C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia is a seven-book series about a magical land and the events that take place when children from our world and the lion Aslan visit. There is a question about the best reading order for the Chronicles, but the story of the world of Narnia is best told by arranging the books in story order.
The Magician’s Nephew (1955)
When Digory and his friend Polly touch magic rings made by his magician Uncle Andrew, they are transported to the Wood Between the Worlds, a world that connects all other worlds. From there they leap into Charn, an old world that is about to be destroyed by the witch Jadis. They are able to escape before destruction, but accidentally bring Jadis back with them. They then leap into a brand new world, where they witness Aslan singing Narnia into existence. But they have also brought the evil Jadis with them, and Aslan makes them fetch a magic apple from which a magic tree will grow that will temporarily protect Narnia from her evil.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (1950)
When the four Pevensie children, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, stumble through a magic wardrobe, they find themselves in Narnia. There they learn that the evil White Witch Jadis has enslaved the land in an enchanted winter, but that the lion Aslan is coming to save them. But Jadis has heard the prophecy that two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve will destroy her power, so she tries to get Edmund to betray his siblings. When Aslan arrives, he offers himself up in place of Edmund, who is to be punished as a traitor, and because of his sacrifice Aslan is brought back to life. He then helps the Narnians defeat the White Witch and the children are crowned Kings and Queens of Narnia. Years later they stumble back through the wardrobe to find that no time has passed in our world.
The Horse and His Boy (1954)
During the reign of the Pevensies in Narnia, the young slave Shasta, living in the southern country of Calormen, helps to free the talking horse Bree and together they escape to Narnia. Along the way they meet Aravis, a Calormene who is escaping an arranged marriage, and her Narnian horse Hwin. In the city of Tashbaan, they overhear a Calormene plot to invade Narnia via the neighboring country of Archenland, and are able to race ahead and warn everyone. After helping to win the battle against Calormen, Shasta learns that he is really the long-lost Prince Cor of Archenland, whom a prophecy said would one day save the kingdom. He eventually becomes king and marries Aravis, while the horses go free to Narnia.
Prince Caspian (1951)
1000 years have passed since the Golden Age of the Pevensie monarchs, and Narnia now suffers under the tyrannical rule of the evil usurper King Miraz. Miraz wants to kill the rightful heir Prince Caspian, so the dwarf Cornelius spirits him away to the forest. There Caspian uses a magic horn to call the Pevensie children, and with the help of Aslan they defeat Miraz and usher in peace in Narnia under King Caspian.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
Three years have passed since King Caspian ascended the throne, and he has decided to set sail on the Dawn Treader to explore the Eastern Seas and to find the seven lost lords, loyal to Caspian’s father and banished by his uncle Miraz. He calls upon Lucy and Edmund for help, and they unwillingly bring their spoiled cousin Eustace. As they sail east, they explore islands and have many adventures, including Eustace being turned into a dragon for a time and becoming a better person for his experience. After finding all the lords and traveling to the end of the Narnian world, the children see the mouse Reepicheep off to Aslan's country before being sent home.
The Silver Chair (1953)
When Eustace and his friend Jill are being bullied, they call to Aslan who brings them into Narnia and sets them on a quest to find the lost Prince Rilian, Caspian’s son. The Marsh-Wiggle Puddleglum helps them on their quest, which takes them through the land of the giants and down below ground to the palace of the Queen of the Underland. Once there they meet the Black Knight, but after they help free him from the bondage of the Silver Chair they find out that he is really the enchanted Rilian. They destroy the evil queen and return to Narnia, where they find out that Caspian has just died. But Eustace and Jill are allowed to see him one last time in Aslan’s country before finally returning to our world.
The Last Battle (1956)
2500 years after the founding of Narnia, Shift the Ape finds a lion’s skin and makes his naïve friend, the donkey Puzzle, pretend to be Aslan. While pretending to do the will of Aslan, Shift conspires with the Calormenes to plunder Narnia. King Tirian calls upon Eustace and Jill to come help him defeat the Calormenes, which results in an epic battle that ends Narnia forever. But then Aslan creates Narnia anew in his country, and all the old friends of Narnia return to live in Aslan’s country forever.
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