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Dark Ones Books in Order

20 Books
2 Reading orders
2003 – 2022 Published
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Reading order

How to Read the Dark Ones Series: Recommended Order

With over two decades of publication, Katie MacAlister's Dark Ones series blends laugh-out-loud comedy, steamy romance, and unique vampire lore. To fully appreciate the overarching world-building, the recurring character cameos, and the gradual evolution of the vampire society, we highly recommend reading the series in publication order. This recommended path integrates the main novels, the young adult tie-ins, and the crucial novellas that expand on the lore.

  1. A Girl's Guide to Vampires (2003) - The book that started it all, introducing Joy Randall and Raphael St. John in the Czech Republic.
  2. Sex and the Single Vampire (2005) - Follows Allie, a summoner, and Christian.
  3. Sex, Lies and Vampires (2005) - Focuses on the romance between Maggie and Connor.
  4. Circus of the Darned (2006) - Originally published under the pseudonym Katie Maxwell, this young adult novel introduces the teen versions of Fran and Benedikt.
  5. Even Vampires Get the Blues (2006) - Follows Paen Scott and half-elf detective Sam.
  6. Just One Sip (2006) - A paranormal romance anthology containing the novella Bring Out Your Dead, which introduces Sebastian and Tessa.
  7. The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires (2007) - Follows physicist Portia Harding and Theo.
  8. Zen and the Art of Vampires (2008) - Launches the Zorya sub-arc, following Pia Thomason and Kristoff in Iceland.
  9. Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang (2009) - Continues Pia and Kristoff's supernatural adventures.
  10. My Zombie Valentine (2009) - An anthology that reprints the novella Bring Out Your Dead.
  11. Cupid Cats (2010) - An anthology containing the novella Unleashed, featuring Jacintha Ferreira.
  12. In the Company of Vampires (2010) - Fran and Benedikt return as adults, wrapping up their long-running romance arc.
  13. Much Ado About Vampires (2011) - Follows Corinne and Wulf.
  14. Unleashed (2011) - A standalone ebook release of the novella from the Cupid Cats anthology.
  15. Lifestyles of the Rich and Undead (2012) - A promotional short story featuring Grayson Soucek.
  16. A Tale of Two Vampires (2012) - Focuses on Iolanthe Tennyson and Nikola Czerny.
  17. The Vampire Always Rises (2017) - Begins the Revelation sub-arc with Tempest and Aloysius.
  18. Enthralled (2021) - Focuses on the ancient connection between Keeley Moore and Jenna Boyle.
  19. Desperately Seeking Vampire (2022) - Follows tarot reader Minerva and the brooding Ivo Zeman.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order Caveats

For the most part, the chronological timeline of the Dark Ones universe moves in tandem with the publication dates. However, there are a few important exceptions that readers should keep in mind to avoid confusion.

The Fran and Benedikt YA Novels

The characters Francesca "Fran" Ghetti (a teen psychometrist) and Benedikt "Ben" Czerny (a teenage Moravian Dark One) first appeared in the young adult novels Got Fangs? (2005) and Circus of the Darned (2006), written under the pen name Katie Maxwell. These books were later collected into the single omnibus volume Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend (2010). Because these books focus on their teenage years and are written for a younger audience, some reading lists omit them. However, Fran and Benedikt return as adult protagonists in the adult novel In the Company of Vampires (2010), which takes place five years after their initial separation. Reading the YA novels or their omnibus edition first provides essential context for their reunion.

Novellas and the "A Fistful of Vampires" Collection

Several crucial side stories were originally published in multi-author anthologies. Bring Out Your Dead (first appearing in Just One Sip in 2006 and later reprinted in My Zombie Valentine in 2009) and Unleashed (originally in Cupid Cats in 2010) are frequently referenced in the main books. In 2020, Katie MacAlister released A Fistful of Vampires, a compilation containing three of these hard-to-find stories: "Unleashed," "Bring Out Your Dead," and "Cat Got Your Tongue?" (a short story following Joy and Raphael from the first book). Reading this collection is the easiest way for modern readers to catch up on the essential novellas.

Major Series Subgroups and Character Arcs

Because the Dark Ones series is so expansive, the author divides the books into thematic or location-based subseries. Understanding these subseries can help you choose where to focus if you prefer to read character-specific story arcs.

The Core Series

The early books (from A Girl's Guide to Vampires to Even Vampires Get the Blues) establish the rules of the world. Set in gothic locales like the Czech Republic, they introduce the Moravian vampires, the concept of the "Beloved," and the quirky, skeptical human heroines who are destined to redeem them.

The Zorya Subseries

This arc begins with Zen and the Art of Vampires and includes Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang and Much Ado About Vampires. It follows Pia Thomason, a woman approaching forty who takes a singles' tour to Iceland and gets dragged into a world of ancient curses, ghosts, and powerful Dark Ones.

The Goth Faire Subseries

This subseries charts the long journey of Fran and Benedikt from their teenage meetings on the Goth Faire road trip to their adult reunion in In the Company of Vampires, and continues into A Tale of Two Vampires, which features Benedikt's relative Nikola Czerny.

The Revelation Subseries

The later books (The Vampire Always Rises, Enthralled, and Desperately Seeking Vampire) deal with ancient ancestors of the Dark Ones known as "Thralls" and explore deeper, older magic within the Moravian vampire hierarchy.

What to Know Before You Start

Unlike many dark, gritty vampire series of the early 2000s, Katie MacAlister's Dark Ones series is known for its lighthearted, humorous tone. It combines romance tropes with classic romantic comedy elements—expect plenty of sassy dialogue, eccentric side characters, and situations where supernatural peril is balanced by laugh-out-loud misunderstandings.

In this universe, "Dark Ones" are Moravian vampires who have lost their souls. Without a soul, they eventually succumb to madness and bloodlust unless they find their "Beloved"—the one woman who can restore their soul. While each book focuses on a single couple and can technically be read as a standalone romance, the background characters and ongoing lore build on previous entries. Readers who skip around may find themselves spoiled on who ends up with whom or confused by the complex relationships of the recurring vampire families.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended starting point for the Dark Ones series?

The best place to start is with the very first novel, A Girl's Guide to Vampires (2003). It introduces the core concept of the Moravian vampires and sets the comedic, romantic tone for the rest of the series.

QCan the Dark Ones books be read as standalones?

Yes, each book features a complete romance arc with a happy ending for the main couple. However, because characters from previous books frequently make cameos and the overarching vampire lore progresses, reading them in order is highly recommended.

QWhat is "A Fistful of Vampires"?

Released in 2020, A Fistful of Vampires is a collection that compiles three previously published Dark Ones novellas and short stories: "Unleashed," "Bring Out Your Dead," and "Cat Got Your Tongue?".

QAre the young adult "Goth Faire" books necessary to read?

While not strictly mandatory, the young adult novels Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned (compiled in Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend) introduce Fran and Benedikt. Reading them first makes their reunion in the adult novel In the Company of Vampires much more satisfying.

QWho are the "Thralls" in the later books?

Introduced in the Revelation subseries starting with The Vampire Always Rises, "Thralls" are ancient ancestors of the Dark Ones who possess unique abilities and complex histories that predate the modern Moravian vampire rules.