Monster Hunter Books in Order

Where to Start with the Monster Hunter Series

For anyone looking to dive into this explosive urban fantasy universe, the absolute best place to start is the very first novel, Monster Hunter International. Originally self-published by Larry Correia in 2007 before being picked up and re-released by Baen Books in 2009, this book establishes the alternate-Earth setting where supernatural entities are real and kept secret by the government's Monster Control Bureau. Reading this book first introduces you to Owen Zastava Pitt, an ordinary accountant who survives a werewolf attack, kills his boss, and is recruited into Monster Hunter International (MHI)—a premier private security firm that hunts monsters for cash bounty payouts.

Starting here is vital because it builds the fundamental lore of the universe, explains how the bounty system works, introduces major recurring allies and antagonists, and outlines the cosmic stakes that escalate as the series progresses.

The Core Monster Hunter International Books

The mainline series follows the employees of MHI as they face increasingly apocalyptic supernatural threats. While Owen Pitt is the primary narrator for most of the books, several novels pivot to show other key characters' perspectives:

• Monster Hunter International (2009): Owen Pitt is recruited into MHI, discovers his own destiny as a chosen warrior, and works with his new teammates to stop a dark cult from summoning ancient, world-ending evils.
• Monster Hunter Vendetta (2010): Owen is targeted by a powerful death cult wishing to sacrifice him to gain the favor of the Old Ones, forced to go on the run while dealing with the shadowy government agent known only as Franks.
• Monster Hunter Alpha (2011): This book shifts focus to Earl Harbinger, the hardened werewolf who leads MHI. Earl travels to a remote town in Michigan to confront a horrific werewolf plague linked directly to his own tragic past.
• Monster Hunter Legion (2012): Owen and the MHI team attend an international hunter convention in Las Vegas, which quickly turns into a disaster zone when ancient monsters are unleashed, forcing rival hunting entities to collaborate to survive.
• Monster Hunter Nemesis (2014): The spotlight moves to Agent Franks, the seemingly indestructible government operative. Franks must go rogue to protect his secrets and stop a rogue agency from creating their own artificial monsters.
• Monster Hunter Siege (2017): Owen leads a massive, all-out assault into a monster-infested dimension to rescue captured teammates, resulting in one of the most action-heavy and high-stakes battles in the entire series.
• Monster Hunter Guardian (2019): Co-authored with Sarah A. Hoyt, this novel centers on Julie Shackleford (Owen’s wife and a highly skilled hunter) as she fights to protect her newborn child from an ancient, predatory threat while Owen is away on a mission.
• Monster Hunter Bloodlines (2021): Owen Pitt returns to the center stage, dealing with a dangerous family reunion, necro-vampires, and deep-seated magical conspiracies that threaten the survival of MHI.

The Monster Hunter Memoirs (1970s and 1980s Prequels)

The Monster Hunter Memoirs are collaborative spin-off novels that expand the history of the MHI universe. Instead of following the modern-day exploits of Owen Pitt, these books function as retro-prequels, showcasing how hunters operated during the Cold War era. The memoirs are divided into two distinct protagonist arcs:

The Oliver Chadwick Gardenier Trilogy (with John Ringo)

Co-authored with sci-fi author John Ringo, this trilogy takes place in the 1980s and follows "Chad" Gardenier, a devoutly religious, highly lethal marine who gets recruited into the ranks of MHI:

• Grunge (2016): Introduces a young Chad Gardenier as he learns the ropes of monster hunting in 1980s Seattle, blending heavy metal culture, grunge music, and supernatural combat.
• Sinners (2016): Chad is reassigned to the American South, where he battles swamp monsters, voodoo cults, and sinister cabals.
• Saints (2018): The conclusion of Chad's trilogy sees him taking the fight to international threats, dealing with massive cosmic entities, and solidifying his legendary status in hunter history.

The Chloe Mendoza Arc (with Jason Cordova)

Co-authored with Jason Cordova, this series moves further back to the 1970s, introducing a brand-new style and perspective:

• Fever (2023): Set in disco-era 1970s Los Angeles, this book follows Chloe Mendoza, a half-Aztec monster (nagualii) who works as a seasoned hunter. Chloe must navigate local bureaucracy, train a squad of raw rookies, and stop an ancient Mesoamerican evil from rising.

Recommended Reading Orders

Because the MHI universe spans different eras and co-authors, readers generally choose between three reading paths, depending on how they prefer to digest lore:

Option 1: Publication Order (Highly Recommended)

This is the best route for first-time readers. Even though the Memoirs take place decades earlier, they were written with the assumption that the reader is already familiar with the lore established in the mainline books. Reading in publication order ensures that you understand reference jokes, character cameos, and the mechanics of the magical universe as they were gradually revealed by the authors.

Option 2: Main Story First

If you prefer to stay locked into the main plotline without side-trips, you can read the core novels back-to-back before diving into the Memoirs. Read books 1 through 6 (International to Siege), then read Guardian and Bloodlines. Once you are finished with Owen and Julie's current stories, you can go back and read the historical adventures of Chad and Chloe in the Memoirs series.

Option 3: Strict Chronological Order

For seasoned fans doing a re-read, organizing the books chronologically by their in-universe settings offers a fun historical perspective on MHI's evolution. The chronological flow is as follows:

1. Monster Hunter Memoirs: Fever (Set in the 1970s)
2. Monster Hunter Memoirs: Grunge (Set in the 1980s)
3. Monster Hunter Memoirs: Sinners (Set in the 1980s)
4. Monster Hunter Memoirs: Saints (Set in the 1980s)
5. Monster Hunter International (Sets off the modern era)
6. Monster Hunter Vendetta
7. Monster Hunter Alpha
8. Monster Hunter Legion
9. Monster Hunter Nemesis
10. Monster Hunter Siege
11. Monster Hunter Guardian (Overlaps partially with the end of Siege)
12. Monster Hunter Bloodlines

What to Know Before You Start

The Monster Hunter series is unapologetically inspired by pulp B-movies, horror classics, and military action. Because Larry Correia is a former competitive shooter and firearms instructor, the books feature highly detailed, technically accurate descriptions of firearms, ammunition, and tactical maneuvers. If you enjoy tactical realism mixed with over-the-top fantasy battles, you will feel right at home.

Additionally, keep an eye out for upcoming projects. Correia has confirmed he is working on the final two novels of the current Owen Pitt story arc: Monster Hunter Trespass (Book 9) and Monster Hunter Omega (Book 10). There are also collaborative spin-offs in development, such as Monster Hunter Alien Files: First Contact (co-authored with Les Johnson, slated for 2026), proving that the universe will continue to grow long after the main story concludes.