The Recommended Reading Paths for Night Prince
The Night Prince series is a high-stakes, steamy urban fantasy spin-off of Jeaniene Frost’s bestselling Night Huntress universe. Centered around the legendary, fire-wielding vampire Vlad Tepesh (inspired by the historical Vlad the Impaler) and Leila Dalton, a mortal with the unique ability to channel electricity and see a person's secrets through touch, this four-book subseries can be read in two primary ways depending on your preference.
Option 1: The Standalone Night Prince Order (Direct Path)
If you are only interested in Vlad and Leila’s romance and want a self-contained story without diving into the massive 9+ novel backlog of the main series, you can read the Night Prince books sequentially. The narrative flows directly from one book to the next, forming a complete story arc across the following novels:
- Once Burned (2012)
- Twice Tempted (2013)
- Bound by Flames (2015)
- Into the Fire (2017)
Option 2: The Integrated Night Huntress Universe Order (Chronological Path)
For readers who want to avoid spoilers and see the bigger picture of the universe—including crossovers with main characters Cat and Bones—the author recommends reading the books as part of the broader publication and chronological order. Here is how the Night Prince books fit into the main timeline:
- This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress Book 5)
- One Grave at a Time (Night Huntress Book 6)
- Home for the Holidays (Cat & Bones novella)
- Once Burned (Night Prince Book 1)
- Twice Tempted (Night Prince Book 2)
- Up from the Grave (Night Huntress Book 7) — Note: Contains minor timeline overlaps and updates on characters that affect the final two Night Prince books.
- Bound by Flames (Night Prince Book 3)
- Into the Fire (Night Prince Book 4)
- Shades of Wicked (Night Rebel Book 1) — Focuses on Ian, another spin-off character.
A Closer Look at the Night Prince Books
1. Once Burned (2012)
The series opens with Leila, a mortal scarred by a tragic childhood accident that left her with the ability to channel electricity and see a person's past or future secrets through physical contact. After being kidnapped by vampires who want to exploit her psychic connection, she telepathically contacts Vlad Tepesh. Vlad is one of the most powerful, feared, and ruthlessly protective vampires in existence. Though he intends to use Leila's abilities to hunt down his enemies, an intense, fiery chemistry sparks between them that neither can ignore.
2. Twice Tempted (2013)
In the second installment, the relationship between Vlad and Leila deepens, but it is threatened by Vlad’s emotionally distant, centuries-old habits and Leila’s struggle to fit into his dangerous world. When Leila returns to her previous life on the carnival circuit, tragedy strikes. To protect her and stop a deadly conspiracy, Vlad must conquer his own pride and learn to treat Leila as an equal partner, rather than a fragile mortal to be locked away.
3. Bound by Flames (2015)
With an ancient enemy focusing their wrath on Leila to get to Vlad, the stakes rise to a global level. As supernatural politics and war threaten to tear their lives apart, Leila must learn to harness her electric abilities on a scale she never thought possible. Vlad is forced to confront his worst fear: that his overwhelming desire to protect Leila might actually lead to her destruction.
4. Into the Fire (2017)
The explosive finale of the Night Prince saga. Vlad and Leila face their ultimate challenge when a devastating necromancer's curse threatens to destroy Vlad. To save the man she loves, Leila must make desperate alliances and risk everything. This volume wraps up the main conflicts of the subseries, giving Vlad and Leila a definitive resolution to their romance while paving the way for future spin-offs in the universe.
What to Know Before You Start
Is Reading Night Huntress Required First?
No, you do not strictly need to read the main Night Huntress books (following Cat and Bones) before starting Once Burned. Jeaniene Frost designed the series so that new readers can jump in. However, Vlad is introduced as a major supporting character in the fourth Night Huntress novel, Destined for an Early Grave, and his history, attitude, and relationship with Cat and Bones are established there. Reading the main series first will enrich your appreciation of Vlad's character growth.
The Night Rebel Connection
Once you finish Vlad and Leila’s story in Into the Fire, the timeline of the universe continues with the Night Rebel series (beginning with Shades of Wicked). This spin-off focuses on Ian, a popular vampire character who makes appearances in both the Night Huntress and Night Prince books, offering a seamless next step for fans wanting to stay in the universe.