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ARKANE Books in Order

12 Books
2011 – 2021 Published
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How to Read J.F. Penn's ARKANE Series

The ARKANE series is a collection of action-adventure thrillers that blend historical mysteries, theological puzzles, and supernatural suspense. While each book is written as a self-contained adventure and can be enjoyed as a standalone, reading them in order is recommended to fully appreciate the evolving dynamics and personal journeys of the main characters, Dr. Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber.

Publication Order of the ARKANE Books

To experience the character arcs and overarching subplots exactly as J.F. Penn designed them, readers should follow the publication order. Note that the first three books were originally published under different names (Pentecost, Prophecy, and Exodus) before being retitled to better fit the thriller genre.

  1. Stone of Fire (2011) — Originally published as Pentecost. Introduces Dr. Morgan Sierra as she hunts the apostolic Pentecost stones.
  2. Crypt of Bone (2011) — Originally published as Prophecy. Morgan and Jake search for the Devil's Bible across Europe's ossuaries.
  3. Ark of Blood (2012) — Originally published as Exodus. A high-stakes race to find the Ark of the Covenant.
  4. One Day in Budapest (2013) — Morgan travels to Hungary to investigate nationalist conspiracy groups and a stolen relic.
  5. Day of the Vikings (2014) — A thrilling Norse mystery set in the British Museum and the Orkney Islands.
  6. Gates of Hell (2015) — The agents face an apocalyptic threat linked to historical sites and ancient cults.
  7. One Day in New York (2015) — A fast-paced race against time through the dark underbelly of New York City.
  8. Destroyer of Worlds (2016) — Morgan and Jake travel to India to investigate an ancient relic connected to a deadly cult.
  9. End of Days (2017) — A global conspiracy brings the agents face-to-face with an apocalyptic scenario.
  10. Valley of Dry Bones (2018) — A religious mystery centered on ancient prophecies and sacred sites.
  11. Tree of Life (2020) — The duo hunts for a mythical source of power hidden in historical secrets.
  12. Tomb of Relics (2021) — The agents face a deadly puzzle involving historic treasures and secret societies.
  13. Spear of Destiny (2024) — Morgan and Jake head to Vienna to recover the legendary Spear of Destiny after a daring museum heist.

Chronological vs. Publication Order

The chronological order of the ARKANE series matches its publication sequence. There are no prequels or timeline jumps that disrupt the sequence of events. Starting with Stone of Fire and continuing through Spear of Destiny provides a smooth, chronological narrative of the ARKANE agency's cases.

Crossovers and Universe Connections

J.F. Penn occasionally links her fictional worlds. For instance, Day of the Vikings (Book 5) serves as a crossover with her London Psychic series, featuring detective Blake Daniel alongside Morgan Sierra. While reading the London Psychic books is not required to enjoy ARKANE, it adds rich world-building context for fans of the author's broader supernatural universe.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the ARKANE series?

You should start with Stone of Fire (previously titled Pentecost). It serves as the official introduction to Dr. Morgan Sierra, Jake Timber, and the secret government agency ARKANE.

QCan the ARKANE books be read as standalones?

Yes. Author J.F. Penn has structured each book to function as an independent, self-contained adventure. However, reading in order is recommended to track the progression of Morgan and Jake's relationship and personal histories.

QWhat is the latest book in the ARKANE series?

The latest installment is the 13th book, Spear of Destiny, which was published on September 1, 2024.

QWhy did the first three books change their titles?

The first three novels were originally published as Pentecost, Prophecy, and Exodus. They were later retitled to Stone of Fire, Crypt of Bone, and Ark of Blood to better represent their high-octane thriller nature.

QDoes the series connect to other J.F. Penn books?

Yes. Day of the Vikings (Book 5) features characters and elements from J.F. Penn's London Psychic series, linking the two urban fantasy/thriller universes.