Dragonlance Reading Order: Where to Start and What You Can Skip

Six novels by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman form the complete, essential Dragonlance story. Everything else is optional expansion. Reading all 200-plus books in the franchise is not required to experience the series. You only need to read the Chronicles Trilogy followed by the Legends Trilogy.

Why Not to Start at the Beginning of the In-World Timeline

Dragonlance’s in-world history spans thousands of years. The fictional timeline covers multiple ages, from the Age of Starbirth to the Age of Mortals. It involves dozens of different authors writing across decades of real-world publication history. Starting at the chronological beginning of Krynn’s history drops you into a very difficult reading experience.

You will encounter contradictory lore. Different authors have interpreted the world's history in varying ways, leading to inconsistencies that are confusing for new readers. You will face wildly variable prose quality, as tie-in novels often lack the editorial focus of the main series. More importantly, you will encounter story arcs that assume you already know the main characters and the core conflict of the setting.

Publication order is the correct order for a first read. The world of Krynn was built around the original six books. The lore makes sense when you discover it exactly as readers did in the 1980s. The authors reveal the history of the world slowly, pacing the exposition to match the characters' own discoveries.

When you read chronologically, you spoil character revelations that were designed to surprise you. You learn secrets about the gods, the dragons, and the magic system long before the narrative tension requires it. You can always explore the deep history later. Focus on the core narrative first.

The Chronicles Trilogy — The Essential Foundation

The Chronicles Trilogy consists of Dragons of Autumn Twilight (1984), Dragons of Winter Night (1984), and Dragons of Spring Dawning (1985). All three were written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. This is the absolute starting point.

This trilogy introduces the core companions. You meet Tanis Half-Elven, the conflicted leader. You meet Raistlin Majere, the cynical and ambitious mage, alongside his twin brother Caramon, a strong but simple warrior. You meet Sturm Brightblade, a knight bound by a strict code of honor. You also meet Goldmoon and Riverwind, bringing a completely different cultural perspective, as well as Flint Fireforge the dwarf and Tasslehoff Burrfoot the kender.

The narrative follows these companions as they discover the return of the true gods. They are thrust into the War of the Lance, fighting the Dragon Highlords who seek to conquer the continent of Ansalon. This is classic, foundational high fantasy. It established many tropes that later fantasy series adopted.

A key reading note is required here. The prose was originally written to accompany a Dungeons & Dragons adventure module. The authors were writing the novelization of a tabletop game campaign. As a result, the first fifty pages move slowly. The writing style is very much a product of its era (1984), featuring some clunky dialogue and abrupt scene transitions.

The pace increases substantially once the companions leave the town of Solace. It is worth knowing this before you give up early. Push through the opening chapters, and the story opens up into an epic conflict with genuine stakes. The character dynamics become much more sophisticated in the second and third books.

The Legends Trilogy — The Emotional Peak

The Legends Trilogy consists of Time of the Twins (1986), War of the Twins (1986), and Test of the Twins (1988). Like Chronicles, these are written by Weis and Hickman. This trilogy is the direct sequel to Chronicles.

This trilogy follows Raistlin Majere’s arc after the events of Chronicles. Raistlin is attempting to become a god. To achieve this, he travels back in time, dragging his brother Caramon and a cleric named Crysania with him. This trilogy is where his complex character arc fully resolves.

Do not read Legends before Chronicles. Raistlin’s transformation in Legends is only meaningful if you watched it begin in the previous trilogy. You need the foundation of his physical frailty and growing magical ambition to understand his actions here. You also need to understand his complicated relationship with his brother Caramon, which is established thoroughly in the first three books.

Many readers consider Legends the better trilogy. The character writing is tighter. The authors had grown significantly in their craft by this point. The stakes are more personal and emotional. While Chronicles is about saving the world from external evil, Legends is about saving a brother from himself.

Three Additional Reads Worth Considering

Once you finish the core six books, you might want more. The extended universe has plenty to offer, but these three options are the most reliable next steps.

First is The Soulforge (1998, Margaret Weis). This details Raistlin’s early life and the events leading up to Chronicles. It covers his time at the magic academy and his harrowing Test of High Sorcery. Read this after the six core books, not before. It acts as an excellent prequel once you know where the character ends up.

Second is the Dragons of a New Age trilogy (1996-1998, Jean Rabe). This is set thirty years after Chronicles with a largely new cast. It explores Krynn during a time when magic has fundamentally changed and massive alien dragons rule the land. It is respected by the community but not strictly essential. It bridges the gap between older and newer eras of the franchise.

Third is The Annotated Chronicles (2002). This contains the original Chronicles text alongside extensive author commentary from Weis and Hickman. It is incredibly useful if you want production context, behind-the-scenes details, and insight into how the world was built. It reads like a director's commentary track for the novels.

What You Can Skip Without Losing the Story

With nearly two hundred other books, you need to know what you can safely ignore. You will not lose the main plot if you skip the following entries.

• The Preludes series (6 books, 1987-1990): These are backstory novellas for individual companions, covering the five years before Chronicles. They are interesting but not required reading. They offer minor insights but do not advance the main plot.
• War of Souls trilogy (2000-2002, Weis and Hickman): This follows events after the Chaos War. It has a highly variable reception among fans. Some find it essential; others consider it a disappointing conclusion that undermines earlier character arcs. It is safe to skip on a first read.
• Most books by authors other than Weis and Hickman: Quality varies significantly. Many of these books contradict earlier canon or add lore that the core books do not need. They often read like generic fantasy rather than specific Dragonlance stories.
• Short story anthologies: These provide supplemental world-building. They cover minor historical events, folklore, and side characters. Skip them unless you finish the six core books and are desperate for more fragments of Krynn.

A Tiered Reading Map

To make things perfectly clear, follow this structure when deciding what to read.

Tier 1: Essential (Read in Order)

1. Dragons of Autumn Twilight (Chronicles 1)
2. Dragons of Winter Night (Chronicles 2)
3. Dragons of Spring Dawning (Chronicles 3)
4. Time of the Twins (Legends 1)
5. War of the Twins (Legends 2)
6. Test of the Twins (Legends 3)

Tier 2: Recommended (After Tier 1)

• The Soulforge

Tier 3: Optional (Choose Based on Interest)

• Dragons of a New Age trilogy
• War of Souls trilogy
• The Preludes series
• Various short story anthologies

If you are ready to start reading, the Dragonlance series collection includes 173 books from across the franchise, giving you access to the essentials and the expansions.