Avaryan Resplendent collects:
- Arrows of the Sun
- Spear of Heaven
- Tides of Darkness
Readers can therefore complete the six-book sequence with two omnibus volumes.
Do not count the omnibus titles as Books 7 and 8.
Best Avaryan Reading Order
There is no meaningful alternative to publication order:
- The Hall of the Mountain King
- The Lady of Han-Gilen
- A Fall of Princes
- Arrows of the Sun
- Spear of Heaven
- Tides of Darkness
This sequence preserves both the family history and the gradual expansion of Tarr’s world.
Epona Books in Order
Tarr’s Epona sequence consists of:
- White Mare’s Daughter (1998)
- The Shepherd Kings (1999)
- Lady of Horses (2000)
- Daughter of Lir (2001)
Included. Related prehistoric historical novels.
The books are set in prehistoric Europe and explore changing cultures, religious systems, migration, conflict, and societies in which horses become increasingly important.
The Epona books are more loosely connected than a single-protagonist fantasy quartet, but publication order gives the intended progression.
White Mare’s Daughter
Begin with White Mare’s Daughter.
It establishes the prehistoric society and the cultural framework from which the later Epona novels develop.
The Shepherd Kings
Read second.
The setting and historical development move forward, broadening the conflict between different cultures.
Lady of Horses
Read third.
This book gives horses an increasingly important position within the developing society.
It is sometimes incorrectly listed as Epona Book 1 in retailer metadata. In Tarr’s normal Epona sequence, White Mare’s Daughter comes first.
Daughter of Lir
Read fourth.
This is the final published Epona novel.
For a complete Epona project, keep all four books in publication order.
Devil’s Bargain Books in Order
The Devil’s Bargain duology is:
- Devil’s Bargain (2002)
- House of War (2003)
Included. Direct duology.
These novels take place around Richard the Lionheart, the Crusades, and a supernatural conflict involving Sioned.
Devil’s Bargain
Begin here.
The story establishes its alternate supernatural version of Richard’s world and the dangerous bargain surrounding his military fortunes.
House of War
Read second.
It returns to Sioned, Richard, and the supernatural conflict established in the first novel.
This is a genuine sequel, not merely another Crusades-era book.
William the Conqueror Books in Order
Tarr’s William the Conqueror sequence contains:
- Rite of Conquest (2004)
- King’s Blood (2005)
Included. Connected historical fantasy duology.
Rite of Conquest
Start here.
The novel reimagines William’s rise and the Norman Conquest through a historical fantasy framework involving older magical forces.
King’s Blood
Read second.
The story moves beyond William himself into the reign of his son William II, known as William Rufus or Red William.
Its historical chronology and magical conflict both depend on the first novel.
The Alexander the Great Novels
Several Tarr novels concern Alexander the Great or people close to him.
The clearest related group is:
- Lord of the Two Lands (1993)
- Queen of the Amazons (2004)
- Bring Down the Sun (2008)
However, these should not be approached like three consecutive volumes about one protagonist.
They are separate historical fantasies that revisit Alexander and his world from different perspectives.
Lord of the Two Lands
This novel follows the Egyptian priestess Meriamon during Alexander’s conquest of Egypt.
It can be read completely independently.
Queen of the Amazons
This later novel draws on the legend that an Amazon queen encountered Alexander.
It returns to Alexander’s historical world but tells a separate story.
Bring Down the Sun
This novel centers on Olympias, Alexander’s mother.
Chronologically, much of its story comes earlier because it deals with the forces surrounding Alexander’s origins and rise.
Recommended Alexander Reading Order
For first-time readers:
- Lord of the Two Lands
- Queen of the Amazons
- Bring Down the Sun
This is publication-oriented and lets Tarr’s treatment of Alexander develop naturally.
Do not describe these books as a tightly plotted trilogy.
Related historical fantasies, but independently readable.
The Three Queens Books
Some modern editions and catalogs group these novels as The Three Queens:
- Throne of Isis (1994)
- The Eagle’s Daughter (1995)
- Queen of Swords (1997)
That label needs qualification.
These books are not one continuous story.
They concern different women, periods, and political worlds.
Throne of Isis
This novel concerns Cleopatra and Mark Antony.
Standalone.
The Eagle’s Daughter
This novel moves to medieval European politics.
Standalone.
Queen of Swords
Another historical novel with a different central story.
Standalone.
Do the Three Queens Books Need to Be Read in Order?
