How to Read the Last True Vampire Series
Kate Baxter’s Last True Vampire series is a dark, sensual, and action-packed paranormal romance saga. It introduces a gritty world where vampires (known as the Ancient Ones), dhampirs, werewolves, fae, and berserkers clash. The series is heavily driven by an overarching plot involving the survival of the vampire race, ancient prophecies, and the mysterious paranormal organization known as the Sortiari. Because of this continuous, evolving storyline, it is highly recommended to read the books in order.
Where to Start: The Best Entry Point
For the best reading experience, you should start with the first full-length novel, The Last True Vampire (2015). This book introduces Michael Aristov, the last of the ancient vampire line, and establishes the core mythology of the universe—including the crucial concept of the "tether," a fated mate bond that restores a vampire's fading soul. Starting here allows you to grasp the rules of the supernatural society before diving into the wider conflict.
While the prequel novella, Stripped Bear (Book 0.5), was published first, it focuses on Caden Mitchell, a bear shifter and enforcer for the Sortiari. Although it establishes some world-building elements and the Sortiari organization, it is a standalone story and can easily be read later as a companion piece if you prefer to jump straight into the main vampire narrative.
Last True Vampire Books in Publication Order
If you choose to read the books in the order they were released, you will follow the progression of the supernatural conflicts in Los Angeles. Below is the complete publication order, which also matches the chronological timeline of the main events:
- Stripped Bear (Book 0.5) (2015) – A prequel novella focusing on Caden Mitchell, a billionaire bear shifter and Sortiari enforcer, who returns home to protect his childhood rival, Leah Ridgeway.
- The Last True Vampire (Book 1) (2015) – The series opener featuring Michael Aristov, the last Ancient One, who finds his fated mate in a mortal woman named Claire Thompson.
- The Warrior Vampire (Book 2) (2015) – Focuses on Ronan, Michael’s loyal warrior ally, who struggles against a forbidden, magical bond with Naya, a shadow-weaving dhampir from a rival clan.
- The Dark Vampire (Book 3) (2016) – Follows Jenner, a brooding vampire protector, and Bria, a sheltered woman newly turned into a vampire, as they navigate an intense, opposites-attract attraction.
- The Untamed Vampire (Book 4) (2017) – Shifts the focus to a forbidden romance between Gunnar, an alpha werewolf, and Chelle, a magically transformed vampire, amidst escalating clan wars.
- The Lost Vampire (Book 5) (2017) – Follows Saeed, a newly turned vampire searching for his mate to save his soul, and Cerys, a captive fae "soul thief" who lacks a soul of her own.
- The Wicked Vampire (Book 6) (2017) – Features Sasha Ivanov, a wild vampire "party girl," and Ewan Brún, a powerful Berserker born to hunt vampires, who unexpectedly find themselves bound by a fated tether.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order Caveats
For this series, the chronological order matches the publication order. The only minor deviation is the prequel novella Stripped Bear. Because it focuses on shifters rather than the core vampire storyline, reading it first is entirely optional. New readers will not feel lost if they skip it and head straight to Book 1. However, reading it first does offer an early glimpse into the Sortiari, who play a recurring role as mediators and enforcers throughout the series.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Kate Baxter’s universe, there are a few unique elements of her mythology to keep in mind:
- The Tether: Unlike standard fated-mate tropes, the tether in this universe is a literal lifeline. Without finding their fated mate, ancient vampires face an inevitable decline, losing their sanity and souls.
- The Ancient Ones: These vampires possess double fangs and access to a collective memory bank, distinguishing them from newly turned vampires.
- A Diverse Supernatural Cast: While the series is named after its vampire lead, the world quickly expands to include shifters, fae, mages, and berserkers, each with their own distinct cultural rules and biology.
- Tone: The series is known for its high heat levels, alpha-style heroes, and gritty urban fantasy backdrops, drawing frequent comparisons to J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood.