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The Chronicles of The One Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Nora Roberts
3 Entries
Ongoing
Quick Answer

Start The Chronicles of The One by Nora Roberts with "Year One", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

A post-apocalyptic fantasy trilogy following the descendants of those who survived a devastating plague and magical war.

Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "Year One"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

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Community Consensus

Medium Debate

"The full saga (The Realm of the Elderlings) should ideally be read chronologically (Series 1 through 5). However, if the reader intends to focus strictly on the main character (Fitz) storyline, the essential reading order is: Farseer Trilogy (Series 1) -> Tawny Man Trilogy (Series 3) -> Fitz and the Fool Trilogy (Series 5). The second and fourth series (Liveship Traders and Rain Wild Chronicles) are technically skippable for the core Fitz narrative, but the Liveship Traders trilogy is overwhelmingly recommended due to its high quality and world-building contribution."

Key Reddit Advice

Do not skip the Tawny Man Trilogy (Series 3), as it bridges the narrative between the first and final trilogies concerning Fitz. If forced to skip, the acceptable path is Series 1, Series 3, then Series 5 (The Fitz trilogies). Do not skip Series 2 (Liveship Traders) if quality is a priority, even if skipping Series 4 (Rain Wild Chronicles) is acceptable.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for The Chronicles of The One conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for The Chronicles of The One. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "Year One" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "The Chronicles of The One" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Start with "Year One"Explore all by Nora Roberts

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended. Compare →

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for fans. Compare →

Publication Reading Order3 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
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1

Year One

Pub: 2017★ 5

A devastating pandemic known as 'The Doom' sweeps the globe, ushering in a new age where ancient magic and technology collide in a desperate fight for the future.

2

Of Blood And Bone

Pub: 2023

Plot details hidden until you finish "Year One".

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts comes the complete Chronicles of the One trilogy in one beautiful package. Year One An epic of hope and horror, chaos and magick, and a journey that will unite a desperate group of people to fight the battle of their lives as magick (good and bad) emerges in the wake of a plague. Magick user Lena must make her way out of a wrecked New York City with a group of ragtag companions as a grand purpose awaits them. Of Blood and Bone Fallon Swift, approaching her thirteenth birthday, barely knows the world that existed before hers, where vicious gangs of Raiders and fanatics called Purity Warriors search for their next gifted victim. When her identity as The One can no longer be hidden, her training begins as she must grow into the woman she was born to be to make the world whole again. The Rise of the Magicks Trained to fight, Fallon cannot live in peace until she frees those who have been preyed upon by the government or the fanatical Purity Warriors. Strengthened by the bond she shares with her fellow warrior, Duncan, as well as those she's rescued, she must help them rediscover the light and faith within themselves to finally restore the mystical shield that once protected them all...

3

The Rise Of Magicks

Pub: 2019

Plot details hidden until you finish "Of Blood And Bone".

Humanity’s last hope rests with a powerful young woman destined to confront the dark forces unleashed by 'The Doom' and restore true magic to the world.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the The Chronicles of The One series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read The Chronicles of The One?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Year One" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Nora Roberts intended.

Can I read The Chronicles of The One books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the The Chronicles of The One universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.