No.
Their grouping is thematic rather than a sequence requiring continuity.
Publication order is convenient:
- Throne of Isis
- The Eagle’s Daughter
- Queen of Swords
But a reader interested in one historical period can safely choose only that book.
This is an important distinction because a retailer’s series label can imply a direct continuity that the stories do not actually require.
A Wind in Cairo
- A Wind in Cairo (1989)
Standalone historical fantasy.
This novel draws on medieval Cairo and supernatural transformation.
It is not an Alamut prequel despite sharing a broad interest in the medieval Islamic world.
No Hound and Falcon reading is required.
Ars Magica
- Ars Magica (1989)
Standalone.
This medieval fantasy does not belong to the Hound and Falcon continuity.
Read it independently.
His Majesty’s Elephant
- His Majesty’s Elephant (1993)
Standalone.
This historical fantasy for younger readers involves Charlemagne and an elephant sent to his court.
It does not begin a Charlemagne series.
Pillar of Fire
- Pillar of Fire (1995)
Standalone historical novel.
Set in ancient Egypt.
It is not part of Epona or the Alexander books.
King and Goddess
- King and Goddess (1996)
Standalone historical fantasy.
Again, ancient subject matter does not make it a sequel to Pillar of Fire.
Household Gods
- Household Gods (1999), with Harry Turtledove
Standalone collaboration.
The novel involves a modern woman and the ancient Roman world.
It has no connection to Tarr’s other ancient-world books.
Readers following either Tarr or Turtledove can approach it independently.
Kingdom of the Grail
- Kingdom of the Grail (2000)
Standalone.
This historical fantasy combines material associated with Charlemagne, Roland, and Arthurian legend.
It does not continue His Majesty’s Elephant.
Pride of Kings
- Pride of Kings (2001)
Standalone.
The novel concerns England around the era of Richard the Lionheart and Prince John.
Despite its historical proximity to the Devil’s Bargain books, it should not be inserted into that duology.
Treat it as separate continuity.
Living in Threes
- Living in Threes (2012)
Standalone young adult novel.
The book connects three teenage girls living in ancient Egypt, the present, and a distant future.
It crosses historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction within one story.
No earlier Tarr novel is required.
Forgotten Suns
- Forgotten Suns (2015)
Standalone science fiction.
This is one of Tarr’s later novels and moves well outside the historical fantasy settings for which she is best known.
It requires no previous series knowledge.
Horses of the Moon
The published Horses of the Moon sequence currently contains:
- Dragons in the Earth (2016)
Standalone to date, although published as the opening of a series.
The novel follows Claire, an animal communicator living near Tucson, and a group of unusual horses connected with ancient supernatural forces.
No second Horses of the Moon novel could be reliably confirmed as published as of August 8, 2026.
Readers should therefore treat Dragons in the Earth as the only currently published volume rather than inventing a continuation.
Judith Tarr Books as Caitlin Brennan
Tarr also writes as Caitlin Brennan.
Her main sequence under that name is White Magic.
White Magic Books in Order
- The Mountain’s Call (2004)
- Song of Unmaking (2005)
- Shattered Dance (2006)
Included. Direct trilogy.
These books feature horses prominently and belong to a romantic fantasy setting separate from Tarr’s other series.
Read all three in order.
The Mountain’s Call
Start here.
Song of Unmaking
Read second.
Shattered Dance
Read third.
Do not mix the trilogy into Epona simply because both bodies of work feature horses.
They are separate fictional worlds.
House of the Star
- House of the Star (2010), as Caitlin Brennan
Standalone.
This young adult fantasy is not White Magic Book 4.
It can be read independently.
Judith Tarr Books as Kathleen Bryan
Tarr used the name Kathleen Bryan for the War of the Rose trilogy.
Read:
- The Serpent and the Rose (2007)
- The Golden Rose (2008)
- The Last Paladin (2009)
Included. Direct trilogy.
These books should be read in publication order.
Should the Pseudonym Books Be Included?
Yes, if the goal is a complete Judith Tarr bibliography.
They are works by Tarr even though the cover uses another name.
For a reading-order page focused on books published specifically as Judith Tarr, however, they should remain in their own clearly labeled section.
Do not silently mix The Mountain’s Call or The Serpent and the Rose into the main Tarr chronology without identifying the pseudonym.
War World Collaborations
Tarr contributed to the multi-author War World setting, including books such as:
- Blood Feuds
- Blood Vengeance
These involve other authors and belong to Jerry Pournelle’s wider CoDominium and War World project.
