How to Read the Kindred of Arkadia Series in Order
To fully experience the cozy small-town vibes, evolving relationships, and ongoing threats to the magical town, we highly recommend reading the Kindred of Arkadia books in their publication order. Because characters recur throughout the series and the town's story unfolds sequentially, reading them in order ensures you won't spoil major relationship dynamics or community events. Fortunately, the chronological order is identical to the publication order, making your reading journey straightforward.
Kindred of Arkadia Recommended Reading Order
- Fate Knows Best (2013)
- Fated to Be Family (2013)
- Fated for Forever (2013)
- Fated Forgiveness (2013)
- Fated Healing (2013)
- Fated Surrender (2013)
- Gifts of Fate (2013)
- Fated Redemption (2014)
A Closer Look at the Books
Each book in the series shifts focus to a different couple (or triad) finding their destined match, all while contributing to the security and community of Arkadia. Here is a detailed breakdown of the installments:
1. Fate Knows Best (2013)
The series begins by introducing the sanctuary of Arkadia, a shifter-only town hidden behind a protective magical barrier. The story follows human Rebecca Morgan, who accidentally stumbles past the barrier and runs into Aleksander Arkadion, a grumpy bear shifter. Their chemistry sets the template for the series: a mix of steamy fated-mate romance, lighthearted humor, and small-town suspense.
2. Fated to Be Family (2013)
This installment moves to a polyamorous triad romance featuring Kate Edwards, Bran McGregor, and Caleb Donovan. The trio must navigate their complex fated bond while defending Caleb's twin sons from a group of hyena shifters intent on kidnapping them. It establishes the series' signature themes of found family and protective community action.
3. Fated for Forever (2013)
Alanea Alder introduces an M/M pairing in this third volume. It follows Gabriel, a vampire prince, and Ashby, a sweet and gentle shifter. The story brings a fresh dynamic to the series, blending vampire lore with the established shifter rules of Arkadia while delivering a highly emotional love story.
4. Fated Forgiveness (2013)
This book centers on a complex triad mating dynamic involving Liam Lewenhart, Sebastian Wakefield, and Kent Fieldings. The plot deals with the fallout of deception, as Liam discovers that Sebastian (a cat shifter he has known for months) is his fated mate but hid it from him. Kent acts as a mediator to heal their relationship as they face an external threat from an old enemy.
5. Fated Healing (2013)
In this story, the town of Arkadia faces a biological crisis in the form of a viral outbreak. The romance pairs Dr. Maddox Claybourne with nurse Felix Kilpatrick in an M/M love story. Together, they must race against time to treat the infected residents and secure the safety of their hidden home while accepting their own bond.
6. Fated Surrender (2013)
This novella-length story focuses on Madison Claybourne, a successful high-powered attorney from New York who relocates to Arkadia. She is shocked to discover that her fated mate is Connor Arkadion, a local busboy at the town diner. Madison must overcome her career-oriented status biases and learn to appreciate Connor for who he is to avoid losing their fated connection.
7. Gifts of Fate (2013)
A holiday-themed reunion book set during Christmas in Arkadia. As babies are due and the community prepares for the annual Council newsletter, high tensions and doubts plague the newly mated couples. This story brings the entire cast back together and should not be read as a standalone, as it heavily relies on characters from the first six books.
8. Fated Redemption (2014)
The final book focuses on Moe "Mojo" Jones and his mate Rhys. Rhys is recovering from a traumatic past where he was forced to consume shifter blood, leaving him with an addiction and a fear of losing control. Mojo, with a little help from Fate, works to help Rhys heal and safely accept their bond.
What to Know Before You Start
An Inclusive Shifter Universe
One of the defining features of the Kindred of Arkadia series is its diverse range of romantic dynamics. Rather than sticking to a single formula, Alanea Alder incorporates M/F, M/M, and polyamorous triad/ménage relationships. This inclusion of different pairings makes the community of Arkadia feel uniquely modern and welcoming.
Standalones vs. Serialization
While each book resolves its primary romantic storyline, the overarching plot concerning the safety of Arkadia, recurring villainous threats, and the lives of the town's residents develops sequentially. We strongly advise against skipping books or reading out of order, as you will miss critical character growth and background plot progression.
No Crossovers with Other Series
Readers of Alanea Alder's other popular series, Bewitched and Bewildered, often wonder if the two share a universe. The author has confirmed that they are completely separate worlds with their own lore, settings, and characters. You do not need to read one series to understand the other.