Books On Board
series Reading Order

Celta Books in Order

20 Books
2001 – 2020 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start Reading Celta

The best place to begin your journey is with HeartMate (2001), the novel that launched the series. It introduces the fundamental rules of the planet Celta, including "Flair" (psychic power), fated "HeartMates" (soulmates), and "Fams" (highly intelligent, telepathic animal companions). Reading the series in publication order is highly recommended, as the society and recurring characters develop sequentially, and later books feature minor spoilers and cameos from past couples.

Celta's HeartMates Reading Order

Follow the publication order to experience the expansion of the city of Druida and the evolution of its psychic culture:

  1. HeartMate (2001)
  2. Heart Thief (2003)
  3. Heart Duel (2004)
  4. Heart Choice (2005)
  5. Heart Quest (2006)
  6. Heart Dance (2007)
  7. Heart Fate (2008)
  8. Heart Change (2009)
  9. Heart Journey (2010)
  10. Heart Search (2011)
  11. Hearts and Swords (2011) — A collection of four novellas, including a prequel story detailing the psychic exodus from Earth.
  12. Heart Secret (2012)
  13. Heart Fortune (2013)
  14. Heart Fire (2014)
  15. Heart Legacy (2015)
  16. Lost Heart (2016) — A standalone companion novella following a Druidan security chief and a librarian.
  17. Heart Sight (2017)
  18. Celta Cats (2017) — A special collection of short stories written from the perspectives of the world's telepathic FamCats.
  19. Script of the Heart (2018) — A companion novella officially designated as Book 9.1, returning to the theater setting of Heart Journey.
  20. Hearts and Stones (2020) — A story collection set in Celta, including the Earth-escape prequel 'Passage Through Stone'.

Chronological vs. Publication Order

For the most part, publication order matches the chronological timeline of Celta. However, a few stories diverge:

  • Prequels: The novella "Hearts and Swords" (within the collection of the same name) and "Passage Through Stone" (in Hearts and Stones) detail life on Earth and the migration to Celta on colony ships, taking place centuries before the first novel.
  • Flashbacks & Companions: Script of the Heart is set in the past relative to its publication date but serves as a direct companion to Book 9 (Heart Journey), which is why it is best read as Book 9.1.

Because the overarching world-building progresses steadily, stick to the publication order first, and treat the historical stories as backstory flavor once you are already familiar with Celta's lore.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Celta series?

You should start with HeartMate (2001). It introduces the rules of Celta's society, fated soulmates, and telepathic animals, laying the foundation for all subsequent books.

QCan the Celta books be read as standalones?

Yes, each novel follows a new couple and resolves their romantic plot. However, because characters reappear and the world's technology and politics evolve, reading them in order offers the best experience.

QWhat is the difference between publication and chronological order in this series?

They are nearly identical, with the exception of a few stories. Prequel novellas in Hearts and Swords and Hearts and Stones depict the colonization flight from Earth, while Script of the Heart is a companion to Heart Journey set earlier in the timeline.

QAre the animal companions important to the stories?

Absolutely. Telepathic animal companions, known as Fams, are a core element of Celta. They form close psychic bonds with humans and often act as secondary characters with their own distinct personalities.

QHow many books are in the Celta's Heartmates series?

The complete series consists of 20 works, which includes 16 full-length novels and 4 companion collections/novellas.

QWhat is Celta Cats?

Celta Cats is a companion anthology published in 2017. It contains stories told entirely from the point of view of the telepathic FamCats, covering history from the first ship cat to character childhoods.