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Fantasyland Books in Order

6 Books
2011 – 2022 Published
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How to Read Kristen Ashley's Fantasyland Series

Kristen Ashley's Fantasyland series is a beloved staple of the fantasy romance (romantasy) genre. Combining the author's signature alpha heroes and sassy, resilient heroines with parallel-universe world-building, magical curses, and epic battles, it has captured the hearts of readers worldwide. Because the books feature recurring characters and an overarching narrative thread, reading them in the proper order is highly recommended to appreciate the full scope of the world.

The Core Fantasyland Reading Order

The core series consists of five full-length novels and one companion novella. While each novel centers on a different romantic pairing and can technically function as a standalone, they are best read in publication order to follow the gradual changes in the kingdom's political landscape and avoid spoilers for previous couples.

  1. Wildest Dreams (2011): The story that started it all. Seoafin "Finnie" Wilde uses a magical portal to swap places with her twin sister in the parallel world of Lunwyn. She quickly finds herself forced into a marriage of convenience with Frey Drakkar, a formidable warrior who commands dragons.
  2. The Golden Dynasty (2011): Circe Quinn is accidentally pulled into a harsh, savage land where she is claimed by Dax Lahn, the fierce king of the Horde. This book features deep world-building and an intense, emotional cultural clash that many fans compare to the tribal dynamics of Game of Thrones.
  3. Fantastical (2011): Cora Goode is transported to a world that resembles a classic fairytale, complete with a dark curse and talking animals. She is guided (and frequently frustrated) by the brooding, protective Prince Noctorno "Tor" Hawthorne.
  4. Broken Dove (2013): Set in the aftermath of the conflicts of the prior books, this story follows Apollo Ulfr, a grieving general in the Queen's Army, who crosses dimensions to find the twin of his deceased wife, a woman named Ilsa who is fleeing a troubled life of her own.
  5. Midnight Soul (2016): This book wraps up the main arcs of the original series. It focuses on Franka Drakkar, who hides her vulnerability behind a sharp-tongued facade, and Noc Hawthorne, an undercover vice cop from our world who is the identical twin of Prince Noctorno.
  6. Gossamer in the Darkness (2022): A companion novella (officially numbered as book 5.5). It follows Satrine, who is hired to replace her mentally incapacitated twin Maxine in a marriage contract with Loren Copeland, the Marquess of Remington, an elite royal assassin.

The Spinoff Series: The Rising

Once you finish the main Fantasyland series, you can continue your journey in the same universe with The Rising, a direct spin-off series. This four-book saga expands the world across the "Green Sea" into the land of Triton. It takes place approximately 25 years after the events of the original series and centers on a group of couples working together to fulfill an ancient prophecy to save their world.

Although it features a new main cast, readers will encounter fun cameos and references to the characters of the original Fantasyland books, particularly members of the Drakkar family. The books in the spinoff series are:

  1. The Beginning of Everything (2019)
  2. The Plan Commences (2019)
  3. The Dawn of the End (2020)
  4. The Rising (2020)

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

For the Fantasyland series, chronological order matches publication order perfectly. The events of Wildest Dreams set off the sequence of dimension-crossing events that lead through The Golden Dynasty, Fantastical, Broken Dove, and Midnight Soul. The novella Gossamer in the Darkness, despite being published six years after the fifth book, fits neatly as book 5.5 because its events occur before the 25-year time jump that initiates The Rising. Therefore, readers should stick to the publication order for the best experience.

What to Know Before You Start

Kristen Ashley's fantasy romance world has its own unique rules and tones that are helpful to know before diving in:

  • The Parallel Twin Concept: Every character has a twin in the alternate universe. When a protagonist crosses over, they often encounter their twin's life, family, and sometimes their twin's spouse, leading to complex emotional dynamics.
  • Strong Romance Focus: While the fantasy elements (witches, beasts, and magic) are prominent, these are first and foremost character-driven romance novels with a high level of heat and relationship focus.
  • Content Warnings: The Golden Dynasty in particular features intense themes, including non-consensual elements at the beginning due to the tribal culture of the Horde, which may require reader discretion.

Frequently Asked

QCan the Fantasyland books be read as standalones?

Yes, each novel in the Fantasyland series features a complete romance with a distinct couple and can be read as a standalone. However, because the overarching plot and secondary characters progress across the books, reading them in order is highly recommended to avoid spoilers.

QWhere should I start reading the Fantasyland series?

The best starting point is the first novel, Wildest Dreams, which introduces the parallel-universe concept and sets up the lore and recurring characters that appear in later installments.

QWhat is the connection between Fantasyland and The Rising series?

The Rising is a spin-off series set in the same universe but across the Green Sea in Triton. It takes place 25 years after the events of the core Fantasyland books and features cameos from the original characters.

QWhere does the novella Gossamer in the Darkness fit?

Gossamer in the Darkness is designated as Book 5.5. It should be read after the fifth novel, Midnight Soul, and before starting the spin-off series, The Rising.

QAre there triggers or mature themes in the series?

Yes, particularly in The Golden Dynasty, which contains dark themes, forced marriage, and elements of non-consent due to the brutal culture of the Horde. Reader discretion is advised for this book.