The 10 Best Dragonlance Books Series
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When it comes to Dungeons & Dragons settings, there are few more iconic than the world of Dragonlance. First published almost 40 years ago as a series of D&D game supplements, the world has since continued to evolve, spawning countless comic books, toys, video games, and even recent plans for a live action Dragonlance TV series.
Much of this unique fantasy world, however, has been developed in the over 200+ Dragonlance books that have been published since the early 1980s. This massive collection of novels can be incredibly overwhelming to new (and returning) readers, making it hard to know where to start and which books are really worth picking up.
To help you navigate your way through the world of Krynn, we’ve put together our picks for the best Dragonlance books of all time. To keep things simple, we’ve broken them down by series, including the titles, publication dates and indicating whether you need to read any previous books to enjoy them.
So grab your sword and hoopak, and prepare to explore the farthest reaches of Ansalon, as we delve into the greatest Dragonlance novels ever written!
Table of Contents
What is Dragonlance?
How many Dragonlance book are there?
Does Dragonlance have a reading order?
What are the best Forgotten Realms books?
What is Dragonlance?
Dragonlance is a shared fantasy universe created by husband-and-wife game designers Laura and Tracy Hickman, both of whom worked for early Dungeons & Dragons publisher TSR. While at the company, the two pitched the concept of Dragonlance as a larger D&D campaign setting that would include both game materials and novels.
In 1984, TSR published the very first Dragonlance game module Dragons of Despair, along with the first novel in the series, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, which Tracy Hickman co-wrote with fellow D&D game designer Margaret Weis. Over the years, countless other designers, authors and editors would continue to expand the Dragonlance franchise through new game supplements, novels, video games and tie-in materials.
Dragonlance itself takes place on the planet Krynn, with much of the action occurring on the southern continent of Ansalon. While the Dragonlance world shares many of the same characteristics of other D&D campaign and high fantasy settings, it also stands out due to its variety of unique races, its extensive history, and its novel approach to magic and religion.
How many Dragonlance books are there?
As of May 2023, there are over 200 Dragonlance novels, with the vast majority published in the late 80s and early 90s. Notably, the number of new books being released slowed significantly after Dungeons & Dragons was purchased by publisher Wizards of the Coast in 1997, losing the rights to the Dragonlance franchise in the process. A series of legal issues further stalled publications after 2011.
It wasn’t until 2022 that Tracky Hickman and Margaret Weis resolved their legal issues with Wizards of the Coast and published a new novel entitled Dragons of Deceit. The Dragonlance setting was also brought back to Dungeons & Dragons for the first time in decades with the release of the D&D fifth edition campaign book Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen.
Rivalled only by the Forgotten Realms books in terms of size and scope, Dragonlance continues to be one of the most popular series of D&D novels, with both past and present titles routinely appearing on The New York Times best seller’s list.
Do the Dragonlance books have a reading order?
With hundreds of Dragonlance novels to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. We recommend starting with the Dragonlance Chronicles, as this is a foundational trilogy that established many of the key characters, concepts and history that informs subsequent novels.
It’s also important to note that the Dragonlance books are divided into five ages: the Age of Starbirth, the Age of Dreams, the Age of Might, the Age of Despair and the Age of Mortals. Each of these Ages takes place over a period of centuries, with its own significant events, characters, locations and related novels.
The majority of the Dragonlance books take place during the Age of Despair (also know as the Fourth Age), which is a period of time roughly 300 years after the event known as the Cataclysm saw much of the planet destroyed and the Gods abandon the people of Krynn.
That being said, while the history, characters and lore can be dense, there are many Dragonlance novels that can be read and enjoyed without any prior knowledge or reading.
What are the best Dragonlance books?
Below we’ve broken out our picks for the 10 best Dragonlance book series published to date.
1. The Dragonlance Chronicles
Previous Reading Required? No
Arguably the best Dragonlance books in the entire series, the Chronicies trilogy follows the adventures of a group of eight characters who find themselves caught up in the far reaching conflict known as The War of the Lance. It’s a fast, fun and incredibly gripping fantasy epic that’s also the best place to begin for new readers to the world of Krynn.
1. Dragons of Autumn Twilight (1984)
2. Dragons of Winter Night (1985)
3. Dragons of Spring Dawning (1985)
2. Legends
Previous Reading Required? Yes. Chronicles Trilogy.
