The Recommended Reading Order for the Emily Kane Adventures
The best way to read the Emily Kane Adventures is in publication order. Because the series follows a continuous, chronological narrative—tracking Emily's journey from a high school student dodging covert agents to an adult operating on a global stage—reading the books out of order will spoil major plot twists, character deaths, and the unfolding mystery of Emily's heritage.
Note that the overall numbering of the series can sometimes confuse readers. This is because the novella Girl Spins a Blade (also known as The High Road to the Mountain Gods) is counted as Book 4 by some retailers and database sites, while others categorize it as a mid-series entry (Book 3.5), shifting the numbering of the subsequent novels. Below is the complete reading order following the chronological storyline:
- Girl Fights Back (2011) – Originally published as Go No Sen
- Girl Punches Out (2012) – Originally published as Sen No Sen
- Girl Takes Up Her Sword (2013)
- Girl Spins a Blade / The High Road to the Mountain Gods (2013) – Novella (often designated as Book 3.5 or Book 4)
- Girl Takes the Oath (2014)
- Girl Rides the Wind (2015)
- Girl Goes to Wudang (2017)
- Girl Stalks the Ruins (2018)
Understanding the Original Titles: A Martial Arts Lesson
When Jacques Antoine first self-published the beginning of Emily's journey, the first two books bore Japanese titles: Go No Sen and Sen No Sen. These terms are deeply rooted in traditional Japanese martial arts, representing the levels of timing and initiative in combat. Antoine later retitled the books to fit the "Girl [Verb] [Object]" pattern of the rest of the series, making them more accessible to mainstream young adult thriller readers.
- Go No Sen (後の先): The original title of Girl Fights Back translates to "post-initiative" or "after the initiative." In karate, this is a defensive concept where you allow your opponent to strike first, using their momentum to create a counter-attack. It perfectly mirrors Emily's initial status: she wants to live a quiet life, but when black-ops teams attack her family, she is forced to react and defend herself.
- Sen No Sen (先の先): The original title of Girl Punches Out translates to "pre-emptive initiative." This is an advanced strategy where a fighter senses their opponent's intent to strike and intercepts the attack the exact millisecond it begins. In this second installment, Emily moves from a purely reactive stance to proactively tracking down the covert operatives targeting her.
Deep Dive into the Books
1. Girl Fights Back (2011)
We meet Emily Kane as an ordinary teenager living in rural isolation, trained extensively in Shotokan karate and wilderness survival by her father. Her quiet life is shattered when a highly trained black-ops team attacks her home. While her family goes into hiding, Emily makes the daring decision to stay behind to finish high school. Between studying for exams and navigating teenage social dynamics, she must fend off international operatives and uncover the truth behind her family's hidden history—specifically, that she might be the product of a secret genetic program designed to create the ultimate weapon.
2. Girl Punches Out (2012)
With the threat against her family escalating, Emily can no longer afford to just play defense. She begins to actively hunt the foreign agents tracking her, taking the fight directly to them. This installment showcases Emily trying to maintain a normal teenage existence—grappling with dreams of high school prom and forming close friendships—while carrying the weight of deadly espionage on her shoulders. The action scenes become more complex, showcasing Emily's progression from karate student to a lethal combatant.
3. Girl Takes Up Her Sword (2013)
The stakes are raised as the threat shifts from faceless international operatives to betrayal within Emily's own bloodline. She must confront members of her own family who want to exploit her genetic gifts. Set against the backdrop of her impending high school graduation, Emily has to face both external enemies and the internal moral struggle of using lethal violence. The story reaches a dramatic climax as she tries to protect those she loves from being collateral damage in her family's war.
3.5. Girl Spins a Blade / The High Road to the Mountain Gods (2013)
This shorter novella serves as a bridge between the high school trilogy and Emily's adult adventures. Exhausted by the continuous battles and searching for spiritual peace, Emily travels to the remote temples of Nepal. Immersing herself in Hindu and Buddhist teachings, she seeks to heal her spirit. However, her peace is short-lived when local violence and tracking mercenaries find her in the Himalayas, forcing her to realize that she cannot simply run away from who she is.
4. Girl Takes the Oath (2014)
Now transitioning into early adulthood, Emily makes a formal commitment to her path, setting up the next phase of her life. She aligns herself with allies who can help her navigate the dangerous waters of international intelligence. This book marks a shift in tone from the young adult high school setting to a more mature, fast-paced political thriller, with Emily traveling internationally and dealing with complex geopolitical threats.
5. Girl Rides the Wind (2015)
Emily's missions take her across the globe, testing her limits in environments where pure physical combat isn't enough. She must rely on tactical intelligence, stealth, and diplomacy as she navigates complex conspiracies. The book emphasizes the toll that a life of constant vigilance takes on her personal relationships, particularly with her fiancé and close friends.
6. Girl Goes to Wudang (2017)
In search of deeper martial arts training and a connection to her half-Asian heritage, Emily travels to the Wudang Mountains in China, the legendary birthplace of internal martial arts. Here, the series leans heavily into the philosophy of martial arts, contrasting Emily's hard-style Shotokan karate background with the fluid, internal styles taught in Wudang. Naturally, trouble follows her to the mountains, and she must defend the sacred temple from modern attackers.
7. Girl Stalks the Ruins (2018)
What starts as a European vacation for Emily and her fiancé quickly turns into a nightmare. In the ruins of post-industrial Europe, Emily finds herself targeted by a coalition of neo-Nazis and rogue mercenaries. The book features high-octane sequences in historic European locales, including a memorable chase through the Louvre, as Emily uses every ounce of her survival and combat skills to keep herself and her partner alive.
What to Know Before You Start
The Emily Kane Adventures were originally inspired by author Jacques Antoine's real-life daughter, a young karate practitioner. Wanting to write stories featuring a strong female lead who didn't rely on romance or magic to save the day, Antoine combined his academic background as a professor and his personal experience as a martial artist to write the series. This gives the books an authentic edge; the descriptions of Shotokan karate kata, blocks, and strikes are technically accurate and grounded in real martial arts theory.
Readers should be prepared for a blend of genres. While it starts as a typical young adult action series, it quickly incorporates elements of sci-fi (the genetic enhancement subplot) and political espionage. The tone balances intense, detailed fight choreography with Emily's internal philosophical dialogues about the morality of self-defense, violence, and her dual American and Asian heritage.