Mercedes Lackey

Mercedes Lackey

Mercedes Ritchie Lackey (born 1950) is an American writer of fantasy novels. Many of her novels and trilogies are interlinked and set in the world of Velgarth, mostly in and around the country of Valdemar. Her Valdemar novels form a complex tapestry of interaction between human and non-human protagonists with many different cultures and social mores.

Her other main world is one much like our own, but it includes clandestine populations of elves, mages, vampires, and other mythical beings. The Bedlam's Bard books describe a young man with the power to work magic through music; the SERRAted Edge books are about racecar driving elves; and the Diana Tregarde thrillers center on a Wiccan who combats evil.

She has also published several novels re-working well-known fairy tales set in a mid-19th to early 20th century setting in which magic is real, although hidden from the mundane world. These novels explore issues of ecology, social class, and gender roles.

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Updated August 22, 2023



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Books by Mercedes Lackey
Arrows of the Queen (The Heralds of Valdemar #1)
★ 7.12 / 9
Arrow's Flight (The Heralds of Valdemar #2)
★ 6.42 / 7
The Oathbound (Vows and Honor #1)
★ 6.34 / 3
Arrow's Fall (The Heralds of Valdemar #3)
★ 7.28 / 7
Reap the Whirlwind (The Sword of Knowledge #3)
N/A
Magic's Pawn (The Last Herald-Mage #1)
★ 8.00 / 6
Magic's Promise (The Last Herald-Mage #2)
★ 7.00 / 5
Burning Water (Diana Tregarde #1)
★ 6.00 / 2
Oathbreakers (Vows and Honor #2)
★ 8.34 / 3
Magic's Price (The Last Herald-Mage #3)
★ 7.60 / 5
Children of the Night (Diana Tregarde #2)
★ 6.00 / 3
The Last Herald-Mage
★ 9.00 / 1
Knight of Ghosts and Shadows (Bedlam's Bard #1)
★ 6.00 / 4
Bedlam's Bard
★ 6.66 / 3
By the Sword
★ 6.66 / 6
Jinx High (Diana Tregarde #3)
★ 4.00 / 2
The Lark and the Wren (Bardic Voices #1)
★ 7.42 / 7
The Elvenbane (Halfblood Chronicles #1)
★ 5.00 / 4
Winds of Fate (The Mage Winds #1)
★ 5.76 / 4
Winds of Change (The Mage Winds #2)
★ 5.40 / 5
The Ship Who Searched (Brain & Brawn Ship Series #3)
★ 4.50 / 2
Born to Run (The Serrated Edge #1)
★ 6.00 / 1
Castle of Deception (The Bard's Tale #1)
N/A
Wheels of Fire (The Serrated Edge #2)
★ 5.00 / 2
Summoned to Tourney (Bedlam's Bard #2)
★ 6.00 / 4
Rediscovery
★ 4.00 / 1
If I Pay Thee Not in Gold
★ 2.00 / 1
Winds of Fury (The Mage Winds #3)
★ 5.40 / 5
When the Bough Breaks (The Serrated Edge #3)
★ 5.00 / 2
Fortress of Frost and Fire (The Bard's Tale #2)
N/A
Prison of Souls (The Bard's Tale #4)
N/A
The Robin and the Kestrel (Bardic Voices #2)
★ 7.20 / 5
