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series Reading Order

Artifact Hunters Books in Order

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Where to Start with the Artifact Hunters Series

For the best experience, you should start at the very beginning with Nefertiti's Heart. The series builds a continuous narrative around protagonist Cara Devon and the viscount Nathaniel Lyons (also known as Nate Trent), meaning you'll get the most out of the characters and the overarching plot by following the recommended order.

Recommended Reading Order

Fortunately, the publication order and chronological order for the series align perfectly. The author wrote several transitional novellas (labeled with half-numbers) that fit neatly between the full-length novels. Reading both the novels and novellas in the sequence below provides the smoothest character transitions:

  1. Nefertiti's Heart (Book 1, 2013) — Introduces Cara Devon as she returns to London to settle her late father's estate and encounters a serial killer hunting for a legendary Egyptian relic.
  2. Hatshepsut's Collar (Book 2, 2013) — Cara deals with the fallout of the first book's events and a new threat tied to a dangerous ancient collar.
  3. The Unicorn's Tail (Book 2.5, 2014) — A companion novella focusing on Cara's best friend, Amy Hamilton, who receives a magical bracelet and finds herself caught between a rogue airship pirate and an enforcer.
  4. Nero's Fiddle (Book 3, 2014) — Cara and Nate team up to investigate an artifact capable of destroying London.
  5. Paniha's Taniwha (Book 3.5, 2014) — A transitional novella focusing on airship captain Lachlan Hawke (Loki) as he travels to a steampunk version of New Zealand under Māori rule.
  6. Moseh's Staff (Book 4, 2015) — Cara tracks down a legendary staff to halt a deadly curse.
  7. Nessy's Locket (Book 5, 2018) — This installment shifts focus to Nate's sister, Nessy, at Trent Castle, while Cara and Nate deal with dragons and the perils of childbirth at Lowestoft.
  8. The Seer's Eye (Book 5.5, 2019) — A transitional novella where a family trip to the circus turns dangerous when Cara senses the familiar tingle of an artifact.
  9. Rahotep's Last Breath (Book 6, 2020) — A generation-jump novel focusing on Cara and Nate's eighteen-year-old daughter, Rachel, as they travel to Egypt to uncover the origins of the mages.

Understanding the Subseries and Spin-Offs

The Main Arc (Books 1–5)

The core of the series centers on Cara Devon's personal growth, her evolving relationship with the enigmatic Nathaniel Lyons, and her unique ability to feel the "tingle" of ancient artifacts. If you only want the primary storyline, you can focus on these main novels, though you will miss some fun side adventures.

The Companion Novellas (Books 2.5, 3.5, and 5.5)

These stories flesh out secondary characters like Amy, Loki, and Nate's sister Nessy. They are not strictly necessary to understand the main plot, but they add rich detail to the world building and explain character movements between the main entries.

The Next Generation (Book 6)

Rahotep's Last Breath acts as a wrap-up and legacy story. By jumping eighteen years into the future, it shifts the focus to Rachel Devon while keeping Cara heavily involved in the adventure, bringing the mystery of the mages full circle.

Frequently Asked

QDo I need to read the half-numbered novellas to understand the main books?

No, the main novels (Books 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) form a coherent story on their own. However, reading the novellas like The Unicorn's Tail and Paniha's Taniwha is highly recommended as they flesh out fan-favorite side characters and bridge the time gaps between the larger books.

QIs the Artifact Hunters series complete?

Yes. The overarching narrative arc concludes with Rahotep's Last Breath (Book 6), which transitions to the next generation and resolves the mysteries surrounding the creation of the artifacts.

QWho is the main protagonist of the series?

For most of the series, the protagonist is Cara Devon, an impoverished noblewoman with a troubled past who has the ability to locate magical artifacts. The focus shifts to Nate's sister Nessy in Book 5, and to Cara's daughter Rachel in Book 6.

QWhat genre is the Artifact Hunters series?

The series is a blend of steampunk, historical fantasy, mystery, and romance. It features mechanical technology, ancient magic, and Victorian-era social dynamics.

QWhere does the series take place?

Most of the series is set in an alternate 1860s Victorian London and English country estates, but characters also travel to an alternate New Zealand (Aotearoa) and Egypt.