Banished Lands reading order

Two complete series share the Banished Lands. A third Gwynne trilogy does not. Retail “complete Gwynne” lists flatten all three into one numbered column. That is the trap.

Gwynne has said you do not need Faithful and the Fallen before Of Blood and Bone: the later trilogy carries its own history. He has also said the first series gives that history weight. House rule: Malice first if you want the Banished Lands. Do not start on A Time of Dread because the covers are newer. Do not start on Bloodsworn because it is the book people are currently holding.

The Faithful and the Fallen

Read them in this order. There is no contested start inside the quartet. US and UK both use Valour on most printings; if a shop lists Valor, it is the same book.

Of Blood and Bone — after, same world

Set about a century after Wrath, with a new central cast. The first war has become history the later books inhabit.

Contested skip, labeled: Gwynne allows A Time of Dread as a world jump. This house still reads the quartet first if the Banished Lands are what you asked for. Starting on the sequel trilogy is how people meet legends as footnotes.

Bloodsworn — separate world, labeled

Norse-myth epic. No Corban, no Banished Lands map. You can read Bloodsworn without any Banished Lands book. You can read Banished Lands without any Bloodsworn book. They are neighboring Gwynne shelves, not a prequel and sequel.

If Bloodsworn is the series you actually wanted, start with The Shadow of the Gods. Do not “prepare” for it with Malice.

A further Gwynne world (Wolfheart) is a later, separate door. Same rule: not Banished Lands 11.

Common mistakes

• Starting with A Time of Dread because it is “book one” of a trilogy.
• Starting with The Shadow of the Gods because it is the current Gwynne, then wondering where the Banished Lands went.
• Starting with Wrath or A Time of Courage.
• Filing all ten Gwynne novels as one series in publication order and calling that the Banished Lands.

What to read next

1. The First Law (Joe Abercrombie) — If you want another grim war-epic whose later trilogy is the same world, later generation.
2. Powder Mage (Brian McClellan) — If you want another finished military fantasy with a sequel trilogy that looks like a new book one.
3. The Poppy War (R. F. Kuang) — If you want another complete grim-war three.
4. The Black Company (Glen Cook) — If you want the other company-level war chronicle that punishes starting on a later-published gap-filler.
5. Stop after Wrath. The Faithful and the Fallen four are a complete visit. Of Blood and Bone is a second war. Bloodsworn is a different country.

FAQ

Do I need Faithful and the Fallen before Of Blood and Bone?
Gwynne says no, strictly. This house still reads Malice first for a Banished Lands visit.

Is Bloodsworn Banished Lands?
No. Separate world. Start it only if that is the series you want.

Where do I start John Gwynne?
Malice for the Banished Lands. The Shadow of the Gods for Bloodsworn. Pick one. They are not a sequence.

Is the Banished Lands finished?
Both Banished Lands series are complete. Bloodsworn is a different complete three.

Sources

• Pan Macmillan, introduction to John Gwynne’s Banished Lands universe — publisher note that Faithful and the Fallen and Of Blood and Bone share the Banished Lands. Opened 2026-09-18.
• John Gwynne, Goodreads Q&A — author’s note that Of Blood and Bone can be read without the first series, with more weight if you have. Opened 2026-09-18.