The Well Bookshop
Series · epic fantasy

The Nicci Chronicles

by Terry Goodkind

The Nicci Chronicles series by Terry Goodkind has 4 known books (4 published). It is best read in publication order, starting with Death's Mistress (2017).

Books
4 known books (4 novels)
Published
4
First published
2017
Status
completed
Shelved under
Fantasy
Start here: Death's Mistress (2017) — then read straight through in publication order.
Book one
Cover of Death's Mistress
Death's Mistress (2017)

Reading order

The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.

  1. Death's Mistress

    Novel
    Death's Mistress is the book that opens The Nicci Chronicles, written by Terry Goodkind, published in 2017 at 512 pages. It's followed here by Shroud of Eternity. The Nicci Chronicles is a parallel continuation of Sword of Truth, following supporting character Nicci.
    View book

  2. Shroud of Eternity

    Novel
    Shroud of Eternity is the 2nd book in the Nicci Chronicles series, written by Terry Goodkind, published in 2018 at 534 pages. It follows Death's Mistress and precedes Siege of Stone in the reading order.
    View book

  3. Siege of Stone

    Novel
    Siege of Stone is the 3rd book in the Nicci Chronicles series, written by Terry Goodkind, published in 2018 at 560 pages. In the reading order it follows Shroud of Eternity and precedes Heart of Black Ice.
    View book

  4. Heart of Black Ice

    Novel
    Heart of Black Ice is the 4th book in the Nicci Chronicles series, written by Terry Goodkind, published in 2020 at 528 pages. It follows Siege of Stone, closing out the series as recorded in this catalogue. Terry Goodkind died in September 2020 before writing further volumes, so this is the last book in the series.
    View book

Key facts about The Nicci Chronicles series

Our list has 4 books in The Nicci Chronicles series. Since all 4 are out now, you can read the whole list today.

Start with Death's Mistress, since it opens the publication order in 2017. Shroud of Eternity is book 2, from 2018. Siege of Stone is book 3, from 2018. Heart of Black Ice is book 4, from 2020.

The list keeps the books in date order, while each title links to its own page. Each book page shows its dates and editions. Since the catalogue marks the series as complete, we list no next book.

The books came out between 2017 and 2020, while their length runs from 512 to 560 pages. That is a run of 3 years.

Terry Goodkind has 29 books on our list. Additionally, they write Sword of Truth, Richard and Kahlan and The Children of D'Hara. We shelve the books under epic fantasy.

About The Nicci Chronicles

The Nicci Chronicles follows Nicci, the former Sister of the Dark and one-time antagonist-turned-ally from the main Sword of Truth novels, as she sets out on her own journey after the war against the Imperial Order. Traveling with the young wizard Nathan Rahl (Richard's grandfather) and the mercenary Bannon, Nicci works to atone for her past by using her formidable magical power to help people the D'Haran Empire's peace has left behind -- starting with a plague of the walking dead in Death's Mistress and expanding into threats that range from ancient sorcery in Shroud of Eternity to a besieged mountain fortress in Siege of Stone and a magic-killing cold in Heart of Black Ice.

Where the original Sword of Truth novels are built around Richard and Kahlan's rise to power, this series is a redemption arc for a former villain, giving Goodkind room to explore guilt, atonement and the use of overwhelming power more intimately than the empire-scale main series allowed. It runs in parallel with the Richard and Kahlan series, covering roughly the same post-Confessor period from a different corner of the world, and was left at four books when Terry Goodkind died in 2020.

Frequently asked questions

How many books are in the Nicci Chronicles?

Four: Death's Mistress (2017), Shroud of Eternity (2018), Siege of Stone (2018) and Heart of Black Ice (2020).

Who is Nicci in the Nicci Chronicles?

A former Sister of the Dark and antagonist from the main Sword of Truth novels who becomes an ally to Richard and Kahlan; this series follows her own journey afterward.

Do I need to read Sword of Truth before the Nicci Chronicles?

Yes. Nicci's history as a onetime enemy of Richard and Kahlan, and the state of the D'Haran Empire, are established across the eleven-book main series.

Is the Nicci Chronicles finished?

It ends at four books with Heart of Black Ice (2020). Terry Goodkind died in September 2020 without writing further volumes, and no additional books have been announced.

How does the Nicci Chronicles relate to the Richard and Kahlan series?

They run in parallel, covering roughly the same period after Confessor from different characters' perspectives -- Richard and Kahlan follows the title characters, the Nicci Chronicles follows Nicci, Nathan and Bannon.

Last updated

All series