How to Read the Half Upon a Time Series
For the best reading experience, the Half Upon a Time books must be read in their order of publication. Because this is a continuous, serialized trilogy following the same main characters, starting with the first book is essential for understanding the overall plot, character relationships, and the expanding lore of this fractured fairy tale universe.
Once you finish the main trilogy, you can transition to the official sequel series, Once Upon Another Time, which takes place in the same universe but follows a new cast of characters. For the ultimate fan experience, there is also a short crossover story with James Riley's other famous series, Story Thieves, that connects both worlds.
The Core Trilogy in Publication Order
Here is the core trilogy in its recommended reading order. While there are no chronological shifts or prequels, there is minor date confusion between editions. The first hardcover editions of the third book were published in 2013, though paperback editions were released in early 2014.
- Half Upon a Time (September 2010) – The adventure begins when Jack, the son of the famous beanstalk-climbing Jack, meets May, a girl from our modern world wearing a punk sweatshirt. She is searching for her kidnapped grandmother, leading them on a wild quest across a world where classic fairy tales collide.
- Twice Upon a Time (April 2012) – The stakes rise as Jack and May continue their search, diving deep into the Sea King's realm and facing off against notorious pirates like Bluebeard, all while unraveling the secrets of May's true heritage.
- Once Once the End (May 2013 / January 2014) – The trilogy reaches its grand finale. Jack and May must stand against the Wicked Queen to save both the fairy tale realm and the modern world from destruction, resolving the mystery of May's grandmother once and for all.
The Sequel Series: Once Upon Another Time
Nearly a decade after finishing the original trilogy, James Riley returned to the same whimsical universe with a brand-new sequel trilogy. Once Upon Another Time features new protagonists—Jin, a genie-in-training, and Lena, a giant who has been shrunk to human size—but contains plenty of references and nods to the events of the original trilogy. Reading the original books first is highly recommended to fully appreciate the world-building.
- Once Upon Another Time (April 2022)
- Tall Tales (September 2022)
- Happily Ever After (May 2023)
The Story Thieves Crossover: "Half Upon a Story Thief"
If you love James Riley's writing, you might also be familiar with his five-book series Story Thieves (published between 2015 and 2018). The author wrote a special crossover short story titled "Half Upon a Story Thief". In this story, the book-jumping characters from Story Thieves (Owen, Bethany, and Kiel) jump directly into the events of the Half Upon a Time trilogy, humorously changing the storyline.
To avoid spoilers for both series, it is best to read this crossover story after completing the original Half Upon a Time trilogy and at least the first book of Story Thieves.
What to Know Before You Start
The series is targeted at middle-grade readers (ages 8 to 12) but is widely enjoyed by older readers for its witty pacing and sarcastic humor. Unlike traditional, passive fairy tale characters, the protagonists here are active and skeptical: May challenges classic princess stereotypes at every turn, while Jack struggles under the legacy of his father's infamous beanstalk incident. The world is a place where fairy tales are historical facts, and the stories don't always go the way they do in the books.