Where to Start Reading the Star Kingdom Series
For readers diving into the Star Kingdom universe, there are two primary entry points depending on your reading style. The most popular and highly recommended starting point is Shockwave, the first full-length novel in the series. It does a fantastic job of introducing the quirky cast of characters, the wormhole-linked galactic systems, and the underlying political conspiracies. Starting here allows you to experience the story's main mystery exactly as the author intended.
Alternatively, you can choose a chronological start by reading the prequel novella Robots and Roommates. This short story takes place before the events of the main series and focuses on how the roboticist protagonist, Casmir Dabrowski, first met his stoic, sword-wielding roommate, Kim Sato. While it provides excellent character background, it was published later in the series' release cycle, meaning you can easily save it for later if you prefer to jump straight into the main action.
Star Kingdom Reading Order (Publication & Chronological)
Lindsay Buroker released the core Star Kingdom books in rapid succession between 2019 and 2021. Below is the recommended reading order, combining the main novels with the companion novellas and short stories where they fit best chronologically:
- Robots and Roommates (Book 0.5) – Prequel Novella (2021)
- Cultured and Clawed (Book 0.6) – Prequel Short Story (2019)
- Shockwave (Book 1) – Novel (2019)
- Ship of Ruin (Book 2) – Novel (2019)
- Hero Code (Book 3) – Novel (2019)
- Crossfire (Book 4) – Novel (2019)
- Knight Protector (Book 5.5) – Companion Novella (2019)
- Gate Quest (Book 5) – Novel (2019)
- Planet Killer (Book 6) – Novel (2020)
- Home Front (Book 7) – Novel (2020)
- Layers of Force (Book 8) – Novel (2020)
- The Main Event (Book 8.5) – Epilogue Short Story (2020)
- Asylum (Book 9) – Standalone Sequel Novel (2021)
Note on Numbering: Some retail platforms and databases list Knight Protector as Book 5 and Gate Quest as Book 6. However, in Buroker's official numbering, Gate Quest is Book 5, and Knight Protector is designated as Book 5.5 because it is a side romance story following a different set of protagonists, though its characters join the main crew in Book 6.
Deep Dive into the Star Kingdom Books
The Prequel Stories
Before the main plot of Shockwave kicks off, there are two key prequel stories. Robots and Roommates (Book 0.5) is a fun, low-stakes look at Casmir and Kim's university days, highlighting their dynamic before they were forced to flee for their lives. Cultured and Clawed (Book 0.6) introduces Qin, a genetically engineered cat-woman warrior, and Bonita "Laser" Lopez, a jaded bounty hunter. This short story explains how this unlikely duo met and teamed up before crossing paths with Casmir.
The Core Saga: Books 1 to 5
The main narrative begins with Shockwave, where Casmir Dabrowski, a nerdy robotics professor with severe allergies and a love of comic books, discovers he has genetically engineered traits that make him a target for royal assassins. Fleeing his home, he recruits Kim, Laser, and Qin to help him survive. The adventure escalates in Ship of Ruin, where the crew hunts down lost, ancient technology that could alter the balance of power in the galaxy. In Hero Code and Crossfire, the stakes get personal as Casmir is forced to confront the Star Kingdom's king. Gate Quest sees the crew seeking a way to protect their systems from an impending invasion using ancient wormhole gates.
The Mid-Series Romance Interlude
Knight Protector (Book 5.5) is a unique entry in the series. It is a standalone sci-fi romance featuring Princess Nalini, one of the sultan's fourteen daughters, and her bodyguard Tristan. While the book can be read independently, it takes place alongside the events of Crossfire and Gate Quest. Reading it is highly recommended because Nalini and Tristan join the main crew in Planet Killer, making their transition into the main storyline much smoother.
The Climax: Books 6 to 8
With the chess pieces fully aligned, the final trilogy begins. Planet Killer introduces a massive existential threat to the twelve systems, forcing Casmir and his allies to make desperate alliances. Home Front brings the battle to the heart of the Star Kingdom, blending space armada combat with personal drama. The main narrative arc wraps up in Layers of Force, providing a definitive, action-packed conclusion to Casmir, Kim, and Tenebris Rache's overarching storylines.
The Epilogues & Sequel Novel
For readers who want to stay in the universe a little longer, The Main Event (Book 8.5) is a newsletter-exclusive short story that follows the anti-hero Tenebris Rache (now using the alias David Lichtenburg) after the war. Finally, Asylum (Book 9) serves as a standalone sequel novel. It follows a new protagonist, Mari Moonrazor, but features major cameo appearances from the original crew, acting as a warm farewell to the Star Kingdom universe.
What to Know Before You Start
Lindsay Buroker's Star Kingdom is best described as a lighthearted, fast-paced space opera that prioritizes character chemistry, witty dialogue, and fun sci-fi tropes over heavy, technical hard science fiction. The universe is set 2,000 years after colony ships left an inaccessible Earth, developing a society ruled by a space monarchy where high-tech robotics coexist with sword fighting and genetically engineered human variants. If you enjoy the crew dynamics of Firefly or the space-faring adventures of Star Wars, you will feel right at home.
Standalone Potential & Universe Connections
While the main nine-book arc (ending with Layers of Force) features a continuous narrative that must be read in order, Buroker designed Knight Protector and Asylum so they could be enjoyed as standalones. However, because of recurring characters and minor spoilers, reading them in chronological order remains the best approach. It is also worth noting that Buroker wrote this series entirely on her own, without co-authors, and it remains a self-contained universe. While she has written other popular sci-fi series (such as Fallen Empire and its spin-off Sky Full of Stars), they are set in different universes and do not crossover with the Star Kingdom.