series Reading Order

Blood & Smoke Books in Order

10 Books
2 Reading orders
1991 – 2020 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Order

Tanya Huff's Blood & Smoke series (also known as the Smoke Trilogy) is a direct spin-off of her popular Blood Books (Vicki Nelson) series. While you can read the Smoke Trilogy on its own, you will get a much richer experience if you start with the original series. Tony Foster is introduced in the Blood Books as a secondary character before taking center stage in the Smoke Trilogy.

1. The Blood Books (Vicki Nelson Series)

Start here to meet PI Vicki Nelson, the vampire Henry Fitzroy, and a young Tony Foster. Read them in publication order:

  • Blood Price (1991)
  • Blood Trail (1992) - Tony Foster is introduced here.
  • Blood Lines (1992)
  • Blood Pact (1993)
  • Blood Debt (1997)

2. The Smoke Trilogy (Blood & Smoke)

Following the events of Blood Debt, Tony Foster moves to Vancouver and gets a job as a production assistant on a cheesy vampire TV show, where he discovers his own magical potential. Read these in order:

  • Smoke and Shadows (2004)
  • Smoke and Mirrors (2005)
  • Smoke and Ashes (2006)

3. The Short Story Collections

If you want to read every scrap of lore in the Blood 'Verse, dive into the short stories. They can be read at the end or interspersed if you want to complete the universe:

  • Blood Bank (2006/2008) - A collection of short stories set during and after the Blood Books.
  • Blood Shot: Stories from the Blood 'Verse (2020) - An anthology featuring stories that bridge both the Blood and Smoke series.

Frequently Asked

QCan I read the Blood & Smoke series without reading the Blood Books?

Yes, you can read the Smoke Trilogy on its own as it has a self-contained story arc. However, because the protagonist Tony Foster and his mentor Henry Fitzroy originate in the Blood Books, reading the parent series first provides essential backstory.

QWho is the main character of the Blood & Smoke series?

The main protagonist is Tony Foster, a former street kid turned wizard-in-training who works on the set of a television show about a vampire detective.

QIn which book is Tony Foster first introduced?

Tony Foster is first introduced in Blood Trail, the second book of the original Blood Books series.

QHow many books are in the Blood & Smoke series?

The core series is a trilogy consisting of three novels: Smoke and Shadows (2004), Smoke and Mirrors (2005), and Smoke and Ashes (2006).

QWhat is the TV show in the Blood & Smoke series?

Tony Foster works as a production assistant on the set of a fictional vampire television show called Darkest Night, which is a meta-nod to typical supernatural drama series.

QAre there any crossover stories between the two series?

Yes. The 2020 anthology Blood Shot: Stories from the Blood 'Verse contains short stories that feature characters from both the Blood Books and the Smoke Trilogy.