The Novels of Dragon Age in Order

The Books of Dragon Age Universe in Order

Perhaps this was what Queens did. Perhaps they held their Kings in the darkness, deep within their castles and allowed them that moment of weakness they could never show to anyone else. Perhaps they gave strength to their Kings, because everyone else only took it from them.”
― David Gaider, The Stolen Throne

Dragon Age Novel Series

1. The Stolen Throne (2009) – David Gaider
2. The Calling (2009) – David Gaider
3. Asunder (2011) – David Gaider
4. The Masked Empire (2014) – Patrick Weekes
5. Last Flight (2014) – Liane Merciel
6. Hard in Hightown (2018) – Varric Tethras (Mark Kirby)
7. Tevinter Nights (2020) – Chris Bain

Dragon Age Short Stories
Dragon Age II Prequel Series

1. Aveline (2011) – Luke Kristjanson
2. Anders (2011) – Jennifer Hepler
3. Fenris (2011) – David Gaider
4. Isabela (2011) – Sheryl Chee
5. Merrill (2011) – Mark Kirby
6. Sebastian (2011) – Jennifer Hepler
7. Varric (2011) – Mark Kirby

Dragon Age: Inquisition Prequel Series

1. Paper & Steel (2015) – Joanna Berry
2. Paying the Ferryman (2015) – Joanna Berry
3. The Riddle of Truth (2015) – Joanne Berry

Dragon Age: Dreadwold Prequel Series 

(all released as part of the Dragon Age Day celebration (4th December)

1. Minrathous Shadows (2020) – Sheryl Chee
2. The Next One (2020) – Brianne Battye
3. Ruins of Reality (2020) – John Dombrow
4. The Wake (2020) – Mark Kirby
5. The Flame Eternal (2021) – Sylvia Feketekuty 
6. Won’t know When (2021) – Brianne Battye
7. As We Fly (2022) – Lukas Kristjanson

Dragon Age Guides

1. Prima Official Game Guide for Dragon Age Origins  (2009)
2. Dragon Age II: The Complete Official Guide (2011)
3. Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1 (2013)
4. Dragon Age Inquisition: Prima Official Game Guide (2014)
5. Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 2 (2015)

The Dragon Age Universe

As this post is just for the novels of Dragon Age Universe, you can learn more about what Dragon Age is about by clicking the link below.

• Dragon Age Universe

And if you already know what part of the Dragon Age Universe you are most interested in (that isn’t involved with this post) then feel free to click one of the links below for more information!

• Dragon Age (The Comics)
• Dragon Age (Books and Comics)
• Dragon Age Universe in Publication Order (Recommended)
• Dragon Age Universe in Chronological Order

The Best Reading Order for Dragon Age Universe

Below, we list two different ways you can dive into the books of the Dragon Age Universe novels, publication and chronological order. We recommend following the publication order as this is how best the world came together for the creators of the universe. On follow through reads, then we would recommend having some fun with it. Look at how different the reads can become in chronological order.

The Publication Order for Dragon Age Universe Books

Below you will find the publication order for all the novels and short stories that are included in the Dragon Age Universe. You will see that we have included the guides as we feel that it is a handy guide (see what I did there…) to help gage when the books came out in relation to the games of the series.

1. The Stolen Throne (2009) – David Gaider (Novel)
2. The Calling (2009) – David Gaider (Novel)
3. Prima Official Game Guide for Dragon Age Origins  (2009) (Guide)
4. Dragon Age II Prequel Series (2011) (Short Stories #1-7)
5. Dragon Age II: The Complete Official Guide (2011) (Guide)
6. Asunder (2011) – David Gaider (Novel)
7. Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1 (2013) (Guide)
8. The Masked Empire (2014) – Patrick Weekes (Novel)
9. Last Flight (2014) – Liane Merciel (Novel)
10. Dragon Age Inquisition: Prima Official Game Guide (2014) (Guide)
11. Paper & Steel (2015) – Joanna Berry (Short Story)
12. Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 2 (2015) (Guide)
13. Paying the Ferryman (2015) – Joanna Berry (Short Story)
14. The Riddle of Truth (2015) – Joanne Berry (Short Story)
15. Hard in Hightown (2018) – Varric Tethras (Mark Kirby) (Novella)
16. Tevinter Nights (2020) – Chris Bain (Novel)
17. Minrathous Shadows (2020) – Sheryl Chee (Short Story)
18. The Next One (2020) – Brianne Battye (Short Story)
19. Ruins of Reality (2020) – John Dombrow (Short Story)
20. The Wake (2020) – Mark Kirby (Short Story)
21. The Flame Eternal (2021) – Sylvia Feketekuty (Short Story) 
22. Won’t know When (2021) – Brianne Battye (Short Story)
23. As We Fly (2022) – Lukas Kristjanson (Short Story)

