Books On Board
series Reading Order

Night Huntress Books in Order

18 Books
2 Reading orders
2007 – 2023 Published
Jump to reading order
Affiliate links: We may earn a commission on purchases made at no extra cost to you.
Reading order

Where to Start Your Hunt

If you are new to the Night Huntress universe, the absolute best place to start is with the first published novel, Halfway to the Grave. This book introduces you to Cat Crawfield, a half-human, half-vampire who spends her nights hunting down the undead, and Bones, the British vampire bounty hunter who catches her and becomes her mentor, protector, and eventually, the love of her life.

Alternatively, in recent years, author Jeaniene Frost has released companion novels showing the events of the first two books from Bones's perspective. While you can technically start with The Other Half of the Grave (Bones's point of view of the first book), we highly recommend starting with Cat's perspective in Halfway to the Grave. Cat's voice defines the heart of the series, and reading her story first preserves the mystery, suspense, and slow-burn chemistry that made the franchise a massive hit.

The Author's Recommended Reading Path

While you can read just the main Cat and Bones novels, you will miss significant character arcs, major world-building events, and the introduction of characters who play critical roles in the main storyline. Jeaniene Frost's official recommended reading path interweaves the main series, the Night Huntress World standalones, and the Night Prince and Night Rebel spin-offs into a single chronological timeline:

  1. Halfway to the Grave (or The Other Half of the Grave for Bones's POV)
  2. One Foot in the Grave (or Both Feet in the Grave for Bones's POV)
  3. Happily Never After (Novella featuring Isabella and Chance, set during the timeline of book 2)
  4. At Grave's End
  5. Devil to Pay (Novella featuring Chase and Janine, set after book 3)
  6. Destined for an Early Grave
  7. One for the Money (Cat and Bones short story, set immediately after book 4)
  8. First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World Book 1 - focuses on Spade and Denise)
  9. Eternal Kiss of Darkness (Night Huntress World Book 2 - focuses on Mencheres and Kira)
  10. This Side of the Grave
  11. One Grave at a Time
  12. Home for the Holidays (Cat and Bones novella, set after book 6)
  13. Once Burned (Night Prince Book 1 - focuses on Vlad and Leila)
  14. Twice Tempted (Night Prince Book 2 - focuses on Vlad and Leila)
  15. Up from the Grave (The seventh and final main Night Huntress novel)
  16. Bound by Flames (Night Prince Book 3)
  17. Into the Fire (Night Prince Book 4)
  18. Shades of Wicked (Night Rebel Book 1 - focuses on Ian and Veritas)
  19. Wicked Bite (Night Rebel Book 2)
  20. Wicked All Night (Night Rebel Book 3)
  21. A Grave Girls' Getaway (Cat and Bones universe novella, set after the events of the Night Rebel series)

Understanding the Spin-offs and Companion Series

Jeaniene Frost has expanded the Night Huntress universe into several distinct subseries. Understanding how these fit together will help you decide which ones to pick up next:

Night Huntress World

This is a pair of standalone novels focusing on popular side characters from the main series. First Drop of Crimson tells the story of Spade (Bones's best friend) and Denise (Cat's friend). Eternal Kiss of Darkness focuses on Mencheres (Bones's ancient sire) and Kira. Events in these books, particularly regarding the lore of the vampire council and the line of Mencheres, directly impact the events of This Side of the Grave. Reading them in their recommended order is highly advised to avoid spoilers.

Night Prince Series

This four-book series shifts focus to Vlad Tepesh (the legendary Dracula, who is a prominent ally in the main series) and Leila, a woman with the unique ability to channel electricity and see a person's future actions. While this is Vlad's story, Cat and Bones make significant cameos. The timeline of this series overlaps directly with the main series: the first two books take place between One Grave at a Time and the final Cat and Bones book, Up from the Grave, while the last two books conclude Vlad's storyline after the main series wraps up.

Night Rebel Series

Centering on the fan-favorite, chaotic vampire Ian and the mysterious law-enforcer Veritas, this trilogy takes place after the main Night Huntress series and the Night Prince series have fully concluded. It resolves major lingering plotlines about the supernatural underworld and is best read after you have completed all previous books.

Bones's POV Novels

In 2022 and 2023, Jeaniene Frost released The Other Half of the Grave and Both Feet in the Grave. These are full-length retellings of the first two novels from Bones's perspective, offering fresh insights into his past, his inner thoughts during their separation, and scenes that occurred when Cat wasn't in the room. They are excellent companion reads for established fans but should generally be read after you've experienced the main series, as they contain easter eggs and references best appreciated with hindsight.

Chronological Caveats & Order Disagreements

For the most part, the publication order of the main novels aligns perfectly with their chronological order. However, the placement of novellas and spin-offs sometimes causes confusion. For instance, the prequel novella Reckoning (which details Bones's backstory and how he became a bounty hunter) can technically be read first, but because it contains minor context clues that assume familiarity with the world, the author recommends reading it later (often grouped with the collection Outtakes from the Grave) or after you have read at least the first two novels. Similarly, some readers choose to skip the Night Huntress World standalones to rush to the next Cat and Bones story, but doing so makes the transitions in This Side of the Grave feel abrupt, as characters are suddenly in different relationships and political situations.

What to Know Before You Start

The Night Huntress series is a cornerstone of the modern urban fantasy romance genre, blending gritty, fast-paced action with high-stakes romance, dark humor, and a detailed mythological system of vampires, ghouls, ghosts, and demons. Keep in mind that the early books were published in the late 2000s and reflect the paranormal romance trends of that era. As the series progresses, the scope expands from local vampire-hunting in Ohio to international supernatural politics, offering a satisfying, complete journey for Cat and Bones that culminates in Up from the Grave before passing the torch to their closest allies.

Frequently Asked

QCan I read the Night Huntress spin-offs without reading the main series?

While series like Night Prince and Night Rebel focus on different couples, they heavily feature characters and plotlines from the main series. Reading them without completing the first six Night Huntress books will spoil major plot points and make the world-building difficult to follow.

QWhat is the difference between Halfway to the Grave and The Other Half of the Grave?

Halfway to the Grave is the original book written from Cat's perspective, while The Other Half of the Grave is a retelling of the exact same timeline and events entirely from Bones's point of view, containing additional scenes that Cat was not present for.

QIs the Night Huntress series completed?

Yes, the main story of Cat and Bones is completed in the seventh book, Up from the Grave. However, the characters continue to make appearances in the spin-off series, and the author still occasionally writes new short stories set in the universe.

QDo I need to read the novellas to understand the main story?

Most novellas like Happily Never After and Devil to Pay contain optional side stories. However, the novelette One for the Money and the novella Home for the Holidays provide important transitional moments for Cat and Bones and are highly recommended.

QAre the Broken Destiny books related to the Night Huntress series?

No, the Broken Destiny series is a completely separate urban fantasy universe written by Jeaniene Frost. It does not share characters, lore, or storylines with the Night Huntress universe.