The Water Outlaws books in order

The Water Outlaws series by S.L. Huang is a fantasy duology retelling the Chinese classic Water Margin with a feminist perspective.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The River Judge 2024 S.L. Huang Buy
2 The Water Outlaws 2023 S.L. Huang Buy

The Water Outlaws (2023) retells the 14th-century Chinese classic Water Margin through a modern, feminist lens. The original novel follows 108 outlaws who band together against a corrupt government, and Huang’s version recenters the story around women fighters and leaders. The book won a Locus Award and was widely praised for making the classic accessible to new readers.

The River Judge (2024) continues the story, expanding on the world and characters introduced in the first book. The duology represents Huang’s most ambitious literary project to date.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the The Water Outlaws series?

There are two books in the The Water Outlaws series, published between 2023 and 2024.

What is the first book in the The Water Outlaws series?

The first book in the The Water Outlaws series is The River Judge, published in 2024.

What is The Water Outlaws based on?

The Water Outlaws (2023) is a retelling of Water Margin (also known as Outlaws of the Marsh), one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature. Huang reimagines the story with women in central roles and won a Locus Award for the novel. The River Judge (2024) continues the story.

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