The Recommended Reading Order
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to follow a chronological-hybrid order. While the prequel novella Foundation is technically set first, starting with the first full-length novel, Enclave, is the best path. Starting here preserves the mystery, claustrophobia, and shock value of the underground world before you learn how it fell apart. Here is the recommended sequence to read the Razorland series:
- Enclave (Book 1, 2011) – The essential starting point.
- Foundation (Novella #0.5, 2012) – Read after Book 1 to learn how the apocalypse began.
- Secret Heart (Short Story #1.1, 2015) – A quick scene from Fade's perspective, published in the Fierce Reads: Kisses and Curses anthology.
- Endurance (Novella #1.5, 2012) – Follows Deuce’s childhood friends, Thimble and Stone, in the tunnels after Deuce and Fade are exiled.
- Outpost (Book 2, 2012) – Continues Deuce and Fade's journey as they adjust to living topside.
- Restoration (Short Story #2.5, 2013) – A short story told from Fade's perspective, bridging the gap between Outpost and Horde.
- Horde (Book 3, 2013) – The epic, action-packed conclusion to the original trilogy.
- Vanguard (Companion Novel #4, 2017) – A full-length companion novel focusing on Tegan, Szarok, James Morrow, and Millie Faraday after the war.
The Core Novels
Enclave (Book 1)
In the subterranean ruins of what was once New York City, humanity lives in small, structured enclaves. Deuce has just turned fifteen and earned her stripes as a Huntress, a role dedicated to protecting her enclave from the monstrous, flesh-eating Freaks that roam the tunnels. Paired with the mysterious, topside-born Hunter named Fade, Deuce begins to question the rigid laws of her society. When they uncover a dark secret within the enclave leadership, they are exiled to the deadly surface, forcing them to fight for survival in a ruined world.
Outpost (Book 2)
After escaping the underground, Deuce and Fade find refuge in Salvation, a topside settlement. However, surface life is far from easy. The town has strict gender roles and societal expectations that Deuce, a trained fighter, struggles to accept. As she tries to find her place, the threat of the Freaks looms larger than ever. The monsters are changing, learning, and gathering into an organized army, proving that the surface is just as dangerous as the dark tunnels they left behind.
Horde (Book 3)
The final book of the original trilogy brings the conflict with the Freaks to an epic climax. Deuce must step up as a leader, uniting rival topside factions and underground survivors to build a unified army. With the Freaks exhibiting unprecedented intelligence and strategic coordination, the battle for Salvation becomes a desperate war for the future of humanity itself.
Vanguard (Companion Novel / Book 4)
Set after the events of the war, Vanguard shifts the spotlight to Deuce's companion, Tegan. Eager to see more of the free territories and escape her past, Tegan signs on as a ship's doctor on an epic journey. Alongside warrior-poet James Morrow and the kind-hearted Millie Faraday, Tegan's path crosses with Szarok, a vanguard of the Uroch people. This companion book expands the post-apocalyptic world and explores a complex, forbidden connection across cultural divides.
The Prequels, Novellas, and Short Stories
Ann Aguirre wrote several shorter pieces that enrich the Razorland universe. While they can be skipped if you only want the main plot, they add depth to the world-building and offer closure for beloved side characters:
- Foundation: Set decades before Enclave, this prequel tells the story of Robin and Austin as chemical warfare and plague bring about the end of the world. It explains the desperate retreat underground and the construction of the enclaves.
- Endurance: This novella runs parallel to the events of Enclave. It focus on Thimble and Stone, Deuce's enclave friends, showing the harsh realities and fallout in the tunnels after Deuce and Fade are exiled.
- Secret Heart: A brief scene from Fade's perspective that offers readers a closer look at his internal struggles and feelings during the timeline of the first book. It was published in the Fierce Reads: Kisses and Curses anthology.
- Restoration: Written from Fade's point of view immediately following the events of Outpost, this short story explores his thoughts and feelings before the final battle. It was historically released for free online by the publisher.
What to Know Before You Start
The Razorland series is a gritty, action-packed Young Adult dystopian story that emerged during the post-apocalyptic boom of the early 2010s. The first novel, Enclave, won the prestigious RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance in 2012, highlighting the strong emotional core and character relationships that drive the series alongside its horror elements. Readers who enjoy strong, resilient heroines, slow-burn romance, and zombie-like survival elements will find a compelling, well-paced adventure in Ann Aguirre's post-apocalyptic world.