The Chronological Order for Dragon Age Universe Books

1. The Stolen Throne (2009) – David Gaider (Novel)
2. The Calling (2009) – David Gaider (Novel)
3. Prima Official Game Guide for Dragon Age Origins  (2009) (Guide)
4. Dragon Age II Prequel Series (Books #1-7) (Short Story)
5. Dragon Age II: The Complete Official Guide (2011) (Guide)
6. Hard in Hightown (2018) – Varric Tethras (Mark Kirby) (Novella)
7. Asunder (2011) – David Gaider (Novel)
8. The Masked Empire (2014) – Patrick Weekes (Novel)
9. Dragon Age Inquisition: Prima Official Game Guide (2014) (Guide)
10. Paper & Steel (2015) – Joanna Berry (Short Story)
11. Paying the Ferryman (2015) – Joanna Berry (Short Story)
12. Last Flight (2014) – Liane Merciel (Novel)
13. The Riddle of Truth (2015) – Joanne Berry (Short Story)
14. Tevinter Nights (2020) – Chris Bain (Collection of Short Stories)
15. Dragon Age: Dreadwold Prequel series (Books #1-7) (Short Story)

The Writers of Dragon Age

There are a lot more people involved in making this well beloved series of Dragon Age. Below we will list all the people involved in writing some of the rich history, short stories, novels, comics and more, that all help build and shape up what is part of the Dragon Age Universe.

The Order

Below we will go into more detail about each of the books in series. They will be listed in publication order by the series.

WARNING: There may be spoilers for some of the books mentioned. These are taken from the official descriptions but can sometimes spoil parts of previous books. So please be careful!

Dragon Age Novels

1. The Stolen Throne (2009)
   By David Gaider

Dragon Age Books #1
125,405 words, 400 pages, 20 chapters, 8hrs 25mins to read
6,270 average words per chapter, 20 average pages per chapter
Published by Dark Horse Books
3.74 out of 5 on Goodreads

After his mother, the beloved Rebel Queen, is betrayed and murdered by her own faithless lords, young Maric becomes the leader of a rebel army attempting to free his nation from the control of a foreign tyrant.

His countrymen live in fear; his commanders consider him untested; and his only allies are Loghain, a brash young outlaw who saved his life, and Rowan, the beautiful warrior maiden promised to him since birth. Surrounded by spies and traitors, Maric must find a way to not only survive but achieve his ultimate destiny: Ferelden’s freedom and the return of his line to the stolen throne.

2. The Calling (2009)
   By David Gaider

Dragon Age Books #2
139,195 words, 444 pages, 20 chapters, 9hrs 20mins to read
6,959 average words per chapter, 22.2 average pages per chapter
Published by Dark Horse Books
3.85 out of 5 on Goodreads

King Maric has allowed the legendary Grey Wardens to return to Ferelden. One of their own has aligned himself with their ancient enemy, the monstrous darkspawn. Maric agrees to lead the Grey Wardens, chasing after a deadly secret that threatens to destroy the Grey Wardens and the kingdom.

3. Asunder (2011)
   By David Gaider

Dragon Age Books #3
129,795 words, 414 pages, 23 chapters, 8hrs 40mins to read.
5,643 average words per chapter, 18 average pages per chapter
Published by Dark Horse Books
3.98 out of 5 on Goodreads

A mystical killer stalks the halls of the White Spire, the heart of templar power in the mighty Orlesian Empire. To prove his innocence, Rhys reluctantly embarks on a journey into the western wastelands that will not only reveal much more than he bargained for but change the fate of his fellow mages forever.

