Read in publication order
Begin with The Blue Sword, then go back in Damar's history with The Hero and the Crown.
Book Series · 2 Books
Damar Books
In order from The Blue Sword to The Hero and the Crown.
Two related fantasy novels about young women who claim heroic roles in Damar: Harry Crewe in The Blue Sword and the legendary Aerin centuries earlier.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Damar Books
Publication order is The Blue Sword followed by The Hero and the Crown, and it is the best default for new readers. The second novel is a centuries-earlier prequel that reveals the life of Aerin, already remembered as a legend in The Blue Sword.
Readers who strongly prefer story chronology may reverse them, but starting with The Hero and the Crown changes how Aerin's legend is first encountered. The books have separate protagonists and can also stand on their own.
Sources: Penguin Random House's official The Hero and the Crown page, Robin McKinley's official bibliography.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
Both books include sword fights, warfare, serious injuries, frightening magic, deaths, and young women facing prejudice and restrictive gender expectations. The Hero and the Crown includes dragon attacks, poisoning, burns, grief, and romance. The Blue Sword includes Harry's abduction and uses a colonial frontier setting whose portrayals of culture and empire can invite discussion with modern readers.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$858
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 10–15 · 1982
The Blue Sword
An orphan discovers her destiny as a legendary warrior in a magical desert kingdom.
272 pages· 101,620 words· Est. 9.5 hour read
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Harry Crewe, an orphan in the desert land of Damar, is thrust into a world of magic and destiny when the enigmatic King Corlath recognizes her hidden potential. As she becomes Harimad-sol, the King's Rider, she must wield the legendary Blue Sword, Gonturan, a weapon untouched by women since the time of Lady Aerin. Can Harry embrace her newfound power and fulfill a destiny she never imagined? In a land where magic and reality intertwine, her journey will challenge everything she knows about herself and the world around her.
In reading order
Damar Series
2 books · Published 1982–1984
#1
Sale price
$858
The Blue Sword
Chapter Book · Ages 10–15 · 1982
An orphan discovers her destiny as a legendary warrior in a magical desert kingdom.
#2
Sale price
$1520
The Hero and the Crown
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 1984
A princess battles a dragon and uncovers her true destiny in a land of magic and betrayal.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Damar series?
There are 2 books in the Damar series. It began with The Blue Sword in 1982, and the newest book, The Hero and the Crown, was published in 1984.
What order should you read the Damar books in?
Start with The Blue Sword and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #2.
What ages are the Damar books best for?
The series is best for ages 10–15, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Damar book is the longest?
The Blue Sword (Book #1) is the longest book in the series at 101,620 words (272 pages).
Which Damar book is the shortest?
The Hero and the Crown (Book #2) is the shortest at 87,370 words (246 pages).
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Damar to life.
Keep exploring
Similar Series
Red Queen
Ages 13–18
Strange the Dreamer
Ages 14–18
Six of Crows
Ages 14–18
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Ages 15–18
His Dark Materials
Ages 12–18
The Inheritance Cycle
Ages 12–15
Redwall
Ages 10–14
To Kill a Mockingbird
Ages 12–18