Where to Start Reading Dulcie O’Neil
If you are ready to dive into a world where S&M clubs, potions cartels, and supernatural creatures collide, you must begin at the very beginning. The Dulcie O’Neil series is a highly serialized urban fantasy saga, meaning that skipping books will leave you lost in the Netherworld. The absolute best place to start is the debut novel, To Kill a Warlock, published in 2010. This book establishes the rules of H.P. Mallory's magical world, introduces our feisty fairy heroine, and kicks off the central romantic tension that drives the entire series.
In the first book, we meet Dulcie O'Neil, a fairy Regulator working for the Association for Netherworld Creatures. She is tasked with policing the boundary between the human realm and the Netherworld. When a dark-arts warlock is murdered, Dulcie finds herself as the prime suspect. To clear her name, she has to team up with the smoldering investigator Knight Vander. This first case sets the pattern for the rest of the series: a fast-paced mix of paranormal mystery, gritty police work, and spicy romance.
The Complete Publication Order of Dulcie O’Neil Books
For the main novels, the publication order is identical to the chronological timeline of Dulcie's life and cases. Readers should follow the books in this order:
- To Kill a Warlock (2010)
- A Tale of Two Goblins (2011)
- Great Hexpectations (2011)
- Wuthering Frights (2012)
- Malice in Wonderland (2012)
- For Whom the Spell Tolls (2013)
- Eleven Snipers Sniping (2013)
- A Midsummer Night's Scream (2015)
- Grave New World (2016)
- Pride and Poltergeists (2018)
- What Screams May Come (2019)
- Vanity Scare (2019)
- The Ghouls of Wrath (2020)
Understanding the Reading Order Caveats and Novellas
While the publication order list is straightforward, there are a few companion novellas and anthology stories that fit between the numbered novels. The first notable side story is Ghoulish Valentine, which is designated as Book 1.5. Originally published in the 2011 anthology Kiss Me, Kill Me, this novella takes place right after the events of To Kill a Warlock. It follows Dulcie on a disastrous first date with Knight Vander that gets crashed by a horde of hungry ghouls. Reading Book 1.5 is highly recommended for fans of the central romance, as it bridges the gap before the second main novel, A Tale of Two Goblins.
Another key novella is Eleven Snipers Sniping, which is listed as Book 7 in the local database but is frequently classified as Book 6.5 in chronological order lists. Published in 2013 as part of a multi-author holiday series, this story takes place during the Christmas season between For Whom the Spell Tolls (Book 6) and A Midsummer Night's Scream (Book 8). The plot centers around Knight Vander searching for a serial sniper killer in Splendor while desperately trying to rescue a kidnapped Dulcie. Because it contains significant character progression and relationship developments, it should not be skipped.
The World of Sassy Regulators and Netherworld Creatures
The setting of the series is one of its most unique features. H.P. Mallory blends the sun-drenched, normal setting of Splendor, California, with the dark, chaotic, and often adult-themed underbelly of the Netherworld. As a Regulator, Dulcie is essentially a supernatural police officer. She has to deal with potions cartels, S&M clubs run by demons, and political factions vying for control of the magical underworld.
Unlike many traditional fairies in folklore, Dulcie is not a delicate creature. She is a tough, sassy, and fiercely independent protagonist who is as comfortable using her physical training as she is using her magical abilities. However, her flaws make her highly relatable. She struggles with trust issues, makes impulsive decisions, and has to manage a messy personal life while dealing with world-ending supernatural conspiracies.
Who's Who: Key Characters in the Series
To navigate the series successfully, readers should become familiar with the recurring players who influence Dulcie’s journey:
- Dulcie O'Neil: The main protagonist, a half-fairy Regulator with a sharp wit, a complicated family history, and a talent for getting into trouble.
- Knight Vander: A mysterious and incredibly powerful Loki created by Hades. He is Dulcie's primary partner in the ANC and her main romantic interest.
- Bram: A charming and ancient vampire who frequently crosses paths with Dulcie, providing assistance and adding a layer of romantic rivalry.
- Trev: A shape-shifting demon who acts as Dulcie's landlord and one of her closest, most reliable friends in Splendor.
Practical Reader Advice
Because the overarching plot lines, character relationships, and family secrets carry over from one book to the next, we do not recommend reading these books as standalones. If you read them out of order, you will miss crucial context regarding Dulcie's father, the evolution of her relationship with Knight, and the shifting politics of the ANC.
For readers who enjoy crossover universes, it is worth noting that while H.P. Mallory has written other highly successful series, such as the Jolie Wilkins psychic witch books, there are no official crossover stories. The Dulcie O'Neil series exists in its own separate narrative bubble, starting with To Kill a Warlock and concluding with The Ghouls of Wrath in 2020.