The series also has plenty of literature under its belt, with more than thirty books based on the Halo series.
If you are looking to get stuck into the Halo books, then it might be a little difficult to know where to start due to the vast amount of content.
That is where we come in, as we are going to be looking at the order of the Halo books to see if there is a chronological way in which you can read them!
The series is set in the 26th century and follows the adventures of the Master Chief, a cybernetically enhanced super soldier, and his artificial intelligence companion Cortana as they fight against a group of alien races known as the Covenant.
The franchise’s central storyline is centered around the discovery of the Halo rings, massive artificial structures that serve as weapons of mass destruction, and the ongoing conflict between humanity and the Covenant over control of these structures.
The books can mostly be read in the order in which they were published, with a few exceptions here and there.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at the best order to read the Halo books.
The Fall of Reach details the events leading up to the discovery of the Halo rings, and explores the origin and training of the main protagonist of the Halo franchise, the Master Chief.
Pros
Provides insight into the Halo universe’s backstory and history.
Establishes the characters and motivations of the Master Chief and other key figures in the Halo franchise.
Cons
The book may be confusing for those unfamiliar with the Halo franchise.
The Flood follows the events of the “Halo: Combat Evolved” story, telling the story of the Master Chief and Cortana as they try to save humanity from the Flood, a highly infectious parasitic life form that threatens to wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy.
Pros
Focuses on character development, particularly for the Master Chief and Cortana.
Cons
The book focuses primarily on military action and may not appeal to those looking for more character-driven storytelling.
Ghosts of Onyx focuses on the events surrounding the mysterious Onyx planet and a group of Spartan-IIIs, a special operations unit of super soldiers, as they fight against a new threat from the Covenant and an internal struggle within the UNSC.
Pros
Well-researched military tactics and technology.
Cons
The themes may be too mature for younger audiences.
Next up is The Cole Protocol, which focuses on the Office of Naval Intelligence’s efforts to protect the location of Earth from the Covenant, taking readers into previously unexplored elements of the Human-Covenant war.
Pros
Provides on the inner workings of the Office of Naval Intelligence and the UNSC military.
Saint’s Testimony focuses on the military-grade artificial intelligence Iona, who has one week left to live due to the UNSC planning to terminate her after seven years so that the threat of data corruption- known as “rampancy”- cannot overcome her.
Pro
Touches on interesting themes, such as the rights of an AI and whether Iona qualifies as being “alive”
Last Light focuses on a series of brutal murders that are occurring on the planet Gao around the same time as a UNSC research battalion- protected by the Spartan Blue Team and led by well-known Spartan soldier Spartan- II Fred 104- have arrived.
Pros
Interesting themes such as mystery surrounding the murders and the truth of what is hiding on planet Gao.
Halo: Envoy is set on the planet Carrow six years after the Covenant War and focuses on a new battle that emerges on the edge of the Joint Occupation Zone.
Pros
A deeper look at the factions and politics involved in the post-war conflicts within the Halo universe.
Following on from Last Light, Retribution is set less than a year after the Covenant War ends, wherein the tenuous peace is threatened by a string of particularly violent incidents.
Pros
An interesting look at the instability following the Covenant War
Cons
A confusing story for those not well-versed in the Halo lore.
Legacy of Onyx explores the history and events of the Onyx planet, which is known for its Forerunner technology and its mysterious artificial environment.
Continuing Gay’s 2016 novella Smoke and Shadow, Renegades focuses again on Rion Forge along with the crew of the Ace of Spades as they navigate the post-Covenant war galaxy.
Pros
Unique perspective
Cons
Supporting characters aren’t always well-fleshed out
Continuing Rion’s story, Point of Light focuses on the crew’s commitment to a personal mission that has made them enemies of the Office of Naval Intelligence.
Pros
Gay clearly has a deep understanding of the Halo universe.
Cons
Might be confusing for those who aren’t well-versed in the Halo franchise.
These are the main individual novels in the Halo book series, with the following being books that are part of a larger saga.
So there you have all the Halo books in order, including the novellas and collections of novels that can be found!
Whilst there is no single “right” order in which to read the Halo books, as many of them are standalone stories that do not follow a strict chronological order, you will likely get more out of the science fiction series if you read them in the order that we have mentioned above.
Frequently Asked Questions
u003cstrongu003eWho Wrote The Halo Books? u003c/strongu003e
Many different authors have written books in the Halo series, including Eric Nylund, Kelly Gay, and Matt Forbeck.
u003cstrongu003eAre The Halo Books Suitable For All Ages?u003c/strongu003e
The Halo books contain mature themes, violence, and military language, so the recommended age range is typically 14 and up.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
