Blackthorn & Grim
#1614.14 of 664 ranked universes · full ranking
Books 3 books Status Complete 2014–2016 Reading commitment Medium Juliet Marillier Last reviewed 2026-08-07
Overview
A complete trilogy set in a fictionalised 7th-century Ireland, following a healer-mage and her silent giant companion serving under a fair-minded prince. A separate setting and cast from Sevenwaters, with no shared continuity found between the two.
Fairy-tale retelling · For Adult
Core Canon: Reading Order (3 works) counts toward ranking
Blackthorn & Grim Juliet Marillier
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Dreamer's Pool | 2014 | 1 | core | 4.00 (16,918 ratings) |
 | Tower of Thorns | 2015 | 2 | core | 4.19 (9,559 ratings) |
 | Den of Wolves | 2016 | 3 | core | 4.38 (7,869 ratings) |
Complete trilogy; a separate universe/setting from Sevenwaters and Marillier's other series (a fictionalised 7th-century Ireland, not shared continuity).
Quick answers
- How many books are in Blackthorn & Grim? Blackthorn & Grim's Core Canon is 3 books.
- What is the reading order for Blackthorn & Grim? Publication order, starting with Dreamer's Pool. Full list and years in the Core Canon table above.
- Is Blackthorn & Grim finished? Complete (2014–2016).
- How much reading does Blackthorn & Grim take? Medium reading commitment (estimated from 3 Core Canon books · ~1,328 pages).
- How is Blackthorn & Grim ranked? #161 of 664 ranked universes on this site, based on 34,346 reader ratings across 3 Core Canon books. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #161?
Ranked #161 of 664 ranked universes.
- Average reader rating of 4.14 across 3 core books.
- A smaller readership (34,346 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- Less than 0.01 behind #160, Tales from the Flat Earth (a finer tie-break level decides the order).
- Below the top-10 average of 4.45.
Why explore this universe?
Highly rated · 3 books · Complete · 34k ratings · Ranks #161 overall
Good choice if you want a moderate-length fairy-tale retelling fantasy universe that's already finished, so there's no wait for the next book.
Reading order
Publication order (3 Core Canon books)
- Dreamer's Pool (2014)
- Tower of Thorns (2015)
- Den of Wolves (2016)
Documented internal/story chronology is recorded for every Core Canon book here, and matches publication order exactly, with no divergence to show separately.
Awards (verified)
- Aurealis Award (Best Fantasy Novel), 2015: finalist: Tower of Thorns
Related universes
- Same author Sevenwaters: Both by Juliet Marillier. Blackthorn & Grim is a separate setting and cast from Sevenwaters, with no shared continuity found.
- Same author Bridei Chronicles: Both by Juliet Marillier. The Bridei Chronicles is confirmed genuinely distinct from Blackthorn & Grim, different era, cast, no crossover.
- Same author Saga of the Light Isles: Both by Juliet Marillier. Saga of the Light Isles is confirmed separate from Blackthorn & Grim, different era, geography, and families.
- Same author Shadowfell: Both by Juliet Marillier. Shadowfell is confirmed a separate setting/continuity from Blackthorn & Grim.
- Same author Warrior Bards: Both by Juliet Marillier. Warrior Bards is confirmed a separate universe from Blackthorn & Grim.
You might also like
Suggestions computed from what Blackthorn & Grim and each of these worlds have in common on record (subgenre, audience, shape, reading commitment and score), not a documented narrative connection.
- Lyonesse Epic fantasy / Fairy-tale retelling · Complete · Medium commitment · 4.05
- The Winternight Trilogy Fairy-tale retelling / Historical fantasy · Complete · Low commitment · 4.23
- The Singing Hills Cycle Mythic fantasy / Fairy-tale retelling · Ongoing · High commitment · 4.01
- Hamster Princess Fairy-tale retelling / Comic fantasy · Complete · Medium commitment · 4.23
Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 4.14 across 34,346 ratings on 3 Core Canon books. See Why is it ranked here? above for the full breakdown, or the full ranking.
How do we know this?
Admission: Blackthorn & Grim admitted; Core Canon = the complete trilogy accepted 2026-08-07
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
Related universes: see the Related universes section above.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-07
Rule: Core Canon = all 3 novels of the complete trilogy.