Daughters of the Moon Books in Order

How to Read Daughters of the Moon: The Recommended Order

To experience Lynne Ewing's lunar-powered universe to its fullest, you should read the books in a blended chronological crossover order. While the 13-book Daughters of the Moon series can technically be read on its own, it is deeply connected to a four-book companion spin-off series, Sons of the Dark. Characters from the spin-off are introduced in the eleventh book of the main series, and their overall storylines are wrapped up in the final Daughters of the Moon installment, The Final Eclipse. Reading them in an interwoven order prevents major character arcs and plot resolutions from feeling abrupt or confusing.

For the absolute best narrative flow, we recommend the 17-book Chronological Crossover Order. This path weaves the Sons of the Dark books directly into the main series timeline at the points where their characters and plotlines intersect.

The Daughters of the Moon Main Series in Publication Order

If you prefer to focus entirely on the core group of girls before exploring the spin-off, you can read the main series in its original publication order. Each book shifts focus to a specific Daughter, exploring her unique elemental or supernatural power as she fights the forces of the Atrox and faces the challenges of high school life.

• Goddess of the Night (2000): Introduces Vanessa, who discovers she is a Daughter of the Moon and possesses the power of invisibility, all while trying to evade a mysterious stalker.
• Into the Cold Fire (2000): Focuses on Serena, a telepathic girl who can read minds but finds herself tempted by the dark, alluring promises of the Atrox.
• The Secret Scroll (2001): Focuses on Catty, who possesses the power to manipulate time and travel through the past and future.
• Night Shade (2001): Focuses on Jimena, who receives visions and premonitions of the future, forcing her to confront a past love who has made a dangerous bargain.
• The Sacrifice (2001): Serena faces a deadly choice when she is targeted by a powerful follower of the Atrox, putting the bonds of the sisterhood to the ultimate test.
• The Lost One (2001): Introduces Tianna, the fifth Daughter, who has lived as an outcast and possesses the power of telekinesis and the ability to create portals.
• Moon Demon (2002): Vanessa's powers and sanity are tested when she falls for a mysterious boy who might be linked to the demonic forces they fight.
• Possession (2002): The sisterhood must band together to save one of their own when Serena is possessed by an ancient demon serving the Atrox.
• The Choice (2003): The girls begin to confront the heavy reality of their seventeenth birthdays, where they must choose between immortality or returning to a normal human life with no memories of their magic.
• The Talisman (2003): Delves deep into the ancient history of their mentor, Maggie, and expands the mythological origins of the moon goddess Selene.
• The Prophecy (2004): The girls face a catastrophic prophecy. This book introduces Kyle, a crucial character who serves as the bridge to the spin-off series.
• The Becoming (2004): As the final battle looms, the girls undergo intense transformations and prepare for the ultimate confrontation with the forces of darkness.
• The Final Eclipse (2007): The epic conclusion to the entire saga, resolving the fates of both the Daughters of the Moon and the Sons of the Dark in a final battle against the Atrox.

Sons of the Dark: The Companion Spin-off Series

Sons of the Dark is a companion series that takes place in the same universe and runs parallel to the later books of the main series. The story focuses on four boys—Obi, Samuel, Kyle, and Laurent—who are descended from ancient cultures and have been brought to modern Los Angeles by the forces of the Dark. Gifted with elemental powers, they rebel against their dark creators and fight to control their own destinies.

• Barbarian (2004): Focuses on Obi, a boy from ancient Carthage who controls the element of fire.
• Escape (2004): Focuses on Samuel, a boy from the future who controls the element of water.
• Outcast (2005): Focuses on Kyle, an artist from modern-day L.A. who controls the element of earth.
• Night Sun (2005): Focuses on Laurent, a boy from 18th-century France who controls the element of air.

Although the Sons of the Dark series was discontinued after four books, Lynne Ewing did not leave their stories unfinished. Instead, she brought the four boys into the final Daughters of the Moon book, making their series essential reading for fans who want a complete resolution to the overall universe.

The Ultimate Chronological Crossover Reading Order

To experience the storylines of both the Daughters and the Sons as they were meant to be read, follow this interweaved sequence:

1. Goddess of the Night (Daughters of the Moon #1)
2. Into the Cold Fire (Daughters of the Moon #2)
3. The Secret Scroll (Daughters of the Moon #3)
4. Night Shade (Daughters of the Moon #4)
5. The Sacrifice (Daughters of the Moon #5)
6. The Lost One (Daughters of the Moon #6)
7. Moon Demon (Daughters of the Moon #7)
8. Possession (Daughters of the Moon #8)
9. The Choice (Daughters of the Moon #9)
10. The Talisman (Daughters of the Moon #10)
11. The Prophecy (Daughters of the Moon #11)
12. Barbarian (Sons of the Dark #1)
13. Escape (Sons of the Dark #2)
14. The Becoming (Daughters of the Moon #12)
15. Outcast (Sons of the Dark #3)
16. Night Sun (Sons of the Dark #4)
17. The Final Eclipse (Daughters of the Moon #13)

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into this nostalgic supernatural adventure, there are a few core elements of the universe you should understand. The series blends modern YA tropes with deep classical mythology. The girls are the mortal daughters of Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon. Their enemy is the Atrox, a formless, ancient evil that feeds on negative human emotions and seeks to enslave humanity.

The most compelling element of the series is "The Choice." When a Daughter of the Moon turns 17, she faces a life-altering decision: she can choose to become immortal, leaving her human life behind to serve Selene forever, or she can choose to become a normal mortal. If she chooses mortality, she loses her powers, her memories of her sisterhood, and all knowledge of the magical world. This high-stakes deadline adds an emotional countdown to the entire series, as each girl must decide what she is willing to sacrifice.

Practical Reader Advice

If you are planning to read the series, you must start with the very first book, Goddess of the Night. Because the series is highly serialized, with relationships, lore, and the overall war against the Atrox developing continuously across books, they cannot be read as standalones. Additionally, keep in mind that the books have a distinct early-2000s urban fantasy aesthetic. Set in the neon-lit, gritty streets of Los Angeles, the series captures the unique fashion, slang, and technology of the era, which adds a wonderful layer of nostalgia for modern readers.