series Reading Order

Fallen Star Books in Order

12 Books
3 Reading orders
2011 – 2021 Published
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Reading order

Recommended Reading Paths: Where to Start?

If you are planning to enter the universe of Fallen Star, you have two primary entry points depending on your preference for target audience and maturity level. Author Jessica Sorensen has created two distinct routes through the same core story: a Young Adult (YA) version and a New Adult (NA) version. Here is the recommended path for both options.

Option 1: The YA Route (The Original Journey)

This is the classic path, starting with the original Young Adult series that follows Gemma Lucas as she discovers her powers. Start here if you want the original, cleaner story with standard YA paranormal tropes. Once you finish the core quartet, you can jump straight into the sequel series, Fallen Souls, which continues Gemma's journey with new threats.

  1. The Fallen Star (2011)
  2. The Underworld (2011)
  3. The Vision (2011)
  4. The Promise (2012)
  5. The Lost Soul (Fallen Souls #1, 2012)
  6. The Evanescence (Fallen Souls #2, 2013)
  7. The Mist of Stars (Fallen Star #5 / Fallen Souls #3, 2021)

Option 2: The New Adult Route (Shattered Promises)

If you prefer more mature themes, steamier romance, and darker emotional depth, you should skip the original YA series entirely and start with the Shattered Promises series. This is a New Adult re-imagining of the same story. The plot starts similarly to The Fallen Star but diverges significantly as it progresses, offering its own unique narrative resolution.

  1. Shattered Promises (2013)
  2. Fractured Souls (2013)
  3. Unbroken (Novella, 2014)
  4. Broken Visions (2014)
  5. Scattered Ashes (2015)
  6. Enchanting Illusions (2022)

Publication Order of the Young Adult Universe

For readers who want to experience the books exactly as they were released, the publication order blends the core series and the sequel spin-off chronologically. Because the release years of the spin-off overlap with the original, following the publication order ensures you read the sequels at the exact time the author intended. The publication order for the YA books is as follows:

  • The Fallen Star (2011)
  • The Underworld (2011)
  • The Vision (2011)
  • The Promise (2012)
  • The Lost Soul (Fallen Souls Book 1, 2012)
  • The Evanescence (Fallen Souls Book 2, 2013)
  • The Mist of Stars (Fallen Star Book 5 / Fallen Souls Book 3, 2021)

Shattered Promises: The New Adult Re-imagining

In 2013, Jessica Sorensen decided to take Gemma and Alex’s story in a different direction by publishing Shattered Promises. Aimed at a New Adult readership, this series reimagines the events of the original quartet. It features older characters, higher stakes, explicit content, and a narrative that eventually parts ways with the plot of the original books. Below is the reading order for this specific series:

  • Shattered Promises (2013) – Reimagines the initial meeting between Gemma and Alex.
  • Fractured Souls (2013) – Follows Gemma as she navigates her evolving powers and the dangerous secrets of her destiny.
  • Unbroken (2014) – A companion novella that bridges the gap between the second and third books, providing deeper context into character backgrounds.
  • Broken Visions (2014) – The stakes escalate as Gemma and Alex face new threats to their world.
  • Scattered Ashes (2015) – The journey continues with high-stakes battles and deep emotional consequences.
  • Enchanting Illusions (2022) – The sixth installment in the New Adult series, expanding the narrative universe further.

Deep Dive: The Core Quartet

To help you understand what to expect, let’s look closer at the individual installments of the original Fallen Star series. Gemma Lucas is an ordinary eighteen-year-old girl who has never felt emotions. Everything changes when Alex, a mysterious and intense boy, arrives at her school, and strange sensations begin to spark between them.

In The Fallen Star (2011), Gemma’s numbed existence is shattered when she begins to feel physical reactions and emotions around Alex. Simultaneously, terrifying monsters from her nightmares cross into reality, forcing her to confront a hidden magical heritage. She learns she is part of an ancient prophecy that could either save or destroy the world.

In The Underworld (2011), the stakes rise as Gemma is forced to venture into a dark, supernatural realm. Here, she must learn to control her dangerous and unpredictable powers while dealing with her complicated, electric feelings for Alex. The romance deepens, but so does the threat to her sanity and life.

In The Vision (2011), Gemma faces the looming threat of a cosmic apocalypse. She is haunted by apocalyptic visions of ice and destruction, forcing her into a race against time to prevent the prophecies from coming true. Trust becomes a fragile currency, and alliances are tested.

In The Promise (2012), the original arc comes to an epic conclusion. Gemma must make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the people she loves. The book features high-stakes magical battles, emotional resolution, and answers to the long-standing mysteries surrounding Gemma’s true nature and Alex's destiny.

The Next Chapter: Fallen Souls and Later Releases

After finishing the core four books, readers are introduced to The Lost Soul (2012), which initiates the Fallen Souls spin-off. This series functions as a sequel, picking up right after the events of The Promise. Gemma is back, but the aftermath of the cosmic battles has left the boundary between worlds thin. Lost souls are beginning to leak into the mortal world, posing a new threat that Gemma must handle while trying to build a normal life with Alex.

This is followed by The Evanescence (2013), which deepens the lore of the lost souls and pushes Gemma’s abilities to their absolute limit. The story then entered a long hiatus before the publication of The Mist of Stars in 2021. This installment is considered both the fifth book in the main Fallen Star series and the third book in the Fallen Souls spin-off, finally continuing the narrative after nearly a decade of waiting.

What to Know Before You Start

Jessica Sorensen's writing style is known for being fast-paced, highly emotional, and full of dramatic twists and cliffhangers. The series blends elements of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and cosmic mythology. One of the main draws for readers is the literal "spark" between Gemma and Alex, representing a romance where touch triggers physical magic.

Before reading, it is important to decide which maturity level you prefer. The Young Adult series (Fallen Star and Fallen Souls) focuses heavily on teen angst, magical training, and saving the world, keeping the romantic content relatively clean. On the other hand, the New Adult series (Shattered Promises) features explicit scenes, mature themes, and a darker tone overall. Do not try to read them both simultaneously, as they represent parallel timelines that will confuse your understanding of the story's continuity.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended reading order for the Fallen Star series?

For the Young Adult version, the recommended order is: The Fallen Star, The Underworld, The Vision, The Promise, followed by the sequel series beginning with The Lost Soul, The Evanescence, and concluding with The Mist of Stars.

QAre the Shattered Promises books a sequel to Fallen Star?

No, the Shattered Promises series is a New Adult re-imagining of the original Fallen Star story. It retells the same core narrative with more mature themes and eventually diverges into a different plot trajectory.

QWho is the main protagonist of the Fallen Star series?

The main protagonist is Gemma Lucas, an eighteen-year-old girl who has lived without feeling emotions until she meets a mysterious new classmate named Alex.

QCan I read Shattered Promises without reading Fallen Star first?

Yes, absolutely. Because Shattered Promises is a standalone New Adult retelling rather than a continuation, you do not need to read the YA series first to understand it.

QIs The Mist of Stars part of Fallen Star or Fallen Souls?

It is considered both! The Mist of Stars (2021) functions as the fifth book in the main Fallen Star series and the third book in the spin-off/sequel series Fallen Souls.

QWhat age group is the Fallen Star series appropriate for?

The core Fallen Star and Fallen Souls series are written for Young Adults (YA). However, the re-imagined Shattered Promises series is written for New Adults (NA) due to mature themes, language, and explicit content.