Elvenblood (Halfblood Chronicles #2)
★ 4.34 / 3
Sacred Ground
★ 6.00 / 1
A Cast of Corbies
★ 6.00 / 1
Storm Warning (The Mage Storms #1)
★ 6.50 / 6
The Black Gryphon (The Mage Wars #1)
★ 7.26 / 4
Chrome Circle (The Serrated Edge #4)
★ 7.00 / 2
The Eagle and the Nightingales (Bardic Voices #3)
★ 6.60 / 5
The Sword of Knowledge
N/A
The Fire Rose
★ 4.00 / 2
Tiger Burning Bright
★ 4.00 / 3
Storm Rising (The Mage Storms #2)
★ 5.20 / 5
The White Gryphon (The Mage Wars #2)
★ 6.00 / 3
Firebird
N/A
Storm Breaking (The Mage Storms #3)
★ 5.80 / 5
The Silver Gryphon (The Mage Wars #3)
★ 6.66 / 3
Sword of Ice and Other Tales of Valdemar
N/A
Owlflight (Darian's Tale #1)
★ 4.60 / 5
The Free Bards
N/A
Four and Twenty Blackbirds (Bardic Voices #4)
★ 6.60 / 5
Fiddler Fair
★ 7.34 / 3
Werehunter
★ 6.00 / 1
Owlsight (Darian's Tale #2)
★ 5.20 / 5
Oathblood (Vows and Honor #3)
★ 5.34 / 3
The Black Swan
★ 5.34 / 3
The River's Gift
N/A
The Chrome Borne
★ 10.00 / 2
Owlknight (Darian's Tale #3)
★ 5.20 / 5
Beyond World's End (Bedlam's Bard #3)
★ 6.00 / 3
Brightly Burning
★ 7.00 / 2
The Otherworld
N/A
Spirits White as Lightning (Bedlam's Bard #4)
★ 5.76 / 4
The Serpent's Shadow (Elemental Masters #1)
★ 8.00 / 2
The Valdemar Companion
★ 10.00 / 1
Take a Thief (The Heralds of Valdemar Prequels #1)
★ 5.50 / 4
The Shadow of the Lion (Heirs of Alexandria #1)
★ 10.00 / 1
Elvenborn (Halfblood Chronicles #3)
★ 4.66 / 3
The Gates of Sleep (Elemental Masters #2)
★ 2.00 / 1
Exile's Honor (The Heralds of Valdemar Prequels #2)
★ 6.66 / 6
Sun in Glory and Other Tales of Valdemar
N/A
Charmed Destinies
N/A
This Rough Magic (Heirs of Alexandria #2)
★ 6.00 / 1
Mad Maudlin (Bedlam's Bard #5)
★ 5.34 / 3
Joust (The Dragon Jousters #1)
★ 6.66 / 3
The Outstretched Shadow (The Obsidian Trilogy #1)
★ 7.60 / 5
Exile's Valor (The Heralds of Valdemar Prequels #3)
★ 6.16 / 6
The Fairy Godmother (Five Hundred Kingdoms #1)
★ 8.00 / 2
Phoenix and Ashes (Elemental Masters #3)
★ 4.00 / 1
The Wizard of Karres (The Witches of Karres #2)
★ 7.00 / 2
This Scepter'd Isle (Scepter'd Isle #1)
N/A
Alta (The Dragon Jousters #2)
★ 6.00 / 3
To Light a Candle (The Obsidian Trilogy #2)
★ 7.60 / 5
Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar
N/A
Winter Moon
★ 8.00 / 2
Sanctuary (The Dragon Jousters #3)
★ 6.00 / 3
Music to My Sorrow (Bedlam's Bard #6)
★ 5.34 / 3
The Wizard of London (Elemental Masters #4)
★ 2.00 / 1
Ill Met by Moonlight (Scepter'd Isle #2)
N/A
When Darkness Falls (The Obsidian Trilogy #3)
★ 7.20 / 5
Aerie (The Dragon Jousters #4)
★ 5.50 / 2
One Good Knight (Five Hundred Kingdoms #2)
★ 2.00 / 1
Fortune's Fool (Five Hundred Kingdoms #3)
★ 6.00 / 1
Reserved for the Cat (Elemental Masters #5)
★ 3.00 / 2
