The Recommended Reading Order
The Darklight series follows a tight, continuous narrative with zero time jumps, prequels, or spin-offs to worry about. For this reason, the chronological order aligns perfectly with the publication order. You must read them sequentially to understand the developing relationship between Lyra and Dorian and the escalating threat to the two planes.
- Darklight (2019)
- Darkthirst (2019)
- Darkworld (2019)
- Darkblood (2020)
- Darktide (2020)
- Darkbirth (2020)
- Darkfall (2020)
- Darkwilds (2020)
- Darkhunt (2023)
A Closer Look at the Books
Darklight (Book 1)
Lyra, a captain in the Occult Bureau, believes vampires are extinct. Her worldview is shattered when she crosses paths with Dorian, a mysterious vampire who pulls her into a hidden world of supernatural politics and terrifying monsters known as Redbills.
Darkthirst (Book 2)
Lyra and Dorian are forced into hiding as government conspiracies deepen. Lyra must confront betrayal from within her own family and navigate her growing attraction to Dorian.
Darkworld (Book 3)
The story expands to the Immortal Plane. Lyra gets a first-hand look at the breathtaking and hazardous landscape of the vampire realm, where the stakes are elevated to cosmic levels.
Darkblood (Book 4)
Traveling to the capital of the Immortal Plane, Lyra and Dorian search for a way to neutralize the threats to both worlds while dealing with the intense, forbidden nature of their bond.
Darktide (Book 5)
The conflict between the mortal realm and the immortal realm intensifies, forcing Lyra to make difficult decisions about where her loyalties truly lie.
Darkbirth (Book 6)
This volume dives deeper into the ancient lore of the vampires, uncovering secrets about the origins of the dual planes and the true purpose of their magic.
Darkfall (Book 7)
Alliances are tested as war draws closer. Lyra and Dorian must gather allies from both planes to prepare for a looming cataclysm.
Darkwilds (Book 8)
A high-stakes battle to prevent the total collapse of the balance between the worlds. The action and romance peak as the initial story arc reaches a major climax.
Darkhunt (Book 9)
Released in 2023 after a long hiatus, this book follows Lyra and Dorian as they team up with the Florida Bureau to investigate trafficking in the mysterious territory known as the Leftovers.
What to Know Before You Start
Unique Vampire Lore
In the Darklight universe, vampires are not mindless monsters. Instead, they act as cosmic guardians who feed on the dark energy inside human souls. This feeding process helps maintain a delicate balance between the Mortal Plane and the Immortal Plane.
The Bella Forrest Collective and Publication Gap
Readers often wonder about the three-year gap between Book 8 (2020) and Book 9 (2023). Bella Forrest is a collective pen name originally created by writer Amber Murphy. The brand, managed under Hot Pancakes Ltd, went through a major legal and trademark dispute that resulted in the temporary removal of many books from online retailers. Now that the publishing rights have stabilized, Book 9 has been released, though the planned tenth book remains unreleased.
No Shade of Vampire Crossover
Although Bella Forrest is famous for her massive A Shade of Vampire series, Darklight is a completely separate universe. There are no shared characters, locations, or crossover events, so you can enjoy Darklight without having to read her other books.