House Of Night Books in Order

The Ultimate House of Night Reading Order

To experience Zoey Redbird's journey exactly as authors P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast intended, we highly recommend following the publication order. This sequence seamlessly integrates the four companion novellas right when their historical backstories become crucial to the main plot. Reading them chronologically first would spoil major plot twists, character motivations, and villain origins.

Here is the definitive reading path to navigate the Tulsa boarding school and the conflicts that threaten it:

1. Marked (2007): The series opener introduces Zoey Redbird, a sixteen-year-old who is marked by a Tracker to undergo the Change into a vampyre, forcing her to leave her normal life behind and enter the House of Night boarding school.
2. Betrayed (2007): Settling into her new life, Zoey becomes the leader of the Dark Daughters. However, when human teenagers are murdered, the finger points at the fledgling vampyres, leading Zoey to uncover dark secrets about those she trusted.
3. Chosen (2008): Forces of evil threaten the school, and Zoey's best friend Stevie Rae undergoes a terrifying mutation. Zoey must navigate complex romantic relationships while keeping secrets to protect her friends.
4. Untamed (2008): An ancient, dark force is awakened at the House of Night. Zoey struggles with feelings of isolation as her friends turn their backs on her, leaving her to face the rising threat of Neferet alone.
5. Hunted (2009): Following a devastating betrayal, Zoey and her close friends flee the school, seeking refuge in the underground tunnels of Tulsa. There, they must prepare to face the fallen angel Kalona.
6. Tempted (2009): The battle shifts to Venice as Zoey struggles to control her elemental affinities. Meanwhile, the seductive pull of Kalona poses a psychological and spiritual threat to Zoey's sanity.
7. Burned (2010): After a tragic loss, Zoey's soul is shattered, leaving her friends to pick up the pieces and fight against Neferet and Kalona. Stevie Rae must make difficult choices to help anchor Zoey back to reality.
8. Awakened (2011): Zoey returns from the Otherworld, but the battle is far from over. Neferet continues to manipulate the High Council, forcing Zoey to ally with unexpected forces to protect her sanctuary.
9. Dragon's Oath (Novella, 2011): The first novella focuses on Dragon Lankford, the school's fencing master. It details his backstory in 1830s London and explains the origin of his oath to the Goddess Nyx. Read this immediately after Awakened.
10. Destined (2011): Zoey returns to Tulsa, but Neferet's darkness has grown stronger. The lines between allies and enemies blur as the school prepares for a magical confrontation.
11. Lenobia's Vow (Novella, 2012): This second novella dives into the history of Lenobia, the school's equestrian mistress. It takes place in 1788 France, showing her escape from an unwanted marriage and her journey to America. Read this after Destined.
12. Hidden (2012): Following the dramatic events of the previous book, Zoey and her allies must hide as Neferet's influence expands globally. Stevie Rae and Rephaim's relationship is tested by the public eye.
13. Neferet's Curse (Novella, 2013): The third companion novella explores the tragic, twisted origin story of the main antagonist, Neferet. It explains how she was marked in 1893 Chicago and her subsequent descent into darkness. Read this after Hidden.
14. Revealed (2013): A shocking murder occurs at the school, triggering mass hysteria among humans and vampyres alike. Zoey must uncover the truth before Tulsa descends into full-scale war.
15. Kalona's Fall (Novella, 2014): The final novella explores the pre-history of the series, showing Kalona's time as the Warrior of Nyx and the events that led to his fall from grace. Read this after Revealed.
16. Redeemed (2014): The epic conclusion to the original twelve-book saga. Zoey must harness the ultimate power of old magic to defeat Neferet once and for all and save the world from absolute darkness.

The Sequel Arc: House of Night Otherworld

After completing the main 12-book series and the four novellas, readers can continue with the sequel series, House of Night: Otherworld. This spin-off takes place roughly one year after the events of Redeemed, bringing back the Nerd Herd for a brand-new threat involving alternate dimensions and dark magic. It should be read in the following order:

1. Loved (2017): The squad reunites for Zoey's eighteenth birthday, but a mysterious package sends them on a new quest involving the supernatural underworld.
2. Lost (2018): Zoey and her friends are pulled into an alternate dimension where Neferet is still active, raising the stakes as they try to find their way home.
3. Forgotten (2019): The alternate reality threats intensify, forcing Zoey to make alliances with versions of characters she once fought against.
4. Found (2020): The action-packed finale of the Otherworld series, where the characters must permanently seal the rifts between worlds to protect their home reality.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

While the four novellas are technically historical prequels—taking place in 1788, 1830, 1893, and pre-history respectively—reading them chronologically before the main series is highly discouraged for first-time readers. These companion novellas were written to expand on specific characters right when their backstories become critical to the emotional stakes of the main series. For instance, reading Neferet's Curse first would immediately spoil the mystery of her character and defuse the tension of the early novels where her true nature is gradually revealed. Sticking to the publication order ensures you learn these secrets at the same pace as Zoey and her friends.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into this urban fantasy world, there are several key elements that help frame the reading experience:

• Unique Vampyre Lore: Unlike traditional folklore where vampyres are created by a bite, the Casts' universe features a genetic "Change." Fledglings are marked with a sapphire outline of a crescent moon on their foreheads, which fills in with intricate tattoos when they complete the four-year biological transformation.
• Cherokee Mythology: P.C. Cast weaves elements of Cherokee mythology into the narrative, particularly through the character of Kalona, a fallen Cherokee wing-spread warrior, and the creation of the Tsi Sgili (ancient Cherokee Cherokee skin-walkers).
• Mother-Daughter Collaboration: P.C. Cast wrote the general outline and fantasy mythos, while her daughter Kristin Cast focused on writing the dialogue and pop culture references to keep the teen characters sounding authentic to the late 2000s and early 2010s.
• Real-Life Tulsa Setting: The books ground their supernatural occurrences in actual locations around Tulsa, Oklahoma, including the Philbrook Museum of Art, Utica Square, and the historic subterranean tunnels beneath downtown Tulsa.
• Upcoming Adaptation: Fans of the books can look forward to a film adaptation currently in development. Director Rain Li is attached to the project, with P.C. and Kristin Cast co-writing the screenplay. The first movie is planned to adapt the events of the first novel, Marked.