Reading order · 4 books · 1977 to 1996 · Set in invented worlds
Shannara Books in Order
The original Shannara books follow the Ohmsford family, guided by the druid Allanon, as they fight dark powers in the Four Lands, a world that turns out to be our own far in the future.
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Series facts
- Books
- 4
- Published
- 1977 to 1996
- First book
- The Sword of Shannara
- Latest
- First King of Shannara (1996)
- Setting
- Set in invented worlds
The reading order
Every Shannara book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
4 books · Set in invented worlds
- 1The Sword of Shannara1977With Shea OhmsfordShea Ohmsford, a young man from a quiet valley, learns from the druid Allanon that he is the last heir to the Sword of Shannara, the only weapon that can defeat the Warlock Lord.Buy on Amazon
- 2The Elfstones of Shannara1982With Wil Ohmsford and Amberle ElessedilThe Ellcrys, the tree that keeps the demons out of the world, is dying, and Wil Ohmsford must protect the elf Amberle on a quest to save it.Buy on Amazon
- 3The Wishsong of Shannara1985With Brin and Jair OhmsfordBrin and Jair Ohmsford, who carry the magic of the wishsong, set out to destroy an evil book of magic.Buy on Amazon
- 4First King of Shannara1996A prequel telling how the druid Bremen forged the Sword of Shannara to fight the Warlock Lord.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara in order. First King of Shannara is a prequel.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Shea Ohmsford | Wil Ohmsford | Amberle Elessedil | Brin and Jair Ohmsford | Allanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 The Sword of Shannara | LLead | MMajor | |||
| 2 The Elfstones of Shannara | LLead | LLead | MMajor | ||
| 3 The Wishsong of Shannara | LLead | MMajor | |||
| 4 First King of Shannara | ·Minor |
Characters in the Shannara books
5 characters from Terry Brooks’s chart, with the number of Shannara books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Shea OhmsfordValeman heir to the Sword of Shannara | 1 | The Sword of Shannara 1977 |
| Wil OhmsfordShea's grandson, a healer | 1 | The Elfstones of Shannara 1982 |
| Amberle ElessedilElf princess | 1 | The Elfstones of Shannara 1982 |
| Brin and Jair OhmsfordWil's children, who have the wishsong | 1 | The Wishsong of Shannara 1985 |
| AllanonLast of the ancient druids | 4 | The Sword of Shannara 1977 |