How to Read the Arcane Society Series
The Arcane Society series, written by Jayne Ann Krentz under three different pen names, is a unique blend of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Because the series jumps across time periods—from Victorian London to modern-day America and a futuristic colony planet—deciding where to start can be tricky. We highly recommend reading the books in publication order to enjoy the natural progression of the society's secrets and the evolution of psychic abilities.
Recommended Publication Order
Reading the books in the order they were published allows you to uncover the mystery of Sylvester Jones’s alchemical formula as the author intended. Here is the recommended path:
- Second Sight (2006) – Written as Amanda Quick (Historical/Victorian)
- White Lies (2007) – Written as Jayne Ann Krentz (Contemporary)
- Sizzle and Burn (2008) – Written as Jayne Ann Krentz (Contemporary)
- The Third Circle (2008) – Written as Amanda Quick (Historical/Victorian)
- Running Hot (2008) – Written as Jayne Ann Krentz (Contemporary)
- The Perfect Poison (2009) – Written as Amanda Quick (Historical/Victorian)
- Fired Up (2009) – Written as Jayne Ann Krentz (Dreamlight Trilogy #1 / Contemporary)
- Burning Lamp (2010) – Written as Amanda Quick (Dreamlight Trilogy #2 / Historical)
- Midnight Crystal (2010) – Written as Jayne Castle (Dreamlight Trilogy #3 / Futuristic)
- In Too Deep (2010) – Written as Jayne Ann Krentz (Looking Glass Trilogy #1 / Contemporary)
- Quicksilver (2011) – Written as Amanda Quick (Looking Glass Trilogy #2 / Historical)
- Canyons of Night (2011) – Written as Jayne Castle (Looking Glass Trilogy #3 / Futuristic)
- The Scargill Cove Case Files (2011) – Written as Jayne Ann Krentz (Contemporary Novella)
Chronological Order and Eras
If you prefer to read the series chronologically by setting rather than publication order, you can group the books by era. Note that doing this may reveal certain secrets out of order:
- The Victorian Era (Historical): Read the Amanda Quick books first (Second Sight, The Third Circle, The Perfect Poison, Burning Lamp, and Quicksilver).
- The Modern Era (Contemporary): Read the Jayne Ann Krentz books second (White Lies, Sizzle and Burn, Running Hot, Fired Up, In Too Deep, and The Scargill Cove Case Files).
- The Futuristic Era (Harmony): Read the Jayne Castle books last (Midnight Crystal and Canyons of Night).
Subseries and Trilogies
The latter half of the series is divided into two distinct trilogies that link characters across all three eras:
- The Dreamlight Trilogy: Consists of Fired Up, Burning Lamp, and Midnight Crystal. These books follow the search for a cure to a deadly psychic curse.
- The Looking Glass Trilogy: Consists of In Too Deep, Quicksilver, and Canyons of Night. These stories deal with the psychic aftermath of a mysterious organization called the conspiracy.
Spin-offs and Connected Worlds
The futuristic books are set on the planet Harmony, which serves as the setting for Jayne Castle's broader Harmony / Ghost Hunters series. If you enjoy the sci-fi paranormal elements of Midnight Crystal and Canyons of Night, you can dive into the rest of the Harmony novels. Additionally, Krentz's contemporary Fogg Lake trilogy features similar themes of secret labs and psychic abilities, sharing the same narrative universe.