Separate shared-universe material.
They are not Avaryan novels and are unnecessary for readers interested only in Tarr’s original continuities.
Nine White Horses
- Nine White Horses (2014)
Short-fiction collection.
The collection gathers stories involving horses and fantasy.
It should not be mistaken for another Epona novel or White Magic installment.
Individual contents may have their own settings, but the book itself is a collection rather than one continuous story.
Writing Horses
- Writing Horses: The Fine Art of Getting It Right (2010)
Nonfiction.
Tarr draws on extensive experience with horses to explain equine behavior, care, riding, terminology, and common mistakes writers make.
It has no position inside a fiction reading order.
Include it separately for readers interested in Tarr’s nonfiction or writing resources.
Judith Tarr Books in Broad Publication Order
Readers interested in Tarr’s career rather than one individual series can use the following broad sequence of principal novels and major book-length fiction:
- The Isle of Glass (1985)
- The Golden Horn (1985)
- The Hounds of God (1986)
- The Hall of the Mountain King (1986)
- The Lady of Han-Gilen (1987)
- A Fall of Princes (1988)
- A Wind in Cairo (1989)
- Alamut (1989)
- Ars Magica (1989)
- The Dagger and the Cross (1991)
- Lord of the Two Lands (1993)
- His Majesty’s Elephant (1993)
- Arrows of the Sun (1993)
- Spear of Heaven (1994)
- Throne of Isis (1994)
- The Eagle’s Daughter (1995)
- Pillar of Fire (1995)
- King and Goddess (1996)
- Queen of Swords (1997)
- White Mare’s Daughter (1998)
- The Shepherd Kings (1999)
- Household Gods with Harry Turtledove (1999)
- Lady of Horses (2000)
- Kingdom of the Grail (2000)
- Daughter of Lir (2001)
- Pride of Kings (2001)
- Tides of Darkness (2002)
- Devil’s Bargain (2002)
- House of War (2003)
- Queen of the Amazons (2004)
- Rite of Conquest (2004)
- King’s Blood (2005)
- Bring Down the Sun (2008)
- Living in Threes (2012)
- Forgotten Suns (2015)
- Dragons in the Earth (2016)
This is not the best order for every series.
If you reach one of the continuous sequences, finish that sequence in its proper order rather than jumping back and forth solely to preserve publication dates.
Recommended Judith Tarr Reading Order
A better complete reading project groups books according to actual continuity.
First, Read the Rhiyana World
- The Isle of Glass
- The Golden Horn
- The Hounds of God
- Alamut
- The Dagger and the Cross
This uses publication order rather than internal chronology.
Then Read Avaryan
- The Hall of the Mountain King
- The Lady of Han-Gilen
- A Fall of Princes
- Arrows of the Sun
- Spear of Heaven
- Tides of Darkness
Then Read Epona
- White Mare’s Daughter
- The Shepherd Kings
- Lady of Horses
- Daughter of Lir
Then Complete the Shorter Series
- Devil’s Bargain
- House of War
- Rite of Conquest
- King’s Blood
After those, the independent historical and fantasy novels can be chosen according to subject.
There is no continuity advantage in forcing Cleopatra, Alexander, Charlemagne, prehistoric Europe, and William the Conqueror into one fictional timeline.
Best Judith Tarr Book to Read First
For the broadest introduction to her historical fantasy:
- The Isle of Glass
It begins a completed trilogy and introduces several qualities associated with Tarr’s work: medieval history, religion, cultural conflict, supernatural beings, and a strong sense of period.
For secondary-world fantasy:
- The Hall of the Mountain King
For horse-centered historical fiction:
- White Mare’s Daughter
For readers fascinated by Alexander the Great:
- Lord of the Two Lands
For a recent standalone:
- Forgotten Suns for science fiction
- Dragons in the Earth for contemporary fantasy involving horses
Publication Order or Chronological Order for Hound and Falcon?
Publication order is better for a first read:
- Hound and Falcon trilogy
- Alamut duology
Chronological order is better for readers who already know the world:
- Alamut
- The Dagger and the Cross
- The Isle of Glass
- The Golden Horn
- The Hounds of God
The difference matters because Alamut was written after readers had already met the world and some of its characters.
A prequel can occur earlier without becoming the best introduction.
Are All Judith Tarr’s Historical Novels Connected?
No.
