Lady Of The Reeds books in order

Q: "What is the Lady of the Reeds series about?"

"The Lady of the Reeds series follows Thu, a half-Libyan peasant girl from the village of Aswat who is educated and trained to become one of Ramesses III's concubines. After she falls from favor, she becomes entangled in a conspiracy to poison the pharaoh, based on real historical events from ancient Egypt."

Q: "How many books are in the Lady of the Reeds series?"

"There are 3 books in the Lady Of The Reeds series, published between 1994 and 1996."

Q: "Do you need to read House of Dreams before House of Illusions?"

"Yes. House of Illusions picks up directly after the events of House of Dreams, with a new character discovering Thu's written account of her life. The second book reveals new information about the conspiracy and brings Thu's story to a resolution, so reading them in order is necessary."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	House Of Dreams	1994	Pauline Gedge	N/A
2	Lady of the Reeds / House of Dreams	1994	Pauline Gedge	Buy
3	House of Illusions	1996	Pauline Gedge	Buy

The Lady of the Reeds series by Pauline Gedge is a two-book sequence set in ancient Egypt during the reign of Ramesses III. The story is inspired by actual historical events: a documented conspiracy in the pharaoh’s harem to poison him. Gedge builds her fiction around this real incident, creating a vivid portrait of court life, ambition, and betrayal in the Twentieth Dynasty.

The first book, House of Dreams (published as Lady of the Reeds in the United States), introduces Thu, a restless girl from a small village on the edge of the desert. Plucked from her humble life and groomed to enter the royal harem, Thu rises to become one of the pharaoh’s favorites before her world collapses around her. House of Illusions continues the story years later, when a young soldier discovers Thu’s written testimony and sets in motion a chain of events that brings long-buried secrets back to light.

House of Dreams was popular enough that fans asked Gedge for a continuation, and House of Illusions became the only sequel she ever wrote in response to reader demand. Both books reflect Gedge’s trademark approach to Egyptian historical fiction: careful research, complex characters, and a refusal to simplify the moral landscape of the ancient world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Lady of the Reeds series about?

The Lady of the Reeds series follows Thu, a half-Libyan peasant girl from the village of Aswat who is educated and trained to become one of Ramesses III’s concubines. After she falls from favor, she becomes entangled in a conspiracy to poison the pharaoh, based on real historical events from ancient Egypt.

How many books are in the Lady of the Reeds series?

There are 3 books in the Lady Of The Reeds series, published between 1994 and 1996.

Do you need to read House of Dreams before House of Illusions?

Yes. House of Illusions picks up directly after the events of House of Dreams, with a new character discovering Thu’s written account of her life. The second book reveals new information about the conspiracy and brings Thu’s story to a resolution, so reading them in order is necessary.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order