The Chronicles of Narnia (Author's Preferred Order)

Written after The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe but designed by C.S. Lewis to be read first, this enchanting prequel, with its story of time travel, sorcery, and magic rings, is essential reading for anyone who wants to learn the backstory to the biggest movie release of the year. Hurled back in time to the birth of a new world, two young friends get caught in the epic struggle between Aslan and his nemesis the White Witch.

Lucy has stumbled upon a marvellous land of fauns and centaurs, nymphs and talking animals. But soon she discovers that it is ruled by the cruel White Witch, and can only be freed by Aslan, the great Lion, and four children.

Desperate to escape a harsh and narrow regime, two runaways unwittingly flee headlong into the centre of a terrible battle. This first sequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe includes all the hallmarks of its famous predecessor, though this time the fate of Narnia is wound up in the lives of its own children, and a talking horse!

Evil King Miraz and his army can only mean trouble for Narnia, and Prince Caspian, his nephew and the rightful heir to the throne, fears for his safety and the future of his country. He blows the Great Horn in desperation, summoning Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy to help with his difficult task, that of saving Narnia before its freedom is lost forever.

Lucy and Edmund, stuck with their awful cousin Eustace, suddenly find themselves in a picture of a sailing ship, the Dawn Treader, and realise they have been drawn back into the land of Narnia. They are reunited with old friends, the young King Caspian and Reepicheep, the mouse on a voyage of discovery to the End of the World.

Drawn back to Narnia, Eustace Scrubb and his new friend Jill Pole are sent to rescue a captive prince. In a world where evil weaves a spell, Giants and Marsh-wiggles can be friend or foe, but the stakes are raised when they reach Underland and come face-to-face with a notorious and terrifying opponent.

The last days of Narnia, and all hope seems lost as lies and treachery interweave to threaten the destruction of everything. As the battle lines are drawn, old friends are summoned back to Narnia, though none can predict the outcome in this magnificent ending to the famous series.