Jane Yellowrock Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start

For readers diving into the action-packed world of Jane Yellowrock, the best place to start is the very first novel, Skinwalker (2009). This book introduces Jane Yellowrock, a Cherokee skinwalker who can shift into the form of a beast (specifically a mountain lion, whom she calls "Beast"). Jane is hired by the vampire Council of New Orleans to hunt down a rogue vampire. Starting here lays the essential foundation for Jane's unique powers, her complex relationship with the local vampire master Leo Pellissier, and the rich, gritty magical environment of New Orleans.

While the main sequence of fifteen novels provides a cohesive narrative arc, Faith Hunter has written a massive amount of short stories, novellas, and vignettes that flesh out side characters like the werewolf Bruiser, the younger brothers Eli and Alex, and the witch Molly Everhart Trueblood. For your first read-through, the most practical approach is to read the core novels in publication order, inserting the major anthologies—especially Blood in Her Veins and Of Claws and Fangs—at specific intervals to ensure you do not miss critical character development or the origins of important allies.

Jane Yellowrock Books in Publication Order

Below is the complete publication order of the main novels and compilation books as established in the series history. Because short stories were initially published in scattered anthologies, follow this list to see how the world expanded year by year:

1. Skinwalker (2009) – The novel that introduces Jane, Beast, and her first job in New Orleans.
2. Blood Cross (2010) – Jane is drawn deeper into the vampire politics of the city.
3. Mercy Blade (2011) – The stakes rise as international vampire factions arrive.
4. Cat Tales (2011) – A collection of early short stories focusing on secondary characters.
5. Raven Cursed (2012) – Jane faces the challenges of the mysterious, magical executioner role.
6. An Apple for the Creature (2012) – An anthology containing a key Jane Yellowrock school-themed story.
7. Have Stakes, Will Travel (2012) – A collection of four essential novellas detailing side investigations.
8. Death's Rival (2012) – Jane confronts enemies tied directly to her Cherokee heritage.
9. Blood Trade (2013) – Jane travels to Natchez to deal with a new supernatural threat.
10. The Early Years (2013) – Short story collection exploring Jane's early life before New Orleans.
11. The Jane Yellowrock World Companion (2013) – A guide containing reference material, timelines, and world lore.
12. Cat o' Nine Tales (2013) – Another compilation of short fiction expanding the universe.
13. Beneath a Bloody Moon (2013) – A novella featuring Jane's hunt for a rogue werewolf.
14. Black Arts (2014) – Dark magic threatens New Orleans, forcing Jane to make hard choices.
15. Black Water (2014) – A short story collection that includes the first appearance of Nell Ingram.
16. Broken Soul (2014) – Jane deals with the aftermath of magical trauma and shifting loyalties.
17. Dark Heir (2015) – The vampire wars reach a boiling point, altering Jane's status permanently.
18. Blood in Her Veins (2016) – A major collection compiling nineteen early short stories and novellas in chronological order.
19. Shadow Rites (2016) – Jane must navigate new alliances and magical threats to her home.
20. Cold Reign (2017) – The European vampires make their final bid for power.
21. Dark Queen (2018) – A massive turning point in the series where Jane takes on her ultimate role.
22. Shattered Bonds (2019) – Jane recovers from the events of Dark Queen while facing a new magical plague.
23. True Dead (2021) – The penultimate phase of Jane's struggle against ancient supernatural forces.
24. Of Claws and Fangs (2022) – A late-series anthology compiling eighteen stories and novellas.
25. Final Heir (2022) – The epic, action-packed series finale that concludes Jane's narrative arc.

Chronological Reading Order & Chronology Caveats

If you prefer to read the series chronologically, you will weave the short stories directly between the novels. Faith Hunter's official website maintains a highly detailed "Jane Yellowrock World Reading Order" that tracks every single vignette down to the exact day it occurs. However, reading chronologically on a first attempt can be challenging due to the sheer number of small stories. For a balanced chronological experience, readers should focus on the two main anthologies that aggregate these stories:

• Blood in Her Veins (2016): This collection is highly recommended to be read after Dark Heir. It gathers nineteen stories (such as "The Early Years," "Cat Tats," "Beneath a Bloody Moon," and "Cat Fight") and organizes them in chronological order. Reading this anthology gives you all the early backstory in one place.
• Of Claws and Fangs (2022): This collection is best read between True Dead and Final Heir. It contains eighteen stories, including the novella "Bound into Darkness" (which focuses on Liz Everheart) and "How Occam Got His Name," which provides crucial context for the final battle in the series finale.

A major chronological caveat is that some short stories are told from the perspectives of characters who do not meet Jane until later in the novels. Reading these prequels too early might spoil minor character developments or shift the mystery elements of the early novels. Therefore, sticking to publication order for the main novels and using the anthologies as catch-up points is the most widely recommended path.

The Soulwood Spin-off Series: Nell Ingram's Journey

The Jane Yellowrock universe expands significantly through the Soulwood spin-off series. The protagonist of Soulwood is Nell Ingram, a woman who escaped a polygamist cult and possesses a unique, earth-based magic that allows her to communicate directly with the land and the trees. Nell is recruited by PsyLED (the government agency that monitors paranormal entities) to solve supernatural crimes.

Nell is first introduced in the short story "Off the Grid," which is found in the Jane Yellowrock anthology Black Water (and later compiled in Blood in Her Veins). The Soulwood series runs parallel to the later Jane Yellowrock novels, and characters from both series frequently cross over. In particular, Rick LaFleur plays a major role in both storylines. The Soulwood novels should be read in this order:

1. Blood of the Earth (2016) – Sets off Nell's work with PsyLED. This book takes place shortly after the events of Jane Yellowrock's Dark Heir.
2. Curse on the Land (2016) – Follows the events of Jane Yellowrock's Shadow Rites.
3. Flame in the Dark (2017) – Nell investigates a dark cult threat that impacts the broader supernatural world.
4. Circle of the Moon (2019) – Deals with werewolf politics and PsyLED investigations.
5. Spells for the Dead (2020) – Nell and her team confront an ancient entity.
6. Rift in the Soul (2024) – The latest entry, deepening the connections between the PsyLED teams and Jane's allies.

For the absolute best reading experience, you should interweave the Soulwood books with the Jane Yellowrock books. A popular order is to read Jane Yellowrock up through Dark Heir, read Blood of the Earth, read Jane's Shadow Rites, read Curse on the Land, and then alternate between the two series as you progress toward their respective climaxes.

What to Know Before You Start

Before jumping into the series, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, the series features heavy world-building that blends urban fantasy tropes with Cherokee mythology and folklore. The representation of Cherokee traditions, spirits, and skinwalking is a central pillar of Jane's identity and power, distinguishing the books from other urban vampire series. Second, the series features strong continuity. Unlike episodic urban mysteries, the events of one book directly cause the conflicts of the next, meaning skipped entries will leave you confused. Lastly, the tone is gritty and often violent, focusing on the harsh realities of mercenary work, politics, and survival in a world where humans are frequently preyed upon by elder vampires.