James Asher Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path

For the best experience, readers should follow the publication order of the James Asher series. Because the series progresses chronologically along a clear historical timeline—from the height of the Edwardian era in 1907 through the devastating years of World War I—reading the books in order allows you to witness the natural development of the characters, the evolution of the uneasy alliance between humans and vampires, and the gathering storm of pre-war European politics.

You should absolutely start with the Locus Award-winning first novel, Those Who Hunt the Night. It establishes the dark rules of Barbara Hambly's vampire lore, introduces the central characters, and sets the tone for the entire series. Reading the books out of order will spoil major character developments, especially the changing relationship between the Asher family and the ancient vampire Don Simon Ysidro.

James Asher Books in Chronological and Publication Order

Unlike many long-running urban fantasy or historical mystery series, the publication order of the James Asher books matches their chronological setting perfectly. The timeline moves steadily forward, tracking the characters' lives across a changing Europe.

1. Those Who Hunt the Night (1988) — Set in 1907 London. Former British secret agent and Oxford philologist James Asher is blackmailed by the oldest vampire in London, Don Simon Ysidro, into investigating a mysterious killer who is murdering the city's undead. Asher's wife, Dr. Lydia Asher, becomes crucial to solving the mystery, establishing the core trio of the series. (Published in the UK as Immortal Blood).
2. Traveling with the Dead (1995) — Set in 1909. James Asher is drawn back into the world of espionage, tracking a British spymaster who has formed an alliance with a vampire. The trail leads across Europe on the Orient Express, with Lydia pursuing them independently to save her husband. This novel won the 1996 Lord Ruthven Award.
3. Blood Maidens (2010) — Set in 1911. The story moves to St. Petersburg, Russia, on the brink of revolution. Asher and Ysidro investigate rumors of a biological experiment that could allow vampires to survive in daylight, threating the balance between humans and the undead.
4. Magistrates of Hell (2012) — Set in 1912. Asher and Lydia travel to Paris to investigate a mysterious threat. A vampire claiming to be a "Magistrate of Hell" is causing chaos, forcing Asher to navigate the Parisian vampire underworld while pre-war tensions simmer.
5. The Kindred of Darkness (2013) — Set in 1913. The danger hit close to home when Asher’s young daughter is kidnapped by a faction of vampires seeking to control the master of London. Lydia must use her medical knowledge and navigate high-society connections to rescue her child.
6. Darkness on His Bones (2015) — Set in 1914. Just before the outbreak of World War I, James Asher goes missing in the countryside near Oxford. Lydia and Simon Ysidro must form an uneasy alliance to search for him, discovering dark secrets about the origins of vampires.
7. Pale Guardian (2016) — Set in 1916. With the Great War raging across Europe, James Asher returns to his espionage roots on the Western Front. When Ysidro is captured and suspected of collaborating with the German military, Asher must navigate trenches and battlefield horrors to find him.
8. Prisoner of Midnight (2019) — Set in 1917. Simon Ysidro has been drugged, bound, and placed on a steamship heading across the Atlantic to New York. With James Asher away on a wartime mission, Lydia Asher takes center stage, boarding the ship to rescue their ancient ally before he falls into the hands of American occultists.
9. Gravemould and Ectoplasm (2019) — Set in 1919. A companion novelette that serves as a direct follow-up (often numbered as Book 8.5). Set in New York City during the closing months of the war, the story follows Lydia Asher and a recovering Simon Ysidro as they investigate a fraudulent spiritualist séance that leads to murder and political intrigue.

What to Know Before You Start

Barbara Hambly's take on vampires is distinct from modern paranormal romance. Her undead are cold, predatory, and fundamentally non-human. They do not possess beating hearts, they cannot eat human food, and they view humanity as prey. Don Simon Ysidro, while cultured and highly intelligent, is a ruthless predator who initially treats the Ashers as disposable tools. The slow-burn trust that develops between them over decades is built on mutual survival, intellectual respect, and shared trauma rather than romance.

Hambly's background in history shines through in her meticulous research. The books offer a vivid, gritty look at the early 20th century, exploring medical science through Lydia's work as a female physician, the changing social structures of the Edwardian era, and the geopolitical espionage that eventually sparked World War I. The series is as much a historical thriller as it is a gothic fantasy.

Side Stories, Spin-Offs, and Crossovers

There are no direct spin-off series or official crossovers featuring James Asher or Simon Ysidro. While Hambly is a prolific author who has written in many universes—including her famous Benjamin January historical mysteries—the James Asher series stands completely on its own. All appearances of Don Simon Ysidro and the Ashers are self-contained within this nine-part sequence. Readers sometimes refer to the books as the "Simon Ysidro Chronicles" due to his prominent role, but they are the exact same novels listed here.