4. The Masked Empire (2014)
   By Patrick Weekes

Dragon Age Books #4
117,880 words, 376 pages, 18 chapters, 7hrs 55mins to read
6,548 average words per chapter, 20.8 average pages per chapter
Published by Dark Horse Books
3.96 out of 5 on Goodreads

Empress Celene of Orlais rose to the throne of the most powerful nation in Thedas through wisdom, wit, and ruthless manipulation. Now, the empire she has guided into an age of enlightenment is threatened from within by imminent war between the templars and the mages even as rebellion stirs among the downtrodden elves. To save Orlais, Celene must keep her hold on the throne by any means necessary.

Fighting with the legendary skill of the Orlesian Chevaliers, Grand Duke Gaspard has won countless battles for the empire and the empress. But as the Circle fails and chaos looms, Gaspard begins to doubt that Celene’s diplomatic approach Orlais’ problems will keep the empire safe. Perhaps it is time for a new leader, one who lives by the tenets of the Chevalier’s Code, to make Orlais strong again.

5. Last Flight (2014)
   By Liane Merciel

Dragon Age Books #5
93,115 words, 297 pages, 25 chapters, 6hrs 15mins to read
3,724 average words per chapter, 11.8 average pages per chapter
Published by Dark Horse Books
4.01 out of 5 on Goodreads

The Grey Wardens are heroes across Thedas once the Archdemon has been defeated with relative ease and the scattered darkspawn are being driven back underground. The Blight is over. Or so it seems.

Valya, a young elven mage recently recruited into the Wardens, has been tasked with studying the historical record of previous Blights in order to gain insight into newly reported, and disturbing, darkspawn phenomena. Her research into the Fourth Blight leads her to an encoded reference scrawled in the margins of an ancient map, and to the hidden diary of Issenya, one of the last of the fabled griffon riders. As the dark secrets buried in Isseyna’s story unfold, Valya begins to question everything she thought she knew about the heroic Grey Wardens. . . .

6. Hard in Hightown (2018)
   By Varric Tethras (Mark Kirby)

Dragon Age Books #6
10,155 words, 72 pages, 40mins to read
Published by Dark Horse Books
3.95 out of 5 on Goodreads

Twenty years of patrols have chiseled each and every stone of the Kirkwall streets into city guardsmen Donnen Brennokovic. Weary and weathered, Donnen is paired with a recruit so green he might as well have leaves growing out of his armor. When the mismatched pair discover a dead magistrate bleeding out on the flagstones, they’re caught up in a clash between a shadowy organization known only as the Executors and a secretive group of Chantry agents–all over some ancient artifact.

7. Tevinter Nights (2020)
   By Various

Dragon Age Books #7
154,875 words, 494 pages, 15 chapters, 10hrs 20mins to read
10,325 average words per chapter, 32.9 average pages per chapter
Published by Dark Horse Books
4.21 out of 5 on Goodreads

Ancient horrors. Marauding invaders. Powerful mages. And a world that refuses to stay fixed.

Welcome to Thedas.

From the stoic Grey Wardens to the otherworldly Mortalitasi necromancers, from the proud Dalish elves to the underhanded Antivan Crow assassins, Dragon Age is filled with monsters, magic, and memorable characters making their way through dangerous world whose only constant is change.

Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights brings you fifteen tales of adventure, featuring faces new and old, including:

• “Three Trees to Midnight” by Patrick Weekes
• “Down Among the Dead Men” by Sylvia Feketekuty
• “The Horror of Hormak” by John Epler
• “Callback” by Lukas Kristjanson
• “Luck in the Gardens” by Sylvia Feketekuty
• “Hunger” by Brianne Battye
• “Murder by Death Mages” by Caitlin Sullivan Kelly
• “The Streets of Minrathous” by Brianne Battye
• “The Wigmaker” by Courtney Woods
• “Genitivi Dies in the End” by Lukas Kristjanson
• “Herold Had the Plan” by Ryan Cormier
• “An Old Crow’s Old Tricks” by Arone Le Bray
• “Eight Little Talons” by Courtney Woods
• “Half Up Front” by John Epler
• “Dread Wolf Take You” by Patrick Weekes

