Every Narnia Book, Ranked From Worst To Best

The seven books in C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series have been ranked from worst to best by Screen Rant. The outlet's ranking considers tone, world-building, character development, and allegorical strength, with a clear winner that started it all.

7. The Horse and His Boy

Published in 1954, this entry stands apart for its high fantasy tone and near absence of the usual Narnia protagonists. Screen Rant notes the story deals with heavy real-world issues like slavery and forced marriage, and its depiction of the Calormen people has aged poorly into a racist caricature. Despite some consistent world-building, the outlet ranks it the weakest of the series.

6. The Silver Chair

Part of the loose 'Caspian Trilogy', this 1953 book follows Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole on a quest for Prince Rilian. Screen Rant points out an overwhelming bleakness that replaces the series' typical wonder, and criticizes the villain Lady of the Green Kirtle as frustratingly undeveloped. The bright spot: Puddleglum, the gloomy Marsh-wiggle who remains a fan favorite. Thematically, the book is an unusually focused interrogation of faith.

5. The Magician's Nephew

As the 1955 prequel explaining Narnia's creation, this book suffers what Screen Rant calls the 'Prequel Curse': it explains too much and diminishes the world's mystery. The protagonists Digory and Polly feel less compelling than other Lewis characters, and the titular magician is intentionally ridiculous. The outlet notes that Greta Gerwig's upcoming Narnia series will begin with this book, calling it a gamble since it's one of the lesser-known stories.

4. The Last Battle

Published in 1956, this apocalyptic finale is Lewis at his most overtly allegorical, with excerpts frequently used in Christian sermons to describe heaven. Screen Rant highlights the 'false Aslan' subplot as a warning against false prophets, calling it particularly timely. The book's bleakness makes it a challenging read, but for Christian readers it becomes a treasured conclusion.

3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The second book in the Caspian trilogy (1952) is essentially Lewis' version of 'The Odyssey,' with Prince Caspian sailing through magical islands. Screen Rant calls Eustace's addition genius, showing a cynical boy transformed by wonder in real time through the episodic structure. The outlet describes it as a delight.

2. Prince Caspian

Published in 1951, this sequel returns to Narnia but turns familiarity on its head: the beloved land is now ancient history. Screen Rant praises the simple but genius adventure premise of a rightful king using a magical horn to summon help from the past, and singles out Peter's duel as one of Lewis' best action sequences. It's called the perfect sequel.

1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The 1950 book that started it all takes the top spot. Screen Rant calls it a fairytale masterpiece that sacrifices internal consistency for joy and wonder, with the overt Christian allegory of Aslan's death and resurrection. The White Witch and Aslan remain the series' most memorable characters, and the outlet sees no better story in the series.

• C.S. Lewis
• Greta Gerwig
• Screen Rant
• The Chronicles of Narnia
• The Horse and His Boy
• The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe