The Recommended Reading Order
Kenley Davidson's Legends of Abreia is a high-fantasy romantic saga consisting of six core books set in the world of the Five Thrones. While the series features an overarching narrative of political schemes, looming war, and magical secrets, it is uniquely structured around three distinct romantic couples. Each couple has their story told across two consecutive novels.
Because the political stakes and character connections build directly from one book to the next, we strongly recommend reading the main series in publication order. Starting with the first book is essential to understanding the magic system, the tensions between the rival kingdoms of Garimore and Farhall, and the threat of the mirror mages.
- The Faceless Mage (2020) – Focuses on Leisa and Kyrion
- The Unseen Heir (2021) – Focuses on Leisa and Kyrion
- The Hidden Queen (2021) – Focuses on Princess Evaraine and Prince Danric
- The Captive Throne (2022) – Focuses on Princess Evaraine and Prince Danric
- The Uncrowned Prince (2023) – Focuses on Prince Vaniell and Karreya
- The Sundered Blade (2023) – Focuses on Prince Vaniell and Karreya
The Legends of Abreia Duologies Explained
The Spy and the Assassin: Leisa & Kyrion
The series begins with the duology consisting of The Faceless Mage and The Unseen Heir. Readers are introduced to Leisa, a young woman possessing rare shape-shifting magic that she must keep hidden. Sent by the authorities of Farhall to spy on the royal family of their rival kingdom, Garimore, she must navigate court politics and protect her secrets. Her mission becomes dangerous when she crosses paths with the Raven, a masked and lethal night elf assassin named Kyrion. The dynamic between Leisa and Kyrion shifts from enemies to uneasy allies, and eventually to a deep, slow-burn romance as they uncover dark conspiracies threatening the peace of the realm.
The Stolen Magic: Evaraine & Danric
The story shifts focus in The Hidden Queen and The Captive Throne to a new couple: Princess Evaraine of Farhall and Crown Prince Danric of Garimore. Evaraine hides a terrifying and dangerous magic — the ability to drain the life force of others. Danric has been raised to believe that all magic is evil. Their marriage of convenience is arranged to bring peace to their warring nations, but it is instantly strained by secrets and deep-seated prejudices. As they travel through Farhall and face a terrifying threat from mysterious wraith creatures, they are forced to confront their fears, communicate through their reservations, and work together to stop a mirror mage impersonating the king.
The Rebel Prince and the Assassin: Vaniell & Karreya
The final duology, made up of The Uncrowned Prince and The Sundered Blade, brings the overarching conflict of the series to a head. The story follows Prince Vaniell of Garimore, who has renounced his royal title to stop the expansionist ambitions of his power-hungry family, and Karreya, a deadly assassin who has escaped the restrictive environment of the Enclave to find her father. When their paths cross, they engage in a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse characterized by a "kiss him or kill him" tension. Together, they must gather allies and uncover weapons capable of stopping the final war for the Five Thrones.
Spin-Offs: Night Elves of Abreia
If you want to stay in the world of Abreia after finishing the main series, Kenley Davidson has expanded the universe with a spinoff series titled Night Elves of Abreia. This spinoff shifts focus from the human kingdoms to the mysterious night elf territory of Dunmaren. Unlike the main series, these novels are written as standalone stories featuring different couples, making them easier to read in any order, though they are best enjoyed after the main series to appreciate the world-building.
- In Darkness Forged (2023) – Follows a human woman named Aislin who is sent to Dunmaren on a diplomatic mission, and Talyn, a renegade night elf who becomes her bodyguard and guide.
- By Blood Oath Bound (2024) – Follows the characters Rhone and Sky as they navigate dark magic and help refugees escape a dangerous town.
What to Know Before You Start
Kenley Davidson's books are highly regarded in the young adult and clean fantasy romance communities. Here is what readers should keep in mind before diving in:
- Clean Romance: The romantic elements are focused on emotional development, slow-burn tension, and character growth, containing no graphic intimacy or explicit content.
- Intricate Magic: The world features shape-shifting mages, life-force draining abilities, mirror magic, and elves, all interwoven with political intrigue.
- Ongoing Arc: Although the focus couples change every two books, the political tension and threat of war continue throughout the entire six-book run of the main series. Reading the books out of order will result in major plot spoilers.