Dragon Age Short Stories

Dragon Age II Prequel Series
By Various

Dragon Age II Prequel Series #1-7
6,890 words, 16 pages, 30mins to read
Published by BioWare
3.46 out of 5 on Goodreads (avg)

A collection of short stories that were released in build up for Dragon Age II release and all available to read online for free! You can read any of them by clicking on any of the links below. The short stories are:

1. Aveline (2011) – Luke Kristjanson
2. Anders (2011) – Jennifer Hepler
3. Fenris (2011) – David Gaider
4. Isabela (2011) – Sheryl Chee
5. Merrill (2011) – Mark Kirby
6. Sebastian (2011) – Jennifer Hepler
7. Varric (2011) – Mark Kirby

Dragon Age: Inquisition Prequel Series
By Joanna Berry

Dragon Age: Inquisition Prequel Series #1-3
13,485 words, 35 pages, 1hr to read
Published by BioWare
3.58 out of 5 on Goodreads (avg)

Unlike with the Dragon Age II Prequel short stories collection, these were released the year after Dragon Age: Inquisition. These short stories were made and released following the great success from the Dragon Age: The World of Thedas guides. Like with the Dragon Age II Prequel short stories, they are all available to read online for free! You can read any of them by clicking on any of the links below. The short stories are:

1. Paper & Steel (2015) – Joanna Berry
2. Paying the Ferryman (2015) – Joanna Berry
3. The Riddle of Truth (2015) – Joanne Berry

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf Prequel Series
By Various

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf Prequel Series #1-7
4,945 words, 11 pages, 20mins to read
Published by BioWare
2.76 out of 5 on Goodreads (avg)

A collection of short stories that were released as part of the Dragon Age Day Celebration, which is on the 4th of December. They are all in anticipation and build up for the yet to be released fourth instalment of the Dragon Age games, Dreadwolf. Like with the Dragon Age II Prequel short stories, they are all available to read online for free! You can read any of them by clicking on any of the links below. The short stories are:

1. Minrathous Shadows (2020) – Sheryl Chee
2. The Next One (2020) – Brianne Battye
3. Ruins of Reality (2020) – John Dombrow
4. The Wake (2020) – Mark Kirby
5. The Flame Eternal (2021) – Sylvia Feketekuty 
6. Won’t know When (2021) – Brianne Battye
7. As We Fly (2022) – Lukas Kristjanson

Dragon Age Guides

1. Prima Official Game Guide for Dragon Age Origins  (2009)

408 pages
Published by Prima Games
4.7 out of 5 on Amazon

• Essentials: Over 300 pages packed with every quest, NPC, monster, and item across the world of Ferelden!
• Classes: Complete ascension guides with level-by-level tips on how to maximize a warrior, mage, or rogue class!
• Maps: Over 100 jam-packed maps displaying every critical piece of information!
• Walkthrough: Detailed walkthroughs to master all quests, puzzles, and pivotal story choices!
• Equipment: Full equipment lists to gear out your PCs!
• Bestiary: Comprehensive bestiary with everything from arcane horrors to werewolves!
• Combat: Expert tactics to conquer the intricacies of combat!

2. Dragon Age II: The Complete Official Guide (2011)

272 pages
Published by Prima Games
4.6 out of 5 on Amazon

The 100% complete guide to Dragon Age II Carefully designed to avoid unnecessary story spoilers A world map shows the position of all areas visited with an index of available locales listing all quests and page references to the relevant sections of the guide A dedicated Side Quests chapter presents all side missions, random encounters and all additional optional activities with a checklist to reach 100% completion The Walkthrough features annotated area maps with step-by-step action on the left-hand page and expanded strategies and advanced tactics on the right The Strategy & Analysis chapter focuses on high-level playing strategies and in-depth analysis of the game’s underlying mechanics. All-encompassing Inventory chapter features exhaustive lists and tables covering: weapons, armor, accessories, special items, shops, runes, crafting, consumables and gifts All-encompassing Bestiary chapter presents all details on: enemy ranks, locations, attributes, resistances, loot drops and more A feature-packed Extras chapter covers every Achievement, every Trophy, every Secret and also presents a Dragon Age encyclopaedia and a story recap

3. Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1 (2013)

184 pages
Published by Dark Horse Books
4.55 out of 5 on Goodreads

For Dragon Age newcomers, this comprehensive volume brings you up to speed on everything you need to know about the regions, religions, monsters, magic, and more! For dedicated fans, never before have the secrets of BioWare’s epic fantasy been revealed so completely and so compellingly!

