Books On Board
series Reading Order

Beyond Books in Order

16 Books
2012 – 2018 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start

For the best experience, you should start your journey with the first full-length novel, Beyond Shame. The series features an ongoing narrative arc centered on the O'Kane gang's rebellion against the oppressive, puritanical city-state of Eden, and reading the books out of sequence will spoil major character developments, relationship changes, and geopolitical shifts in the Sectors.

The Recommended Reading Order

While the core novels tell the main story, Kit Rocha has written several novellas and short stories that fill in the blanks. The official and most satisfying order combines the publication sequence with chronological inserts:

  1. Beyond Shame (Book 1)
  2. Beyond Control (Book 2)
    • Beyond Denial (A short outtake set during the events of Book 2)
  3. Beyond Pain (Book 3)
  4. Beyond Temptation (Book 3.5 – Novella)
  5. Beyond Jealousy (Book 4)
  6. Beyond Solitude (Book 4.5 – Novella)
  7. Beyond Addiction (Book 5)
  8. Beyond Possession (Book 5.5 – Novella)
  9. Beyond Innocence (Book 6)
    • Closed Doors (A vignette set after Book 6)
    • Blank Canvas (A vignette set after Book 6)
  10. Beyond Ruin (Book 7)
  11. Beyond Ecstasy (Book 8)
  12. Beyond Surrender (Book 9)
  13. Beyond Forever (Prequel – Read this last!)
  14. Beyond Happily Ever After (Short Story Collection)

The Prequel Spoiler Warning

Although Beyond Forever is chronologically a prequel detailing the origin story of Dallas and Lex six years before the start of the series, it is wrapped in present-day framing scenes. These scenes contain massive spoilers for the climax of the entire series. The authors explicitly recommend saving this book until after you have finished the final main novel, Beyond Surrender.

Expanding the Universe: Spin-Offs

Once you finish the O'Kane saga, you can continue exploring the Sectors with two spin-off series set in the same post-apocalyptic world:

Gideon’s Riders

Set after the events of the Beyond series, this spin-off shifts focus to Sector One and a new cast of characters. It is not strictly necessary to read Beyond first, but doing so provides a much deeper understanding of the world's history. The main books in this series are:

  • Ashwin (Book 1)
  • Deacon (Book 2)
  • Ivan (Book 3)

Mercenary Librarians

Co-authored under the same pen name, this traditionally published trilogy (beginning with Deal with the Devil) is set in the same world but features minimal direct crossovers with the Beyond books. It has a slightly less explicit, action-forward tone but features the same beloved focus on found families and rebellion.

Frequently Asked

QCan I read the Beyond series books as standalones?

While each book features a different central romance, the overarching plot involving the O'Kane gang and their war with Eden builds continuously. Reading them out of order is not recommended as it will spoil major plot twists and relationship developments.

QWhy should I read the prequel Beyond Forever last?

Although Beyond Forever is a prequel, it contains framing sequences set after the main series that contain major spoilers for the ending. It is best read after finishing Beyond Surrender.

QWho writes the Beyond series?

The Beyond series is written by the author duo Donna Herren and Bree Bridges under the joint pen name Kit Rocha.

QHow does Gideon's Riders connect to the Beyond series?

Gideon's Riders is a spin-off series set in the same post-apocalyptic universe. It takes place after the events of the Beyond series and focuses on the protectors of Sector One.

QDo I need to read the Beyond series before reading the Mercenary Librarians?

No, the Mercenary Librarians series operates independently with different characters and can be read on its own, though it shares the same dystopian setting.