Book 1

Shadow Magic

by Patricia C Wrede

Published 1 September 1982
In the magic woods of Lyra, a noblewoman struggles to escape from a faceless man Trouble is brewing in Alkyra. While the kingdom's noblemen squabble, on their borders an ancient enemy, the Lithmern, raises an army. As the head of the Noble House of Brenn attempts to organize an alliance, the princess Alethia celebrates her twentieth birthday. She is a remarkable woman: quick-witted, beautiful, and handy with a throwing knife. But on the next night, she passes through a dark corridor on her way to the banquet hall, and never emerges from the shadows. The Lithmern have kidnapped the princess. When Alethia regains consciousness, an evil Lithmern with a face made of shadows is carrying her through the forest. These are magic woods, home to fabled creatures whose existence she has always doubted. To find her way home, Alethia will have to learn to trust in the old tales, whose legends of magic and daring hold the only hope of saving her kingdom. "Wrede's delightful voice is all her own." -School Library Journal "No doubt the charm, humor, and intelligence of Wrede's writing will continue to enthrall." -Publishers Weekly "High-style fantasy and adventure."
-The New York Times For over twenty years, Patricia C. Wrede (b. 1953) has expanded the boundaries of young-adult fantasy writing. Her first novel, Shadow Magic (1982), introduced Lyra, a magical world in which she set four more novels. Her other series include the Enchanted Forest Chronicles; the Cecelia and Kate novels, co-written with Caroline Stevermer; the Mairelon books, which take place in Regency England; and the Old-West Frontier Magic series. Wrede lives and works in Minnesota.

Book 2

Daughter of Witches

by Patricia C Wrede

Published 1 March 1983

Six years ago the Temple of Chaldon burned her parents as witches. Now three forbidden guests bribe her abusive bond-holder innkeeper to stay during the Midwinter Festival in Drinn. She attracts the unwanted attention of head priest Gadrath, and so do kindly healer Mist, and mated mercenaries Jaren and Arelnath. Orphan urchin friend Shandy can guide them to secret tunnels, but how can they escape the evil Shadow Chaldon, unless Alethia conquers her fears and accepts her powers?


Book 3

In the magical world of Lyra, a mysterious instrument gives a minstrel undreamed-of powerWhen Emereck and Flindaran leave a caravan in search of adventure, it isn’t long before they stumble upon great danger. Emereck, a trained minstrel, and Flindaran, a nobleman masquerading as a tramp, have found a long-abandoned castle, and in it, one of Lyra’s most sought-after treasures: the Harp of Imach Thyssel. Emereck recognizes the perfect white bow from legend: It is said to possess the power of life and death over all mankind. Now, to keep it from falling into the wrong hands, he’ll have to learn to harness its strength to create and destroy, with the fate of the kingdom hanging in the balance.

Book 4

Caught in Crystal

by Patricia C Wrede

Published 1 March 1987
A coven of witches reaches out to one of its former warriors in a “wonderful” Lyra novel “filled with incredible world-building and characters” (Open Book Society).
  For more than a decade, Kayl has run a modest country inn. She opened it with her husband, and they managed it together until a summer illness took him away, leaving her alone with their two children. The three of them get by, living happily together as the years pass, but everything changes the day a sorceress asks for a room. Her name is Corrana, and by her silver brooch Kayl knows that she is a member of the order of Sisterhood of Stars, a coven of witches that Kayl left after a secret mission went horribly wrong. Kayl is sure that Corrana has come to take her back to the life she had renounced years before. Now, to save her family and her world, she will have to unlock a side of herself that she buried long ago. 

Book 5

The Raven Ring

by Patricia C Wrede

Published 1 November 1994
In this book from Wrede's acclaimed Lyra fantasy series, a young woman must fight for her life while on a quest to claim a magical family heirloom

Three weeks after Eleret's mother is killed, the messenger arrives with the tragic news. She died far from home, succumbing to wounds sustained in battle, and Eleret must travel to reclaim her belongings. The overland journey to the city of Ciaron is treacherous, but Eleret has no fear. She straps a dagger to her leg and sets off to recover one of her mother's prized possessions: a ring etched with a raven. Though she makes it to Ciaron safely, getting home is another story. Eleret doesn't know what's special about her mother's ring, but someone wanted it badly enough to kill for it. To make it home in one piece, she must unlock the mysteries of the ring her mother died to protect.

The Lyra Novels

by Patricia C Wrede

Published 1 January 2012