4. Dragon Age Inquisition: Prima Official Game Guide (2014)

272 pages
Published by Prima Games
4.5 out of 5 on Amazon

• Mobile friendly eGuide access – Digital strategy content optimized for a second screen experience.
• Multiple play styles presented – Identify tactics, explore hidden caves, defeat monumental creatures, and shape the world around you based on advice for your own style of play and combat.
• Make the right decision – Your actions and choices will shape a multitude of story outcomes along with the tangible, physical aspects of the world itself. Tough choices define your experience, and even one decision can change the course of what’s to come.
• Be the finest Inquisitor –Choose your class based on recommended character loadouts that take advantage of a unique set of abilities, weaponry, special moves, and even class-reactive story content. Completely control the appearance and abilities
• Get the best out of your team – Connect and communicate with a cast of unique, memorable characters to develop dynamic relationships that will benefit you and your party.
• Where to go next – Illustrated maps serve as a guide to the next adventure allowing informed exploration of a diverse, visually stunning, and immersive living world.

5. Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 2 (2015)

312 pages
Published by Dark Horse Books
4.59 out of 5 on Goodreads

BioWare’s newest game Dragon Inquisition will expand the universe of their epic series in profound ways. This comprehensive book of lore features exclusive art and information, exploring every corner of this dark fantasy masterpiece!

Newcomers will appreciate how this volume covers everything they need to know about the world and characters of these smash-hit games! Dedicated fans will revel in the abundance of never-before-revealed secrets, the perfect companion to Dragon The World of Thedas Volume 1 ! From heroes to villains, to songs and food, and everything in between, this book puts the breath and depth of this inimitable fantasy at your fingertips.

Being Tranquil didn’t sound so bad to him. He’d been terrified of being swallowed up by the darkness for so long it seemed like it would be a relief to get it over with. You were only scared of becoming nothing until you were nothing.
Just like dying”
― David Gaider, Asunder

Overall

The Dragon Age books add a lot to the already well loved franchise. They are great books to dive into to explore into more depth the themes and characters that you already know. If you have not played the games, then these are great books to read if you are just looking for your next fantasy fix.

Which one is your favourite or most looking forward to picking up next? 

Let us know!

Happy reading!

We are always in battle,” Celene said. “It is only that some of us do not always realize it. A bard named Marjolaine once told me that. I heard she met an unfortunate end in Ferelden.”
― Patrick Weekes, The Masked Empire

The Dragon Age Universe Total Word Count and More!

The Novels of Dragon Age

• Total words: 770,420 words
• Total pages: 2,497 pages
• Total chapters: 121 chapters
• Total reading time: 51hrs 25mins

Short Stories and Extras of Dragon Age

• Total words: 25,320 words
• Total pages: 62 pages
• Total reading time: 1hr 45mins

All the Books of Dragon Age

• Total words: 795,740 words
• Total pages: 2,559 pages
• Total chapters: 121 chapters
• Total reading time: 53hrs 10mins

More of the same, but different:

• Harry Potter
• The Lord of the Rings
• The Witcher

For More of Anything:

• Authors
• Best of’s
• Reading Orders
• Reviews

Things to Note:

1. Word count is an approximation.
2. Amount of pages may differ due to different publications, font style and/or size etc.
3. Time spent reading is generally an approximation based on the word count and the average reading time. The average reader will read 250 WPM (Words Per Minute).
4. This is the original publisher of the books.
5. The current Goodreads score at the time of writing.
6. For more information on word lengths and what they mean, check out our handy guide here.