The Phoenix Unchained (The Enduring Flame #1)
★ 6.00 / 4
By Slanderous Tongues (Scepter'd Isle #3)
N/A
And Less Than Kind (Scepter'd Isle #4)
N/A
The Snow Queen (Five Hundred Kingdoms #4)
N/A
The Phoenix Endangered (The Enduring Flame #2)
★ 6.00 / 3
Foundation (The Collegium Chronicles #1)
★ 8.00 / 2
Moving Targets and Other Tales of Valdemar
N/A
The Phoenix Transformed (The Enduring Flame #3)
★ 8.00 / 2
Gwenhwyfar: The White Spirit
★ 7.00 / 1
Changing the World: All-New Tales of Valdemar
N/A
Much Fall of Blood (Heirs of Alexandria #4)
★ 6.00 / 1
The Sleeping Beauty (Five Hundred Kingdoms #5)
N/A
Intrigues (The Collegium Chronicles #2)
★ 6.00 / 2
Finding the Way and Other Tales of Valdemar
N/A
Legacies (Shadow Grail #1)
N/A
Unnatural Issue (Elemental Masters #6)
N/A
Changes (The Collegium Chronicles #3)
★ 7.00 / 2
Beauty and the Werewolf (Five Hundred Kingdoms #6)
N/A
Reboots
N/A
Under the Vale and Other Tales of Valdemar
N/A
Conspiracies (Shadow Grail #2)
N/A
Home from the Sea (Elemental Masters #7)
⧗ 9.00 / 1
Dead Reckoning
★ 6.00 / 1
Redoubt (The Collegium Chronicles #4)
★ 6.50 / 2
Crown of Vengeance (The Dragon Prophecy #1)
★ 8.00 / 2
Steadfast (Elemental Masters #8)
★ 8.00 / 1
Bastion (The Collegium Chronicles #5)
★ 10.00 / 1
Dragon's Teeth
N/A
Sacrifices (Shadow Grail #3)
N/A
Victories (Shadow Grail #4)
N/A
Blood Red (Elemental Masters #9)
N/A
The House of the Four Winds (One Dozen Daughters #1)
★ 8.00 / 1
Closer to Home (The Herald Spy #1)
★ 9.00 / 1
No True Way: All New Tales of Valdemar
N/A
From a High Tower (Elemental Masters #10)
N/A
Hunter (Hunter #1)
N/A
Closer to the Heart (The Herald Spy #2)
N/A
Crucible: All-New Tales of Valdemar
N/A
Silence (The Serrated Edge #9)
N/A
A Study in Sable (Elemental Masters #11)
N/A
Elite (Hunter #2)
N/A
Closer to the Chest (The Herald Spy #3)
N/A
Tempest: All-New Tales of Valdemar
N/A
Apex (Hunter #3)
N/A
A Scandal in Battersea (Elemental Masters #12)
N/A
Blade of Empire (The Dragon Prophecy #2)
⧗ 8.00 / 1
Pathways
N/A
The Hills Have Spies (Valdemar: Family Spies #1)
N/A
The Bartered Brides (Elemental Masters #13)
N/A
Eye Spy (Valdemar: Family Spies #2)
N/A
The Waters and the Wild
N/A
Seasons: All-New Tales of Valdemar
N/A
The Case of the Spellbound Child (Elemental Masters #14)
N/A
Breaking Silence (The Serrated Edge #10)
N/A
Spy, Spy Again (Valdemar: Family Spies #3)
N/A
Passages
N/A
Jolene (Elemental Masters #15)
N/A
Beyond (The Founding of Valdemar #1)
⧗ 8.00 / 1
Boundaries
⧗ 8.00 / 1
The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley (Elemental Masters #16)
⧗ 9.00 / 2
Into the West (The Founding of Valdemar #2)
N/A
Valdemar (The Founding of Valdemar #3)
⧗ 8.00 / 1

