How to Read the Moon Chasers Series
The Moon Chasers series, written by Sharie Kohler (a pseudonym for bestselling romance author Sophie Jordan), is a dark urban fantasy and paranormal romance saga. It features a secret war between a ancient lineage of werewolf hunters and the bloodthirsty lycans they are sworn to destroy. Throughout the series, the boundaries between monster and human blur as hunters, lycans, and half-breeds cross lines in the name of love and redemption.
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the series in a hybrid chronological and publication order. This ensures you understand the developing lore, character crossovers, and the overarching war while placing the series' lone novella in its most natural narrative spot.
Recommended Moon Chasers Reading Order
- Marked by Moonlight (2007) – Book 1
- Kiss of a Dark Moon (2008) – Book 2
- To Crave a Blood Moon (2009) – Book 3
- My Soul to Keep (2010) – Book 4
- Darkest Temptation (2010 / 2012) – Novella (Book 4.5)
- Night Falls on the Wicked (2011) – Book 5
- A Soul So Wicked (2012) – Book 6
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
The publication order of the Moon Chasers novels matches the chronological progression of the main storyline. The only point of discussion among fans is where to place the novella Darkest Temptation. This story was originally published in the multi-author anthology Haunted by Your Touch in 2010, alongside stories by Jeaniene Frost and Shayla Black. It was later published as a standalone eBook in 2012.
Because the novella features Luc, a half-breed lycan, and Lily, a woman desperate to halt her transformation, it fits perfectly as Book 4.5. Reading it between My Soul to Keep (which heavily features the half-breed dovenatu lore) and Night Falls on the Wicked provides the smoothest transition. However, some readers prefer to treat it as a prequel or read it at the very end of the series. Either way, the main six novels should absolutely be read in their numbered order.
The Core Books of the Moon Chasers Universe
1. Marked by Moonlight (2007)
The saga begins with Claire Morgan, a shy schoolteacher who is attacked and bitten by a werewolf. Plunged into a terrifying new reality, she cross paths with Gideon March, a ruggedly handsome hunter from a secret society dedicated to eradicating lycans. Gideon is supposed to execute her before she transforms, but their undeniable chemistry forces him to break his own code to find a cure for her curse.
2. Kiss of a Dark Moon (2008)
Focusing on the March family of hunters, this installment follows Kit March, a rebellious female hunter who defies her society's male-only rule. When she goes rogue to hunt on her own terms, she clashes with Rafe Santiago, an elite European hunter sent to rein her in. Their encounter turns into a dangerous and passionate game of cat and mouse.
3. To Crave a Blood Moon (2009)
This book centers on psychic Ruby Deveraux and Sebastian Santiago. When Sebastian is captured and held in a lycan den, his escape with Ruby sparks a high-stakes hunt. As they flee across dangerous territory, they must rely on each other to survive, fighting both the beasts tracking them and their rising desire.
4. My Soul to Keep (2010)
Expanding the universe's mythology, this novel introduces the dovenatu—half-human, half-lycan half-breeds. Sorcha, a dovenatu orphan who survived the destruction of her pack in Paris, is reunited with her former lover Jonah, a demon hunter who shares her half-breed heritage. Together, they embark on a dangerous mission to hunt down the witch responsible for a deadly curse.
5. Darkest Temptation (2010 / 2012 Novella)
In this quick-paced novella, Lily has been bitten by a lycan and faces an impending transformation. Believing that killing the alpha who bit her will cure her, she tracks down Luc, a powerful half-breed she believes is responsible. Instead of a quick kill, she is captured by Luc, leading to a fiery confrontation where enemies must decide if they can trust one another.
6. Night Falls on the Wicked (2011)
Set against the icy backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness, this novel follows Darby, a white witch fleeing from demons that seek to possess her magic. Her path crosses with Niklas, a brooding lycan seeking vengeance against the pack leader who killed his mother. Niklas becomes Darby's protector, and the two find solace in each other's arms while facing mortal danger.
7. A Soul So Wicked (2012)
The final novel brings the series to a dramatic close. Darius is an ancient, immortal lycan who has spent centuries seeking revenge against the demon witch he blames for his monstrous curse. When he finally tracks down Tresa, he discovers she is not the evil creature of his nightmares, but a tortured soul running from her own dark past. Their quest for vengeance turns into a search for mutual redemption.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving in, readers should know that Sharie Kohler is a pen name used by Sophie Jordan. Jordan created this pseudonym specifically to write darker, sexier, and more action-oriented paranormal romance novels, contrasting with her popular historical romances and young adult fantasy series like Firelight. The books contain high-heat romantic scenes, grittier violence, and a darker tone than her main catalog.
While each book features a self-contained romance with a satisfying conclusion for the main couple, the books are closely connected. The secondary characters, family dynamics (specifically the March and Santiago families), and the evolving war between the hunters and the lycans carry over from book to book. Reading them out of order will spoil major plot points and character arcs from previous entries.