A mysterious forest, talking animals, and a rescue mission that grows into a struggle over an entire world: Colin Meloy’s Wildwood Chronicles offers an inviting starting point for readers who enjoy adventurous fantasy.
If you’re looking for the Wildwood books in order, read Wildwood (2011), Under Wildwood (2012), and Wildwood Imperium (2014). Written by Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis, the series consists of three novels. Start with the first book and follow publication order.
Here is a spoiler-light guide to the complete trilogy, what each installment covers, and which edition to look for.
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Wildwood Books in Order at a Glance
| Reading order | Book | Original publication year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wildwood | 2011 |
| 2 | Under Wildwood | 2012 |
| 3 | Wildwood Imperium | 2014 |
The publisher’s Wildwood series description identifies these three titles as the trilogy. Publication order is also the recommended story order; there is no separate prequel to read first.
Publication dates printed in retailer listings can differ because of paperback releases, regional editions, and reissues. The years above refer to the novels’ original publication.
1. Wildwood (2011)
The first novel introduces Prue McKeel, whose baby brother is carried away by crows into the Impassable Wilderness, a forbidden forest at the edge of Portland, Oregon.
Prue enters the woods to find him, with her schoolmate Curtis becoming part of the adventure. They discover a hidden society of animals and humans caught up in conflicts that make the rescue far more complicated than either child expects.
The appeal of this setup is how close the extraordinary lies to ordinary life. The wilderness exists beside a recognizable city, making the boundary between the familiar and the fantastical feel especially thin.
Start here to meet the central characters and understand the forest’s competing powers before the sequels expand the story.
2. Under Wildwood (2012)
Under Wildwood continues Prue and Curtis’s story while opening up more of the world beyond their initial adventure.
Prue struggles to settle into ordinary life, and new threats draw her back toward the wilderness. Meanwhile, Curtis’s sisters, Rachel and Elsie, become involved in a separate storyline connected to an exploitative orphanage and its owner’s interest in the forest.
The publisher’s discussion guide highlights these parallel plots, including threats to Prue and efforts to exploit the Impassable Wilderness.
This makes the second book a significant expansion of the series. The danger reaches beyond the woods, and the supporting characters become more central to the larger conflict.
Read it after Wildwood: the relationships and consequences established in the first book matter here.
Continue with Under Wildwood on Amazon.
3. Wildwood Imperium (2014)
Wildwood Imperium completes the trilogy, bringing its expanding cast and interconnected conflicts toward their conclusion.
The publisher-provided synopsis describes an awakened malevolent spirit, a rescue involving runaway orphans, and a quest connected to exiled toy makers and a mechanical boy prince.
Those threads make this the installment to save for last. Its premise builds on discoveries from the earlier books, so even a detailed description can give newcomers more information than they want.
If you prefer going into fantasy novels knowing very little, finish the first two books before reading the full synopsis.
Complete the trilogy with Wildwood Imperium on Amazon.
Do You Have to Read the Wildwood Books in Order?
Yes—reading them in order is the best approach. These novels follow a continuing story with recurring characters and developing conflicts.
Starting with Under Wildwood or Wildwood Imperium means encountering the consequences of earlier adventures before seeing how they happened. Follow the numbered order above to preserve the discoveries.
Is the Wildwood Chronicles Complete Collection a Fourth Book?
No. The Wildwood Chronicles Complete Collection gathers the three existing novels into one collection.
The HarperCollins collection listing on Google Books explicitly identifies its contents as Wildwood, Under Wildwood, and Wildwood Imperium. You do not need to buy it in addition to the individual novels to complete the story.
Before purchasing a collection, check the format and contents so you get the edition you want.
Who Should Read the Wildwood Trilogy?
The series is a good option to consider if you enjoy hidden worlds, animal societies, woodland settings, and adventures that grow beyond their original mission.
Although it belongs to children’s fantasy, the story includes warfare, threatening adults, and danger to children. For a younger reader, sampling the opening chapters together can help you judge the language, length, and tone.
Carson Ellis’s illustrations are another reason to consider a visual edition. Her artwork accompanies the novels, so check how illustrations appear in your preferred print or digital format.
For anyone beginning the series, the next step is simple: pick up Wildwood, meet Prue and Curtis, and follow them into the Impassable Wilderness.
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