Strands
#7413.89 adjusted 3.91 for sample size in the official ranking · full ranking
Books 4 books Status Complete 1989–1994 Reading commitment Medium Gael Baudino Last reviewed 2026-11-02
Overview
Strands is a four-novel fantasy sequence by American author Gael Baudino, published by Roc between 1989 and 1994. The books follow elves who survive among humans and the people who inherit their blood. The first three are set in Adria, a fictional land modelled on medieval Western Europe, in about 1350, 1400 and 1500, with the elf Natil appearing in the later volumes. The fourth takes place in Denver, Colorado, in the 1990s. A separate collection of six short stories, Spires of Spirit (1997), shares the setting but is not part of the core novels.
Historical fantasy, Urban fantasy · For Adult
Core Canon: Reading Order (4 works) counts toward ranking
Strands Gael Baudino
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Strands of Starlight; Signet printing listed first; a Roc paperback with ISBN 0-451-45316-6 also exists. | 1989 | 1 | core | 3.99 (745 ratings) |
 | Maze of Moonlight | 1993 | 2 | core | 3.86 (354 ratings) |
 | Shroud of Shadow; Some sources date this book 1994 (UK Orbit edition); the first US printing is November 1993. | 1993 | 3 | core | 3.61 (298 ratings) |
 | Strands of Sunlight; Not released in the UK. | 1994 | 4 | core | 3.95 (270 ratings) |
Four novels about elves and their human descendants, from medieval Adria to modern Denver.
Quick answers
- How many books are in Strands? Strands's Core Canon is 4 books.
- What is the reading order for Strands? Publication order, starting with Strands of Starlight. Full list and years in the Core Canon table above.
- Is Strands finished? Complete (1989–1994).
- How much reading does Strands take? Medium reading commitment (estimated from 4 Core Canon books).
- How is Strands ranked? #741 in this site's official ranking, based on 1,667 reader ratings across 4 Core Canon books. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #741?
Ranked #741 in the official ranking.
- Average reader rating of 3.89 across 4 core books.
- A smaller readership (1,667 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- 0.01 behind #740, Age of Misrule.
- Below the top-10 average of 4.46.
Why explore this universe?
Rated · 4 books · Complete · 2k ratings · Ranks #741 overall
Good choice if you want a moderate-length historical fantasy universe that's already finished, so there's no wait for the next book.
Reading order
Publication order (4 Core Canon books)
- Strands of Starlight (1989)
- Maze of Moonlight (1993)
- Shroud of Shadow (1993)
- Strands of Sunlight (1994)
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)
- No awards found for this universe.
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Suggestions computed from what Strands and each of these worlds have in common on record (subgenre, audience, shape, reading commitment and score), not a documented narrative connection.
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- Le Bâtard de Kosigan Historical fantasy · Ongoing · Medium commitment · 4.02
- The Memoirs of Lady Trent Historical fantasy · Complete · Medium commitment · 4.02
Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 3.89 across 1,667 ratings on 4 Core Canon books. See Why is it ranked here? above for the full breakdown, or the full ranking.
How do we know this?
Admission: Canon Extension: 28 universes; 3 candidates ruled out accepted 2026-11-02
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
- Wikipedia: Strands of Starlight Tier 2
- Wikipedia: Maze of Moonlight Tier 2
- Wikipedia: Shroud of Shadow Tier 2
- Wikipedia: Strands of Sunlight Tier 2
- Wikipedia: Gael Baudino Tier 2
Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
Rule: Core Canon = Strands of Starlight (1989), Maze of Moonlight (1993), Shroud of Shadow (1993) and Strands of Sunlight (1994). Spires of Spirit (1997), a short story collection, is excluded.