Dark Tower Books in Order
Dark Tower is a 2-book series by Stephen King for ages 13+, at a grades 5–6 reading level, with moderate to intense content (HootRated intensity 3–4 out of 5).
- Books
- 2
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Moderate to intense
- HootRated 3–4 out of 5 · avg 3.5
Dark Tower Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most Dark Tower books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The dark tower 2004 | Level 6-7 | 13+ | Intense |
| 2 | The Wind Through the Keyhole The Dark Tower IV-1/2 2012 | Level 5-6 | 13+ | Moderate |
Content Intensity Across the Series
ConsistentContent stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.
Series books grow with readers — but that's also the trap. Most series start at one reading level and one content intensity and drift upward over the course of the run. Dark Tower (2 books by Stephen King) lands at a grades 5–6 reading level, with average content intensity 3.5/5. Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.
The reading-order table above lists every book with per-volume reading level, age and intensity ratings so you can spot any escalation before it catches your reader off guard. For a deeper dive into how we score text difficulty vs. emotional weight separately — and why series readers especially benefit from that split — see our methodology page.
All Dark Tower Books
The dark tower
Stephen King
The dark tower
Stephen King
The Wind Through the Keyhole
Stephen King
The Wind Through the Keyhole
Stephen King
Series Like Dark Tower: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- Warriors: The Power of Three by Erin Hunter 6 books · Grades 4–5 · mild to intense content
- Left Behind by Tim F. LaHaye 14 books · Grades 5–7 · moderate to very intense content
- The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins 5 books · Grades 4–8 · moderate to intense content
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan 5 books · Grades 4–5 · moderate to very intense content
- Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin 6 books · Grades 5–7 · moderate to very intense content
- Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown 3 books · Grades 6–7 · intense content
Questions about the Dark Tower series
- What reading level is the Dark Tower series?
- Dark Tower books are at a grades 5–6 reading level (average grade level 5.8), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 13+. There are 2 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Dark Tower books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most Dark Tower books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: The dark tower (2004); The Wind Through the Keyhole (2012).
- What age is the Dark Tower series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends Dark Tower for ages 13+. Content is moderate to intense (HootRated intensity 3–4 out of 5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.