Mark Lawrence

b. 1966

3 series 11 books in order

Mark Lawrence was born in 1966 in the United States. His parents moved to the United Kingdom when he was young. He holds a degree in physics and a PhD in mathematics. He is married and has four children. He is the primary carer for his disabled child, Celyn, which prevents him from traveling to promote his books or attending conventions. Lawrence works as a novelist and previously worked as a research scientist in the field of artificial intelligence. He has held secret level clearance with both the US and UK governments. Since 2015, he has operated the annual Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off, a literary contest aimed at increasing visibility for self-published English-language fantasy authors.

Born: 1966
Known for: The Book of the Ancestor, The Library Trilogy, The Broken Empire

Series by Mark Lawrence

The Book of the Ancestor

3 books in order · 2017–2019

Red Sister

2017 · Mark Lawrence

The Convent of Sweet Mercy trains young girls to become killers. Some students have rare talents from their bloodline, which the nuns try to develop.…
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Grey Sister

2018 · Mark Lawrence

In Mystic Class, Nona Grey learns the secrets of the universe and must choose her path before leaving the Convent of Sweet Mercy, facing a thwarted…
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Holy Sister

2019 · Mark Lawrence

Nona's story concludes in Holy Sister, the third book in the Book of the Ancestor trilogy by Mark Lawrence. The novel takes place during a time of…
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The Library Trilogy

3 books in order · 2023–2025

The Book That Wouldn't Burn

2023 · Mark Lawrence

A boy has lived his entire life trapped inside a vast library that is older than empires and larger than cities. A girl has spent her life in a small…
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The Book That Broke the World

2024 · Mark Lawrence

Evar and Livira stand side by side yet beyond each other's reach. Evar flees the library before an implacable foe, while Livira, trapped in a ghost…
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The Book That Held Her Heart

2025 · Mark Lawrence

The final volume in the Library Trilogy, following The Book That Wouldn't Burn and The Book That Broke the World. The fate of an infinite library…
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The Broken Empire

5 books in order · 2011–2013

Prince of Thorns

2011 · Mark Lawrence

Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath returns to his father's castle after witnessing the murder of his mother and brother. He leads a group of ruthless men…
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The Broken Empire Trilogy

Year unknown · Mark Lawrence
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King of Thorns

2012 · Mark Lawrence
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Emperor of Thorns

2013 · Mark Lawrence

The third novel in The Broken Empire trilogy by Mark Lawrence. Young King Jorg Ancrath of the seven nations, desiring to become emperor of the Broken…
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Road Brothers

Year unknown · Mark Lawrence
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Frequently asked questions

How many books has Mark Lawrence written?

We list 11 books by Mark Lawrence across 3 series, published between 2011–2025 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Mark Lawrence's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Red Sister.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Mark Lawrence's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Bibliography and reading orders compiled from verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.