Tarr repeatedly writes about similar historical regions, figures, and periods, especially ancient Egypt, Greece, medieval Europe, and the Crusades.
Those recurring interests do not create a single continuity.
For example:
Alamut really is connected to The Hound and the Falcon.
Pride of Kings is not automatically part of Devil’s Bargain simply because both involve the era of Richard the Lionheart.
Lord of the Two Lands, Queen of the Amazons, and Bring Down the Sun share Alexander-related historical material but remain independently readable.
Always distinguish historical overlap from fictional continuity.
Latest Judith Tarr Novel
The latest novel I could reliably confirm as published under Judith Tarr’s name is:
- Dragons in the Earth (2016)
It is identified as the first Horses of the Moon book.
As of August 8, 2026, I could not verify a second published Horses of the Moon novel or a newer full-length Judith Tarr novel with a firm publication date.
Older bibliography pages that end with Forgotten Suns are therefore incomplete, because Dragons in the Earth followed it.
Is a New Judith Tarr Book Coming?
No forthcoming novel with a firm release date could be reliably confirmed as of August 8, 2026.
That does not mean Tarr has no unpublished or developing work. It only means there is no sufficiently reliable title and publication date to add to a reference reading order.
Until that changes, Dragons in the Earth remains the latest confirmed novel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Judith Tarr’s first novel?
The Isle of Glass, published in 1985.
It begins The Hound and the Falcon trilogy.
What order should I read The Hound and the Falcon?
Read:
- The Isle of Glass
- The Golden Horn
- The Hounds of God
Is Alamut part of The Hound and the Falcon?
It belongs to the same fictional world.
The two Alamut books occur earlier chronologically but were published later.
For a first read, finish The Hound and the Falcon before moving to Alamut.
What order are the Alamut books?
- Alamut
- The Dagger and the Cross
How many Avaryan books are there?
Six:
- The Hall of the Mountain King
- The Lady of Han-Gilen
- A Fall of Princes
- Arrows of the Sun
- Spear of Heaven
- Tides of Darkness
What is Avaryan Rising?
It is an omnibus containing the first three Avaryan novels.
It is not a separate sequel.
What is Avaryan Resplendent?
It collects the final three Avaryan novels:
- Arrows of the Sun
- Spear of Heaven
- Tides of Darkness
What order should I read the Epona books?
Read:
- White Mare’s Daughter
- The Shepherd Kings
- Lady of Horses
- Daughter of Lir
Is Lady of Horses the first Epona book?
No.
Some retailer metadata labels it confusingly, but White Mare’s Daughter was published first and begins the usual four-book Epona sequence.
Are Throne of Isis, The Eagle’s Daughter, and Queen of Swords connected?
They are sometimes marketed together as The Three Queens.
They do not form one continuous story and can be read independently.
Is Household Gods part of a series?
No.
It is a standalone collaboration by Judith Tarr and Harry Turtledove.
What books did Judith Tarr write as Caitlin Brennan?
Her White Magic trilogy is:
- The Mountain’s Call
- Song of Unmaking
- Shattered Dance
She also published House of the Star under that name.
What books did Judith Tarr write as Kathleen Bryan?
The War of the Rose trilogy:
- The Serpent and the Rose
- The Golden Rose
- The Last Paladin
Is Dragons in the Earth part of a series?
It was published as Horses of the Moon Book 1.
However, no second published volume could be reliably confirmed as of August 8, 2026.
What is Judith Tarr’s latest novel?
Dragons in the Earth, published in 2016, is the latest full-length novel I could reliably confirm.
Conclusion
Judith Tarr’s books divide into several real continuities and a much larger group of independent historical fantasies.
For The Hound and the Falcon, begin with The Isle of Glass. Read Alamut and The Dagger and the Cross afterward even though they occur earlier in the fictional chronology.
For Avaryan, follow all six novels from The Hall of the Mountain King through Tides of Darkness.
For Epona, use White Mare’s Daughter, The Shepherd Kings, Lady of Horses, then Daughter of Lir.
The Devil’s Bargain and William the Conqueror books are straightforward two-volume sequences. Tarr’s Alexander novels and the books marketed as The Three Queens are much looser groups and should not be mistaken for tightly continuous sagas.
For a new reader who wants one dependable starting point, The Isle of Glass remains the clearest choice.
Frank is the editor of BookSeries.blog, focusing on publication order, chronological timelines, and spoiler-free reading guides for book series and fictional universes.