Series by Mercedes Lackey

Brain & Brawn Ship Series (8 books)
Darkover (28 books)
Halfblood Chronicles (3 books)
Valdemar (16 books)
- Darian's Tale (3 books)
- Kerowyn's Tale (1 books)
- The Mage Storms (3 books)
- The Mage Wars (3 books)
- The Mage Winds (3 books)
- Vows and Honor (3 books)
- The Herald Spy (3 books)
The Bard's Tale (8 books)
Bardic Voices (5 books)
- Bardic Choices (1 books)
Elemental Masters (18 books)
The Dragon Jousters (4 books)
Fairy Tale Stories (2 books)
Five Hundred Kingdoms (6 books)
The Enduring Flame (3 books)
The Obsidian Trilogy (3 books)
Heirs of Alexandria (5 books)
The Sword of Knowledge (4 books)
The Dragon Prophecy (2 books)
Shadow Grail (4 books)
One Dozen Daughters (1 books)
Hunter (3 books)
The Witches of Karres (4 books)
The Stellar Guild Series (9 books)

Speculative Fiction Novels

(The Serrated Edge #11 / 11)
2024 | fantasy, urban fantasy | Release date TBA
(Elemental Masters #17 / 17)
2023 | fantasy | Release date TBA
(The Founding of Valdemar #3 / 3)
2023 | fantasy, high fantasy | Release date December 12, 2023
(The Founding of Valdemar #2 / 3)
2022 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Elemental Masters #16 / 17)
2022 | fantasy
(The Founding of Valdemar #1 / 3)
2021 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Elemental Masters #15 / 17)
2020 | fantasy
(Valdemar: Family Spies #3 / 3)
2020 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Serrated Edge #10 / 11)
2020 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(Elemental Masters #14 / 17)
2019 | fantasy
(Valdemar: Family Spies #2 / 3)
2019 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Elemental Masters #13 / 17)
2018 | fantasy
(Valdemar: Family Spies #1 / 3)
2018 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Dragon Prophecy #2 / 2)
2017 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Elemental Masters #12 / 17)
2017 | fantasy
(Hunter #3 / 3)
2017 | fantasy, young adult
(The Herald Spy #3 / 3)
2016 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Hunter #2 / 3)
2016 | fantasy, young adult
(Elemental Masters #11 / 17)
2016 | fantasy
(The Serrated Edge #9 / 11)
2016 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(The Herald Spy #2 / 3)
2015 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Hunter #1 / 3)
2015 | fantasy, young adult
(Elemental Masters #10 / 17)
2015 | fantasy
(The Herald Spy #1 / 3)
2014 | fantasy, high fantasy
(One Dozen Daughters #1 / 1)
2014 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Elemental Masters #9 / 17)
2014 | fantasy
(Shadow Grail #4 / 4)
2014 | fantasy, young adult
2013 | science fiction, fantasy, collection
(The Collegium Chronicles #5 / 5)
2013 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Elemental Masters #8 / 17)
2013 | fantasy
(Shadow Grail #3 / 4)
2013 | fantasy, young adult
(The Dragon Prophecy #1 / 2)
2012 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Collegium Chronicles #4 / 5)
2012 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Elemental Masters #7 / 17)
2012 | fantasy
2012 | horror
(The Stellar Guild Series)
2011 | science fiction
(Five Hundred Kingdoms #6 / 6)
2011 | fantasy, romance
(The Collegium Chronicles #3 / 5)
2011 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Elemental Masters #6 / 17)
2011 | fantasy
(Shadow Grail #2 / 4)
2011 | fantasy, young adult
(The Collegium Chronicles #2 / 5)
2010 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Five Hundred Kingdoms #5 / 6)
2010 | fantasy, romance
(Heirs of Alexandria #4 / 5)
2010 | fantasy, alternate history
(Shadow Grail #1 / 4)
2010 | fantasy, young adult
2009 | fantasy, historical fantasy
(The Enduring Flame #3 / 3)
2009 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Collegium Chronicles #1 / 5)
2008 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Enduring Flame #2 / 3)
2008 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Five Hundred Kingdoms #4 / 6)
2008 | fantasy, romance
(Scepter'd Isle #4 / 4)
2008 | fantasy, historical fantasy
(Elemental Masters #5 / 17)
2007 | fantasy
(The Enduring Flame #1 / 3)
2007 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Five Hundred Kingdoms #3 / 6)
2007 | fantasy, romance
(Scepter'd Isle #3 / 4)
2007 | fantasy, historical fantasy
(The Dragon Jousters #4 / 4)
2006 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Obsidian Trilogy #3 / 3)
2006 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Five Hundred Kingdoms #2 / 6)
2006 | fantasy, romance
(Bedlam's Bard #6 / 6)
2005 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(Elemental Masters #4 / 17)
2005 | fantasy
(The Dragon Jousters #3 / 4)
2005 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Scepter'd Isle #2 / 4)
2005 | fantasy, historical fantasy
(Elemental Masters #3 / 17)
2004 | fantasy
(The Witches of Karres #2 / 4)
2004 | science fiction
(The Dragon Jousters #2 / 4)
2004 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Obsidian Trilogy #2 / 3)
2004 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Scepter'd Isle #1 / 4)
2004 | fantasy, historical fantasy
(Five Hundred Kingdoms #1 / 6)
2004 | fantasy, romance
(The Serrated Edge #5 / 11)
2003 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(Bedlam's Bard #5 / 6)
2003 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(The Heralds of Valdemar Prequels #3 / 3)
2003 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Dragon Jousters #1 / 4)
2003 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Obsidian Trilogy #1 / 3)
