Guardians of Eternity Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Guardians of Eternity

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Guardians of Eternity series in publication order. While each book focuses on a different couple finding their happily-ever-after, there is a complex, overarching plot line involving ancient prophecies, political struggles between supernatural factions, and a recurring battle against primeval evils. Reading them out of order will spoil major plot twists, character deaths, and romantic developments from earlier books.

The absolute best place to start is the very first novel, When Darkness Comes. This book introduces you to the core mythology of the Guardians—vampires sworn to protect humanity and other immortals—as well as the signature blend of high-stakes danger and spicy romance that author Alexandra Ivy is famous for.

Guardians of Eternity Books in Publication Order

Here is the complete publication order for the primary novels and companion novellas in the series, following the official timeline. Note that several novellas were originally published in multi-author anthologies before being released as standalone ebooks.

1. When Darkness Comes (2006) – The series debut introduces Abby Barlow, a human who inherits a massive burden, and Dante, the dark vampire tasked with guarding her.
2. Embrace the Darkness (2007) – Focuses on Viper, a powerful vampire chief, and Lady Shay, a half-demon who holds the key to his survival.
3. Darkness Everlasting (2008) – Features Darcy Smith, a woman with a mysterious heritage, and Styx, the brooding vampire king.
4. Darkness Revealed (2009) – Sebastian, a vampire warrior, is sent to guard Laylah, a half-demon with a wild streak.
5. Darkness Unleashed (2009) – Follows the romance of the werewolf hunter Rane and the half-breed demon/vampire warrior, Caleb.
6. Beyond the Darkness (2010) – Introduces Salvatore, the werewolf king, and Harley, a pureblood werewolf running from her destiny.
7. Yours for Eternity / Taken by Darkness (2010) – A novella focusing on Juliet Lawrence, a witch's daughter, and Victor, the London vampire clan chief.
8. Devoured by Darkness (2010) – Features Laylah, a Jinn with dimension-traveling powers, and Tane, a powerful vampire executioner (Charon).
9. Darkness Eternal (2011) – Follows Uriel, a scarred vampire warrior, and Kata, a woman of gypsy heritage who has been imprisoned for centuries.
10. Bound by Darkness (2011) – Centered on Jaelyn, a vampire assassin, and Christian, a high-ranking vampire official.
11. Fear the Darkness (2012) – Features the romance of Cassie, a prophetess, and Caine, a master vampire.
12. Levet (2013) – A dedicated novella centering on the series' beloved gargoyle Levet as he attempts to return to the Gargoyle Guild.
13. Darkness Avenged (2013) – Focuses on Santiago, a vampire warrior, and Nefri, a pureblood vampire princess.
14. Hunt the Darkness (2014) – Follows Roke, a vampire assassin, and Sally, a witch with dangerous secrets.
15. Where Darkness Lives (2014) – A novella featuring Sophia, a vampire princess, and her protector, Phineas.
16. A Very Levet Christmas (2014) – A festive novella starring Levet as he attempts to rescue a kidnapped sprite.
17. When Darkness Ends (2015) – Features Cyn, the vampire king's right-hand man, and Brena, a half-demon.
18. Darkness Returns (2019) – Focuses on Chiron, a rebel vampire, and Lilah, a mysterious woman in the Florida Everglades.
19. Beware the Darkness (2019) – Follows Darcy and Styx once more as they face a new, ancient threat to their family.
20. Conquer the Darkness (2019) – Features the romance of the vampire warrior Zach and the half-breed witch, Abby.
21. All About Levet (2020) – An omnibus collection compiling the key adventures of the series' favorite gargoyle companion.
22. Sacrifice of Darkness (2020) – Centered on the vampire Jarek and the witch, Roxy.
23. Shades of Darkness (2020) – Follows the romance of the vampire Gideon and the half-demon, Phoebe.
24. Darkness Betrayed (2021) – Features the vampire warrior Brigit and the demon king, Dev.
25. Slayed by Darkness (2021) – Follows the vampire Hunter and the half-demon, Jasmine.
26. Bewitch the Darkness (2021) – Focuses on the vampire slayer Tyrell and the witch, Nessa.
27. Stalk the Darkness (2022) – Features the romance of the werewolf, Rylan, and the vampire, Juliet.
28. Sate the Darkness (2023) – Follows the vampire warrior, Koldo, and the half-demon, Aria.

Chronological Order & Critical Caveats

Fortunately, the chronological order of the Guardians of Eternity books mirrors their publication order. The main overarching narrative moves forward continuously in time. However, there are a few exceptions regarding the novellas:

• Taken by Darkness (Book 7.5) and Darkness Eternal (Book 7.6) take place between the events of Devoured by Darkness and Bound by Darkness. Read them there to maintain timeline continuity.
• Levet (Book 9.5) and A Very Levet Christmas (Book 11.5) are lighthearted side stories. While not strictly mandatory to understand the main plot, they provide fantastic flavor and character development for Levet, who appears frequently in the main novels.

The Dragons of Eternity Spin-off

In 2015, Alexandra Ivy launched a direct spin-off series titled Dragons of Eternity. Set within the same universe, this trilogy shifts focus to the ancient, powerful dragon shapeshifters who are forced to interact with the broader supernatural world. The spin-off consists of:

• Burned by Darkness (2015)
• Scorched by Darkness (2016)
• Charred by Darkness (2017)

For the best experience, you should read the Dragons of Eternity trilogy after finishing the seventeenth main book, When Darkness Ends, which is when the spin-off was written and released.

What to Know Before You Start

Alexandra Ivy's world is a classic example of mid-2000s paranormal romance, heavily inspired by urban fantasy hits like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Expect a blend of high-stakes action, intense fated-mate romance, and recurring comedic relief. The world features a strict hierarchy of supernatural beings, with vampires, demons, witches, and gargoyles all coexisting under the radar of normal humans.

While the early books focus heavily on vampires, the universe expands significantly to include other mythical species as the series progresses. The tone is highly sensual, fast-paced, and filled with banter, making it an excellent match for fans of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood or Larissa Ione's Demonica series.