How to Read the Fallen Angels Series
Mary Jo Putney’s Fallen Angels is a landmark series in historical romance, celebrated for its emotional depth, psychological complexity, and vivid Regency-era detail. The series follows a tight-knit group of seven friends who bonded during their school days at Eton College. United by challenging backgrounds, they formed a "found family" and came to be known as the "Fallen Angels." As they navigate the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars and personal trauma, each finds redemption, healing, and love.
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the series in publication order. While each novel is a self-contained romance that can be enjoyed as a standalone, the characters frequently cameo in one another's stories, and the overarching friendships and subplots build chronologically across the books.
The Fallen Angels Reading Order
- Thunder and Roses (1993) – The series opener introduces Nicholas Davies, the half-Gypsy "Demon Earl" of Radnor, who has retreated to Wales in self-imposed exile. When schoolteacher Clare Morgan approaches him to save her village, they enter a bargain that sparks a passionate, transformative relationship.
- Petals in the Storm (1993) – Set during the peace celebrations in Paris, this story features Rafe Croft (later Whitbourne), the Duke of Candover, and Countess Magda Janos, a spy. Formerly lovers torn apart by betrayal, they must work together on a high-stakes espionage mission while confronting their lingering feelings.
- Dancing on the Wind (1994) – Winner of the prestigious RITA Award, this book follows Lord Lucien Fairchild, the Earl of Strathmore and a master spy. He meets his match in Lady Anastasia Kadanova (disguised as Kit Travers), a fiercely independent Russian princess and rebel.
- Angel Rogue (1995) – Lord Robert "Robin" Andreville, a former British spy struggling with the emotional trauma of the war, crosses paths with Maxima "Maxie" Sherwood, a strong-willed American woman of half-Mohawk heritage. Together, they embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind her father’s death.
- Shattered Rainbows (1996) – A RITA finalist, this poignant novel shifts to the battlefields of Waterloo. Lord Michael Kenyon is severely wounded and saved by Catherine Melbourne, a battlefield nurse. Their forbidden love must navigate societal expectations and the trauma of war.
- River of Fire (1996) – Battle-scarred soldier and artist Kenneth Wilding, who has inherited a bankrupt title, agrees to spy on a reclusive artist named Rebecca Seaton. As they bond over their shared artistic passions and personal scars, they find mutual healing.
- One Perfect Rose (1997) – The emotional finale focuses on Stephen Kenyon, the Duke of Ashburton (older brother to Michael Kenyon from Shattered Rainbows). Believing he has only a few months to live due to a terminal diagnosis, he leaves his duties behind and joins a traveling theater troupe, where he falls in love with Rosalind Jordan, the troupe's adopted daughter.
What to Know Before You Start
Unlike typical lighthearted Regency romances, Mary Jo Putney’s work is characterized by its willingness to tackle heavy, realistic themes. Throughout the Fallen Angels series, characters grapple with issues such as alcoholism, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), physical and emotional trauma, domestic abuse, and societal ostracism. Putney handles these sensitive topics with raw honesty, emphasizing the healing power of love and mutual support.
The central bond between the men is the heartbeat of the series. Because their biological families were emotionally distant or abusive, the "Angels" rely on one another as brothers. Seeing how they support each other through various crises adds a unique depth to the romance plotlines.
Related Series and Character Crossovers
If you finish the Fallen Angels and are eager for more stories in the same universe, you can explore the following connections:
The Bride Trilogy Connection
There is a direct family crossover between the Fallen Angels and Putney's subsequent Bride Trilogy. Amy Melbourne, the daughter of Catherine Melbourne (the heroine of Shattered Rainbows) and stepdaughter to Michael Kenyon, grows up to become the heroine of the third book in that trilogy, The Bartered Bride (2002). To give Amy her own independent adventure, Putney sent her to the other side of the world, away from the protective shadow of her stepfather Michael.
Thematic Sister Series
While they do not feature direct character crossovers, two of Putney's other popular historical romance series share a very similar structure and emotional tone:
- The Lost Lords: Similar to the Eton-bonded friends of Fallen Angels, the men in this series are classmates who met at the fictional Westerfield Academy, a school designed for boys of "good birth and bad behavior."
- Rogues Redeemed: Born from a similar concept of brotherhood, this series follows a group of men who formed an unbreakable bond of friendship while being held captive in a Portuguese cellar during the Napoleonic Wars.