2003 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Heirs of Alexandria #2 / 5)
2003 | fantasy, alternate history
(Halfblood Chronicles #3 / 3)
2002 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Heralds of Valdemar Prequels #2 / 3)
2002 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Elemental Masters #2 / 17)
2002 | fantasy
(Heirs of Alexandria #1 / 5)
2002 | fantasy, alternate history
(Bedlam's Bard #4 / 6)
2001 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(The Heralds of Valdemar Prequels #1 / 3)
2001 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Elemental Masters #1 / 17)
2001 | fantasy
(Valdemar)
2001 | fantasy, high fantasy, non-fiction, short stories
(Bedlam's Bard #3 / 6)
2000 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(The Serrated Edge)
2000 | fantasy, urban fantasy, collection
(The Heralds of Valdemar)
2000 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Darian's Tale #3 / 3)
1999 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Serrated Edge)
1999 | fantasy, urban fantasy, collection
(Fairy Tale Stories)
1999 | fantasy
1999 | fantasy
(Vows and Honor #3 / 3)
1998 | fantasy, high fantasy, short stories
(Darian's Tale #2 / 3)
1998 | fantasy, high fantasy
1998 | science fiction, fantasy, short stories
1998 | science fiction, fantasy, short stories
(Bardic Voices #4 / 4)
1997 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Darian's Tale #1 / 3)
1997 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Bardic Voices)
1997 | fantasy, high fantasy, collection
(The Mage Storms #3 / 3)
1996 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Mage Wars #3 / 3)
1996 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Fairy Tale Stories)
1996 | fantasy
(The Mage Storms #2 / 3)
1995 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Mage Wars #2 / 3)
1995 | fantasy, high fantasy
1995 | fantasy
(Elemental Masters)
1995 | fantasy
(The Sword of Knowledge)
1995 | fantasy
(The Serrated Edge #4 / 11)
1994 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(Bardic Voices #3 / 4)
1994 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Mage Storms #1 / 3)
1994 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Mage Wars #1 / 3)
1994 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Bardic Choices)
1994 | fantasy, high fantasy
1994 | fantasy
(The Bard's Tale #4 / 8)
1993 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Mage Winds #3 / 3)
1993 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Serrated Edge #3 / 11)
1993 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(Halfblood Chronicles #2 / 3)
1993 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Bard's Tale #2 / 8)
1993 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Bardic Voices #2 / 4)
1993 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Darkover)
1993 | science fiction
(Brain & Brawn Ship Series #3 / 7)
1992 | science fiction
(The Mage Winds #2 / 3)
1992 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Bedlam's Bard #2 / 6)
1992 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(The Serrated Edge #2 / 11)
1992 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(The Bard's Tale #1 / 8)
1992 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Serrated Edge #1 / 11)
1992 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(Diana Tregarde #3 / 3)
1991 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(Halfblood Chronicles #1 / 3)
1991 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Mage Winds #1 / 3)
1991 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Bardic Voices #1 / 4)
1991 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Kerowyn's Tale)
1991 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Bedlam's Bard)
1991 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(The Last Herald-Mage #3 / 3)
1990 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Diana Tregarde #2 / 3)
1990 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(Bedlam's Bard #1 / 6)
1990 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(The Last Herald-Mage)
1990 | fantasy, high fantasy, collection
(The Last Herald-Mage #2 / 3)
1989 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Vows and Honor #2 / 3)
1989 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Last Herald-Mage #1 / 3)
1989 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Diana Tregarde #1 / 3)
1989 | fantasy, urban fantasy
(The Sword of Knowledge #3 / 3)
1989 | fantasy
(The Heralds of Valdemar #3 / 3)
1988 | fantasy, high fantasy
(Vows and Honor #1 / 3)
1988 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Heralds of Valdemar #2 / 3)
1987 | fantasy, high fantasy
(The Heralds of Valdemar #1 / 3)
1987 | fantasy, high fantasy

Comics and Anthology

(Valdemar)
2021 | fantasy, high fantasy, anthology
(Valdemar)
2020 | fantasy, high fantasy, anthology
(Valdemar)
2019 | fantasy, high fantasy, anthology
(Valdemar)
2017 | fantasy, high fantasy, anthology
(Valdemar)
2016 | fantasy, high fantasy, anthology
(Valdemar)
2015 | fantasy, high fantasy, anthology
(Valdemar)
2014 | fantasy, high fantasy, anthology
(Valdemar)
2011 | fantasy, high fantasy, anthology
(Valdemar)
2010 | fantasy, high fantasy, anthology
(Valdemar)
2009 | fantasy, high fantasy, anthology
(Valdemar)
2008 | fantasy, high fantasy, anthology
(Valdemar)
2005 | fantasy, high fantasy, anthology
2005 | fantasy, anthology
(Valdemar)
2003 | fantasy, high fantasy, anthology
2003 | fantasy, anthology
(Valdemar)
1997 | fantasy, high fantasy, anthology