Forgotten Realms: The Harpers books in order

The Harpers is a multi-author Forgotten Realms novel series about a secret organization dedicated to fighting tyranny, published between 1991 and 1998 with contributions from authors like Elaine Cunningham and Ed Greenwood.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Parched Sea 1991 Kate Novak Buy
2 Elfshadow 1991 Kate Novak Buy
3 Red Magic 1991 Kate Novak Buy
4 The Night Parade 1992 Kate Novak Buy
5 The Ring of Winter 1992 Kate Novak Buy
6 The Ring of Winter: A Harpers Novel 1992 Kate Novak N/A
7 Crypt of the Shadowking 1993 Kate Novak Buy
8 Soldiers of Ice 1993 Kate Novak Buy
9 Crown of Fire 1994 Kate Novak Buy
10 Elfsong 1994 Kate Novak N/A
11 Masquerades 1995 Kate Novak Buy
12 Curse of the Shadowmage 1995 Kate Novak Buy
13 The Veiled Dragon 1996 Kate Novak Buy
14 Stormlight 1996 Kate Novak Buy
15 Silver Shadows 1996 Kate Novak N/A
16 Finder’s Bane 1997 Kate Novak Buy
17 Rise of the Blade 1998 Kate Novak N/A
18 Thornhold 1998 Kate Novak N/A

The Harpers series is a loosely connected sequence of 18 novels published between 1991 and 1998, all set in the Forgotten Realms. The books are tied together by the Harpers, a secret organization in the Realms dedicated to preserving balance, promoting good, and opposing tyranny. Each novel features different main characters and can be read independently, though some share returning players.

The series drew from a wide pool of Forgotten Realms authors. Troy Denning contributed The Parched Sea (1991), set in the desert lands of Anauroch. Elaine Cunningham wrote several entries following the half-elf Arilyn Moonblade, beginning with Elfshadow (1991). Ed Greenwood, the creator of the Forgotten Realms setting, contributed Crown of Fire and Stormlight. Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb wrote Masquerades (1995) and Finder’s Bane (1997), the latter tying back into their earlier Finder’s Stone trilogy. Other contributors included Jean Rabe (Red Magic), Scott Ciencin (The Night Parade), James Lowder (The Ring of Winter), and Mark Anthony (Crypt of the Shadowking and Curse of the Shadowmage). The variety of authors and settings gave readers a broad tour of the Forgotten Realms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Forgotten Realms: The Harpers series?

There are eighteen books in the Forgotten Realms: The Harpers series, published between 1991 and 1998.

What is the first book in the Forgotten Realms: The Harpers series?

The first book in the Forgotten Realms: The Harpers series is The Parched Sea, published in 1991.

Do the books in The Harpers series need to be read in order?

No. The Harpers is a loosely connected series where each book can be read on its own. The books share the common thread of the Harpers organization, a secret group that opposes tyranny across the Forgotten Realms, but each novel features different main characters and self-contained plots. Some authors wrote multiple entries (Elaine Cunningham wrote Elfshadow, Elfsong, Silver Shadows, and Thornhold), and those particular books do follow a continuing storyline.

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