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series Reading Order

Colors of Crime Books in Order

8 Books
2019 Published
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Reading order
01
Emerald / Ivan
Emerald / Ivan
2019
Amazon
02
Snow
2019
Amazon
03
Ink / Roman
Ink / Roman
2019
Amazon
04
Ash / Dom
Ash / Dom
2019
Amazon
05
Violet / Anton
Violet / Anton
2019
Amazon
06
Crimson / Nikolai
Crimson / Nikolai
2019
Amazon
07
Sapphire / Luca
Sapphire / Luca
2019
Amazon
08
Black
Black
2019
Amazon

How to Read the Colors of Crime / Underworld Series

Originally debuted under the series title Colors of Crime, Sophie Lark's gritty mafia romance series was later rebranded and re-released as the Underworld series. Along with the series rebrand, the individual book titles were renamed from colors to the names of their primary male protagonists (for instance, Emerald became Ivan and Ink became Roman).

While each book is a standalone story focusing on a different couple with no cliffhangers, they all share an interconnected Russian mafia (Bratva) universe. Reading them in the recommended order helps you fully appreciate the overarching plotlines, family dynamics, and returning character cameos.

Recommended Reading Order

This is the standard reading path for the series, matching the character-name titles with their original color-themed titles:

  1. Ivan (formerly Emerald) - Follows the fierce Bratva boss Ivan Petrov and the assassin Sloane.
  2. Snow (retains its name) - Centers on the underground cage fighter Snow and Sasha.
  3. Roman (formerly Ink) - Follows Paris mob boss Roman Turgenev and Mila.
  4. Dom (formerly Ash) - Explores the intense relationship between Dom Petrov and Lara.
  5. Anton (formerly Violet) - Follows the enforcer Anton who is sent to kidnap a nightclub singer named Violet.
  6. Nikolai (formerly Crimson) - Focuses on Nikolai and the mafia princess Nadia.
  7. Luca (formerly Sapphire) - A heist romance featuring Bratva prince Luca and thief Lex Moore.
  8. Black (retains its name) - Follows detective Byron Black and Holly Summers in London.

Connections to Other Sophie Lark Series

The Underworld series shares its universe with Sophie Lark's other popular series, Brutal Birthright and Kingmakers. If you want to experience the complete timeline of this interconnected mafia world, the recommended path is to read the Brutal Birthright series first, then read the key Underworld entries (particularly Ivan and Snow), and finally proceed to the second-generation series, Kingmakers.

Frequently Asked

QDo I need to read the Underworld / Colors of Crime books in order?

While each book features a different couple and functions as a standalone, reading them in order is recommended to fully appreciate the recurring characters and the shared Bratva universe.

QWhy were the Colors of Crime book titles changed?

Sophie Lark rebranded the series from Colors of Crime to Underworld. In the process, she renamed books that originally had color titles (like Emerald or Sapphire) to the names of their male leads (like Ivan or Luca) to keep the focus on the main characters.

QAre there any spin-off series connected to the Underworld books?

Yes. The Underworld series is connected to the Brutal Birthright series and the Kingmakers series. They all take place in the same shared universe with overlapping characters like Ivan Petrov.

QWhat is the recommended reading order for Sophie Lark's entire mafia universe?

Many readers recommend starting with the complete Brutal Birthright series, then reading key Underworld books like Ivan and Snow, and finally starting the Kingmakers series.

QWho are the main characters of the book Snow?

The story follows a gritty underground cage fighter named Snow and his love interest Sasha.

QWhat was the original debut novel of the Colors of Crime series?

Sophie Lark originally launched the series with the publication of Sapphire (later renamed Luca) in late 2019, though the chronological series order now begins with Ivan (originally Emerald).