Lux Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order: The Main Lux Saga

When diving into the Lux universe, the primary question for readers is where to begin. The core series focuses on Katy Swartz, a human book blogger who moves to a small town in West Virginia, and her irritatingly attractive neighbor Daemon Black, who happens to be an extraterrestrial Luxen made of pure light. To get the best narrative flow and character build-up, most fans and the author recommend following the story along its natural progression, keeping a few key companion works in mind.

Here is the most popular and satisfying way to read the main Lux series:

• Book 1: Obsidian (2012)

  This is the official introduction to the series. Reading this first allows you to experience the mystery, confusion, and growing tension alongside Katy. You learn about the Luxen and their sworn enemies, the shadow-dwelling Arum, at the same pace she does. Starting here preserves the suspense and the slow-burn hate-to-love relationship between Katy and Daemon.

• Book 1.5: Shadows (2012)

  While this is a prequel novella, reading it after Obsidian is highly recommended. It details the tragic backstory of Daemon's brother Dawson Black and his human love, Beth. Because Dawson and Beth's fate is central to the plot of the subsequent main novels, reading their story here provides crucial emotional context and makes the stakes in Onyx and Opal feel much higher. (Alternatively, you can read this first, but it does spoil the initial mystery of the Luxen species.)

• Book 2: Onyx (2012)

  The stakes escalate as Katy deals with the physical aftermath of her connection to Daemon, a new love triangle emerges, and a mysterious government organization called the Department of Defense (DoD) begins closing in.

• Book 3: Opal (2012)

  This installment focuses on rescues, deep betrayals, and the return of familiar faces. The ending is famous for its massive cliffhanger, making the next book an immediate must-read.

• Book 4: Origin (2013)

  This book shifts the perspective. Starting with Origin, the narrative is told from both Katy and Daemon's point of view. It dives deep into the dark scientific conspiracies surrounding Luxen hybrids and introduces the enigmatic character Luc, who becomes central to the spin-off series.

• Book 5: Opposition (2014)

  The explosive finale to the main five-book arc. Katy and Daemon must fight for survival during an all-out extraterrestrial invasion where lines between friends and enemies become blurred.

• Book 5.5: The Wedding (2014)

  A short bonus scene released by Jennifer L. Armentrout on Wattpad that depicts the official wedding between Daemon and Katy. It should only be read after completing Opposition to avoid spoilers.

Companion Novels & Universe Expansions

In addition to the main storyline, the Lux universe has expanded to include companion perspectives, standalone adult romances, and a sequel series. Knowing when to slot these in will enhance your overall experience without causing story fatigue.

Oblivion: Daemon's Side of the Story

Oblivion (2015) retells the events of the early books from Daemon Black's perspective. It offers valuable insight into his thoughts, his protective instincts, and the secret actions he took when Katy wasn't around. However, how you read it depends on the format you buy:

• Digital Edition: The ebook version contains Daemon's point of view for the first three books: Obsidian, Onyx, and Opal.
• Print Edition: Due to length constraints (the complete trilogy in print would exceed 1,000 pages), the physical paperback only contains Daemon's POV of Obsidian.

When to read it: You can read Daemon's POV right after finishing each corresponding book (e.g., reading Daemon's Obsidian right after Katy's Obsidian), or you can read it as a nostalgic trip back to the beginning after you finish the main five-book series.

Obsession: The Adult Arum Standalone

Published in 2013, Obsession is a standalone spin-off novel set in the same universe but geared towards an adult audience. It features Hunter, a ruthless Arum (the shadow-beast enemies of the Luxen) who is hired to protect a human named Serena. It features a much higher level of steam and mature content compared to the YA main series. You can read this at any point after Onyx, as it does not directly impact Katy and Daemon's storyline but adds fascinating depth to Arum biology and culture.

The Origin Series: The Next Generation

The Lux saga continues in the Origin series, a direct spin-off set four years after the events of Opposition. The series shifts the spotlight to Luc, a powerful and mysterious Origin introduced in the main books, and a girl named Evie. The reading order for this sequel series is:

1. The Darkest Star (2018)
2. The Burning Shadow (2019)
3. The Brightest Night (2020)
4. The Fevered Winter (Delayed / Upcoming)

The Fevered Winter was planned as the fourth book in the Origin series. However, its publication has faced significant delays because the author decided to rewrite parts of the plot to distance it from real-world events, specifically similarities to the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside personal health updates.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

If you prefer to read the books exactly as they were released to the public, or if you want a strict timeline-based approach, you can choose between these two paths.

The Publication Order Path

Reading in publication order lets you experience the world exactly as early fans did, tracking Armentrout's evolution of the universe:

1. Obsidian (Main Book 1) - February 2012
2. Shadows (Prequel Novella) - February 2012
3. Onyx (Main Book 2) - August 2012
4. Opal (Main Book 3) - December 2012
5. Obsession (Adult Standalone) - May 2013
6. Origin (Main Book 4) - August 2013
7. The Wedding (Bonus Scene) - 2014
8. Opposition (Main Book 5) - August 2014
9. Oblivion (Companion Book) - December 2015
10. The Darkest Star (Origin Book 1) - October 2018
11. The Burning Shadow (Origin Book 2) - October 2019
12. The Brightest Night (Origin Book 3) - October 2020

The Chronological Order Path

This order aligns the events by their internal timeline. While it places the prequel first, be aware that starting with Shadows changes the way you experience the mystery of the Luxen in Obsidian:

1. Shadows (Prequel set before Katy arrives)
2. Obsidian / Oblivion (Events of Book 1 from Katy and Daemon's dual paths)
3. Onyx / Oblivion (Events of Book 2)
4. Opal / Oblivion (Events of Book 3)
5. Obsession (Takes place concurrently with the middle of the main series)
6. Origin (Dual POV begins)
7. Opposition (The final battle)
8. The Wedding (Epilogue scene)
9. The Darkest Star (Four years later)
10. The Burning Shadow
11. The Brightest Night

What to Know Before You Start

Before stepping into Kettle, West Virginia, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your reading experience:

Setting and Roots: Jennifer L. Armentrout grew up in West Virginia, and her familiarity with the state shines through in the atmospheric, small-town backdrop. The contrast between typical high school drama and cosmic danger is a signature element of the series.

Age Appropriateness: The main Lux series is classified as Young Adult, appropriate for readers aged 15 and up due to intense action, mild language, and romantic tension. However, the companion novel Obsession is explicitly New Adult/Adult romance and contains mature themes and explicit scenes that are not suited for younger teens.

The Sci-Fi Element: While the series features extraterrestrials, it functions primarily as a paranormal romance. The science fiction elements serve to build the lore of the Luxen (beings who control light, heat, and speed) and the Arum (beings who absorb light and feed on Luxen), providing a creative spin on traditional vampire and werewolf dynamics of the early 2010s.