Reading order · 15 books · 1994 to 2015 · Set in an invented world
The Sword of Truth Books in Order
Richard Cypher, a woods guide in Westland, rescues a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, and learns he is heir to a powerful line of wizards. Named the Seeker of Truth, he fights a series of tyrants, first Darken Rahl and then the Imperial Order. Epic fantasy with strong philosophical themes.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Series facts
- Books
- 15
- Published
- 1994 to 2015
- First book
- Wizard's First Rule
- Latest
- Warheart (2015)
- Setting
- Set in an invented world
The reading order
Every The Sword of Truth book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
15 books · Set in an invented world
- 1Wizard's First Rule1994With Richard Rahl and Kahlan AmnellRichard Cypher, a woods guide, saves a mysterious woman named Kahlan from assassins in the forest.Buy on Amazon
- 2Stone of Tears1995With Richard RahlThe veil between the world of the living and the underworld has been torn, and Richard is taken far away by the Sisters of the Light to learn to control his gift, while Kahlan faces danger alone.Buy on Amazon
- 3Blood of the Fold1996With Richard RahlRichard, now Lord Rahl of D’Hara, must unite the lands of the Midlands against a new threat, the Imperial Order, while a fanatical army called the Blood of the Fold hunts anyone with magic.Buy on Amazon
- 4Temple of the Winds1997With Richard RahlA deadly plague is spreading, and Richard must reach the mysterious Temple of the Winds to stop it, whatever the cost.Buy on Amazon
- 5Soul of the Fire1999With Richard RahlRichard and Kahlan travel to the land of Anderith, where magical creatures they unwittingly set loose are draining magic from the world, as Emperor Jagang’s forces advance.Buy on Amazon
- 6Faith of the Fallen2000With Richard Rahl and NicciNicci, a sorceress serving the Imperial Order, takes Richard captive and carries him off to the Old World, where he must live under the rule of the very people he has been fighting.Buy on Amazon
- 7The Pillars of Creation2001With Jennsen RahlJennsen, a young woman who has spent her life hiding from agents of the House of Rahl, discovers she is not like other people, and sets out to find her half-brother, Richard.Buy on Amazon
- 8Naked Empire2003With Richard RahlPoisoned and taken to a hidden empire whose people reject all violence, Richard must teach them to fight if he is to save himself and them.Buy on Amazon
- 9Chainfire2005With Richard RahlRichard wakes from a battle injury to find that no one remembers Kahlan.Buy on Amazon
- 10Phantom2006With Richard RahlKahlan, whom no one but Richard remembers, is held captive with no memory of who she is, while Richard fights to find her and stop Emperor Jagang.Buy on Amazon
- 11Confessor2007With Richard RahlIn the final battle of the Sword of Truth, Richard must find a way to restore Kahlan’s memory and defeat the Imperial Order.Buy on Amazon
- 12The Omen Machine2011With Richard RahlSoon after the war, a strange machine appears in the palace and begins issuing dire prophecies, as Richard and Kahlan face a new threat.Buy on Amazon
- 13The Third Kingdom2013With Richard RahlRichard and Kahlan seek a cure after Kahlan is struck by a deadly power, and are drawn into the Third Kingdom, home of the half people.Buy on Amazon
- 14Severed Souls2014With Richard RahlRichard and Kahlan race to stop Hannis Arc and the long-dead emperor Sulachan, whose armies of half people are sweeping south.Buy on Amazon
- 15Warheart2015With Richard RahlRichard lies in the grip of a deadly spell, and Kahlan must lead a desperate fight against Emperor Sulachan, in the final Richard and Kahlan novel.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in order, starting with Wizard’s First Rule. Most books continue the main story; Chainfire, Phantom and Confessor form a trilogy within the series, and the last four books follow on from them.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Richard Rahl | Kahlan Amnell | Nicci | Jennsen Rahl | Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander | Cara |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Wizard's First Rule | LLead | LLead | MMajor | |||
| 2 Stone of Tears | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | |||
| 3 Blood of the Fold | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ||
| 4 Temple of the Winds | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ||
| 5 Soul of the Fire | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 6 Faith of the Fallen | LLead | MMajor | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 7 The Pillars of Creation | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | LLead | MMajor | MMajor |
| 8 Naked Empire | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
| 9 Chainfire | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 10 Phantom | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 11 Confessor | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 12 The Omen Machine | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 13 The Third Kingdom | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 14 Severed Souls | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 15 Warheart | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
Characters in the The Sword of Truth books
6 characters from Terry Goodkind’s chart, with the number of The Sword of Truth books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Richard RahlWoods guide who becomes Seeker of Truth and Lord Rahl | 15 | Wizard's First Rule 1994 |
| Kahlan AmnellMother Confessor | 15 | Wizard's First Rule 1994 |
| NicciSorceress, first an enemy and then an ally | 11 | Soul of the Fire 1999 |
| Jennsen RahlRichard's half-sister | 2 | The Pillars of Creation 2001 |
| Zeddicus Zu'l ZoranderFirst Wizard, Richard's grandfather | 15 | Wizard's First Rule 1994 |
| CaraMord-Sith who becomes Richard's bodyguard | 13 | Blood of the Fold 1996 |