Lifelode
#7103.88 adjusted 3.92 for sample size in the official ranking · full ranking
Books 1 book Status Complete 2009 Reading commitment Low Jo Walton Last reviewed 2026-11-01
Overview
Lifelode is a fantasy novel by Jo Walton, first published by NESFA Press in February 2009 for Boskone 46. Sharyn November's introduction calls it domestic fantasy set in a quiet farming community, with magic, humor and a great deal of food. It takes place in the Marches, a land where the rules of magic, thought and time vary with distance east or west. Taveth, who sees the present, past and future laid over one another, keeps house at Applekirk Manor. It is a standalone novel with no sequel.
Cozy fantasy · For Adult
Core Canon: Reading Order (1 work) counts toward ranking
Lifelode Jo Walton
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Lifelode; First published as a limited boxed hardcover by NESFA Press. | 2009 | 1 | core | 3.88 (689 ratings) |
A standalone domestic fantasy set in the Marches.
Quick answers
- How many books are in Lifelode? Lifelode's Core Canon is 1 book.
- Is Lifelode finished? Complete (2009).
- How much reading does Lifelode take? Low reading commitment (estimated from 1 Core Canon book).
- How is Lifelode ranked? #710 in this site's official ranking, based on 689 reader ratings across 1 Core Canon book. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #710?
Ranked #710 in the official ranking.
- Average reader rating of 3.88 across 1 core book.
- A smaller readership (689 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- 0.04 behind #709, Sun Wolf and Starhawk.
- Below the top-10 average of 4.46.
Why explore this universe?
Rated · 1 book · Complete · 689 ratings · Ranks #710 overall
Good choice if you want a quick, low-commitment cozy fantasy universe that's already finished, so there's no wait for the next book.
Reading order
A single Core Canon work: no sequencing question to resolve.
Awards (verified)
- Mythopoeic Award (Adult Literature), 2010: won: Lifelode
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Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 3.88 across 689 ratings on 1 Core Canon book. See Why is it ranked here? above for the full breakdown, or the full ranking.
How do we know this?
Admission: Canon Extension: 27 universes from the candidate register; 3 candidates ruled out accepted 2026-11-01
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
- NESFA Press - Lifelode Tier 2
- Wikipedia - Lifelode Tier 2
- Wikipedia - Jo Walton Tier 2
- Worlds Without End - Lifelode Tier 2
Last reviewed: 2026-11-01
Rule: Core Canon = Lifelode (2009).