Anthologies#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Imaginary Lands |
1985 |
Buy |
| Snow White, Blood Red |
1993 |
N/A |
| Dragons and Warrior Daughters |
1989 |
Buy |
| Black Thorn, White Rose |
2008 |
N/A |
| Spells of Enchantment |
1991 |
Buy |
| Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears |
2014 |
N/A |
| Black Swan, White Raven |
1997 |
N/A |
| Silver Birch, Blood Moon |
1999 |
Buy |
| Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror: Sixteenth Annual Collection |
2003 |
Buy |
| Black Heart, Ivory Bones |
2000 |
N/A |
| Lightspeed Magazine, February 2014 |
2014 |
Buy |
Damar Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Stone Fey |
1998 |
Buy |
| The Door in the Hedge and Other Stories |
1981 |
Buy |
| La spada blu |
1982 |
N/A |
| The Blue Sword |
1982 |
Buy |
| The Hero and the Crown |
1984 |
Buy |
| Imaginary Lands |
1985 |
Buy |
| A Knot in the Grain |
1994 |
Buy |
Folktales Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Beauty |
1978 |
Buy |
| Rose Daughter |
1997 |
Buy |
| Spindle’s End |
2000 |
Buy |
Pegasus Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Pegasus |
2010 |
Buy |
| Olympus at War |
2011 |
N/A |
| Pegasus and the New Olympians |
- |
N/A |
| Origins of Olympus |
2012 |
N/A |
| Rise of the Titans |
2015 |
N/A |
| The End of Olympus |
2016 |
N/A |
Short Story Collections#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Door in the Hedge and Other Stories |
1981 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Black Beauty |
1986 |
Buy |
| The Outlaws of Sherwood |
1988 |
Buy |
| My Father is in the Navy |
1992 |
Buy |
| Rowan |
1992 |
Buy |
| Deerskin |
1993 |
Buy |
| Sunshine |
2003 |
Buy |
| Dragonhaven |
2007 |
Buy |
| Chalice |
2008 |
Buy |
| Shadows |
2013 |
Buy |
Tales Of Elemental Spirits Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Water |
2002 |
Buy |
| Fire |
2009 |
Buy |
| Earth and Air |
2012 |
Buy |
Robin McKinley has spent more than four decades writing fantasy novels that breathe new life into classic fairy tales and folklore. Her debut novel Beauty (1978) retold the story of Beauty and the Beast with warmth and careful detail, and she returned to the same fairy tale nearly twenty years later with Rose Daughter, offering a very different interpretation. Her retelling of Sleeping Beauty, Spindle’s End, rounds out her fairy tale work with a sprawling, inventive story that earned praise from both adult and young adult readers.
Her Damar novels are set in a fictional desert kingdom and blend high fantasy with adventure. The Blue Sword (1982) won a Newbery Honor, and The Hero and the Crown (1984) won the Newbery Medal. Though published second, The Hero and the Crown is set centuries before The Blue Sword, so the two books work well in either reading order.
Beyond fairy tales and Damar, McKinley has written widely across fantasy. Sunshine (2003) is a standalone vampire novel set in a world where magic and dark creatures are everyday concerns. Deerskin (1993) is a darker retelling of the fairy tale Donkeyskin. She also co-wrote the Tales of Elemental Spirits short story collections with her husband Peter Dickinson, pairing original stories about creatures tied to fire, water, earth, and air.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Robin McKinley written?
Robin McKinley has written 40 books across seven series.
What was Robin McKinley's first book?
Robin McKinley’s first book is Beauty, published in 1978.
What is the best Robin McKinley book to start with
Many readers start with Beauty, her 1978 retelling of Beauty and the Beast that launched her career. For those who prefer epic fantasy, The Blue Sword or The Hero and the Crown are strong entry points and can be read in either order. Sunshine is a popular choice for adult readers who enjoy vampire fiction with a unique take on the genre.