There’s no denying that The Chronicles of Narnia is one of the best fantasy series out there and a staple in every kid’s life. The way C. S. Lewis brought magic to life with his work is forever ingrained in fans’ minds, no matter how many years pass or how many on-screen adaptations the series gets.
Disney’s Narnia movie franchise from the 2000s indeed helped increase the novels’ popularity, but nothing can beat the source material. That said, over 10 years after the third and final film in the series premiered in theaters, fans are in for a complete reboot, as announced by Netflix in 2018. While the decision is being met with mixed emotions from fans of the franchise, the fact that Greta Gerwig will be spearheading the project offers some comfort to folks, who are now in desperate need to do some re-reading before the first entry to this new franchise comes out.
Of course, some have never even picked up one of Lewis’ books, but worry not, there’s still time to get through them. The Chronicles of Narnia series has seven books in total, published yearly between 1950 and 1956. Granted, seven may not seem like a lot, but this is still among the longest high fantasy series out there, and can be intimidating for folks to don’t even know where to begin.
The best reading order for The Chronicles of Narnia books
Because the books’ publication dates don’t match the story’s chronological events, there is some debate regarding the best way to enjoy The Chronicles of Narnia. The general consensus, though, is that the series should be read in order of release, as it offers a much more enticing introduction and expansion of the world of Narnia and its characters.
The Chronicles of Narnia in order of release
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (1950)
- Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (1951)
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
- The Silver Chair (1953)
- The Horse and His Boy (1954)
- The Magician’s Nephew (1955)
- The Last Battle (1956)
All that said, at the end of the day it’s up to readers to decide how they would rather dive into this fantasy world. Some even swear up and down that reading book series chronologically is the way to go, so if you’re one of those people, no need to worry; we’ve got you covered as well.
The Chronicles of Narnia in chronological order
- The Magician’s Nephew
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
- The Horse and His Boy
- Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
- The Silver Chair
- The Last Battle
All seven books can be purchased via online stores, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