A sequel to the popular Dragonlance Chronicles, this trilogy focuses on troubled sorcerer Raistlin Majere and his twin brother, the warrior Caramon. It’s a sprawling series of books filled with high magic, tragedy and drama, and remains not only a series of fantastic Dragonlance books, but a classic fantasy epic that holds up almost 40 years after it was first published.
1. Time of the Twins (1986)
2. War of the Twins (1986)
3. Test of the Twins (1986)
3. Second Generation
Previous Reading Required? No.
These books actually collect a series of short novellas that follow the children of many of the main characters introduced in the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy. While technically the books are a sequel, you don’t really need to have any prior knowledge to enjoy them, and this is a great starting point for new readers looking for a quick introduction to the various races and locations of Krynn.
1. The Second Generation (1995)
2. Dragons of Summer Flame (1995)
4. The Raistlin Chronicles
Previous Reading Required? No.
A prequel series following fan-favorite character Raistlin Majere and his brother Caramon, the series follows the two boys from their early days as children, to Raistlin’s magical test at one of the dreaded Towers of High Sorcery. They’re amazing, character-driven Dragonlance novels that really showcase the best of the setting in terms of magic, action and high drama.
1. The Soulforge (1998)
2. Brothers in Arms (1999)
5. The Lost Chronicles
Previous Reading Required? Yes. Chronicles Trilogy.
Set during the War of the Lance, these books feature a variety of untold stories that follow the characters from the original Chronicles trilogy. While this could have come across as a bit of gimmick, it’s actually incredibly well written, with the novels detailing some of the most fascinating and unexplored aspects of the Dragonlance saga.
1. Dragons of the Dwarven Depths (2006)
2. Dragons of the Highlord Skies (2007)
3. Dragons of the Hourglass Mage (2009)
6. The War of Souls Series
Previous Reading Required: No.
Set in the aftermath of the War of the Lance and the devastation of the subsequent Chaos War, this trilogy introduces a variety and new characters and locations. It’s a great starting point for new and returning readers, but also continues the evolution of the lore of Krynn, featuring all of the action, adventure and world-shattering events that have become hallmarks of the Dragonlance series.
1. Dragons of a Fallen Sun (2000)
2. Dragons of a Lost Star (2001)
3. Dragons of a Vanished Moon (2002)
7. The Dark Disciple Series
Previous Reading Required? Yes. The War of Souls series.
Taking place in the aftermath of the War of Souls trilogy, this series follows the exploits of the character Mina, a young woman possessing incredible powers that threaten to reshape all of Krynn. Notably, this is also Margaret Weis’s first solo Dragonlance trilogy and, despite the absence of longtime writing partner Tracy Hickman, remains an incredibly entertaining series.
1. Amber and Ashes (2004)
2. Amber and Iron (2005)
3. Amber and Blood (2008)
8. Elven Exiles Series
Previous Reading Required? No.
This is one of the few series on this list that isn’t written by primary Dragonlance authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. The story follows a large group of elven refugees in search of a new homeland and explores the real-world themes of belonging and racism. It’s a smart, action-packed and incredibly unique series that also explores a little known chapter from the history of Krynn.
9. The Minotaur Wars
Previous Reading Required? No.
Written by longtime Dragonlance author Richard A. Knaak, this series is set in the remote Minotaur Empire to the east of Ansalon. The action kicks off when a new ruler takes control of the throne in a bloody coup and features political intrigue, ancient magic and raging monsters. It’s an action-packed read that offers a fascinating look at one of Krynn’s most unique races.
1. Night of Blood (2003)
2. Tides of Blood (2003)
3. Empire of Blood (2005)
10. Dragonlance Destinies
Previous Reading Required? No.
Returning the world of Krynn after more than a decade-long absence, this is essentially a reboot of Dragonlance by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. The story introduces a number of new characters, along with the return of a number of classic characters (including the mischievous kender Tasslehoff Burrfoot). It’s both a great read and the perfect jumping on point for both new and returning readers.
1. Dragons of Deceit (2022)
2. Dragons of Fate (2023)
3. Dragons of Eternity (2024)
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Ollie Delano is a Staff Writer who lives in Chicago, Illinois where he majored in Journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He’s been playing Dungeons & Dragons for over 10 years and currently plays in a weekly game group where he rolls way too many natural 1s and chugs way too much Mountain Dew. His favorite D&D campaign setting is Eberron and his favorite character to play was a Tiefling rogue named Draxiss who enjoys both literal and figurative backstabbing.
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