The Books of the Raksura
fantasy
Series · fantasy
The Books of Ile-Rien
The Books of Ile-Rien series by Martha Wells has 5 books and is best read in publication order, starting with The Element of Fire (1993).
- Books
- 5 books
- First published
- 1993
- Status
- completed
- Last checked
Start here: The Element of Fire (1993) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The order the books were released — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
The Element of Fire
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Element of Fire - Book 2:
The Death of the Necromancer
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Death of the Necromancer - Book 3:
The Wizard Hunters
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Wizard Hunters - Book 4:
The Ships of Air
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Ships of Air - Book 5:
The Gate of Gods
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Gate of Gods
About The Books of Ile-Rien
Ile-Rien is Martha Wells's recurring secondary-world setting, a magic-using nation with a distinctly Gaslamp, Belle Epoque flavor rather than standard medieval fantasy trappings. The Element of Fire (1993), her debut novel, follows a court sorceress and a captain of the Queen's Guard defending Ile-Rien from both a fae incursion and courtly conspiracy. The Death of the Necromancer (1998), set a generation later, follows a gentleman-thief protagonist whose revenge scheme against the man who ruined his family collides with a genuine necromantic plot -- widely regarded as Wells's finest standalone work in the setting, blending heist plotting with dark fantasy atmosphere.
The Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy -- The Wizard Hunters, The Ships of Air, and The Gate of Gods -- moves the timeline forward again into a war against an alien-technology invasion, sending characters fleeing through a dimensional gate into a fantasy-inflected version of our own Earth. Across all five books, Wells uses Ile-Rien to blend fantasy, early science fiction, and adventure-thriller pacing well before that combination became common in the genre.
How to read this series
The Element of Fire and The Death of the Necromancer are set a generation apart and share only their setting -- either can be read first, though publication order (Element of Fire, then Necromancer) is the more common recommendation. The Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy -- The Wizard Hunters, The Ships of Air, The Gate of Gods -- is set later still, follows its own continuous story, and should be read in that order; it isn't necessary to have read the two earlier books first, though returning characters and worldbuilding will feel more familiar if you have.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are set in Ile-Rien?
Five: The Element of Fire (1993), The Death of the Necromancer (1998), and The Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy (The Wizard Hunters, 2003; The Ships of Air, 2004; The Gate of Gods, 2005).
What order should I read the Ile-Rien books in?
The Element of Fire and The Death of the Necromancer can be read in either order (they share only their setting, a generation apart), followed by The Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy in order: The Wizard Hunters, The Ships of Air, The Gate of Gods.
Which Ile-Rien book is the best entry point?
The Death of the Necromancer is the most frequently recommended starting point and is often cited as Wells's best standalone novel in the setting.
Do I need to read The Element of Fire before The Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy?
No -- The Fall of Ile-Rien is set generations later with a new cast and works as a self-contained trilogy, though it's set in the same nation.
Is Ile-Rien connected to the Murderbot Diaries or the Raksura books?
No -- it's a separate setting from both, with no shared characters or continuity.
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Reading order last verified .