Steel & Stone Books in Order

Welcome to the Steel & Stone Universe

Dive into the electrifying world of Steel & Stone, a universe where daemons lurk, magic crackles, and fierce heroines battle to uncover their destinies. Canadian author Annette Marie first launched this urban fantasy setting in 2014 with Chase the Dark, introducing readers to Piper Griffiths, a magicless half-daemon apprentice Consul caught in a web of inter-realm politics, dangerous relics, and forbidden alliances. Alongside the brooding draconian mercenary Ash and the deceptively charming incubus Lyre, Piper’s journey spans five main novels and a series of companion tales, blending fast-paced action, moral ambiguity, and slow-burn romance.

As the universe grew, the author expanded it with the Spell Weaver prequel trilogy, which explores the origins of the magic system and features Clio, a young nymph who gets tangled in a high-stakes plot of her own. To celebrate the decade-long journey of the series, Annette Marie launched a massive project to release revised and expanded 10th Anniversary Editions of both series. These updated editions have changed how new readers should approach the series, integrating side stories directly into the main novels. Below, we break down the recommended reading orders for both modern collectors and legacy readers.

1. The 10th Anniversary Order (Recommended for New Readers)

To experience the definitive, updated canon, readers should follow the author's official recommendation for the 10th Anniversary Editions. Released starting in 2025, these updated versions feature significant textual revisions, updated character perspectives, and more mature tonal shifts. Most importantly, the author has restructured the narrative so that the Spell Weaver prequel trilogy is read first, offering the ultimate setup for the core Steel & Stone books.

1. The Night Realm (Spell Weaver Book 1) – Set before the main series, this prequel kicks off Clio's journey in the Underworld as she attempts to steal magic she was never meant to have, crossing paths with Lyre before the events of Piper's story.
2. The Shadow Weave (Spell Weaver Book 2) – Clio’s magic continues to grow dangerously unstable as the political landscape of the daemon realm begins to fracture, paving the way for the conflicts of the original series.
3. The Blood Curse (Spell Weaver Book 3) – The epic conclusion to Clio's trilogy, which fully bridges the gap to the main series and explains key lore elements regarding daemon magic.
4. Chase the Dark (Steel & Stone Book 1) – Piper Griffiths takes center stage in her attempt to prove herself to the Consolo, only to become the target of deadly rogue daemons and the keeper of the mysterious Sahar Stone.
5. Bind the Soul (Steel & Stone Book 2) – Piper's journey intensifies as she is forced to venture into the Underworld, relying on Ash and Lyre to survive while unlocking the secrets of her own heritage.
6. Yield the Night (Steel & Stone Book 3) – Stranded in the daemon world with no magic of her own, Piper must fight to protect those she loves while coping with the growing romantic tension between her, Ash, and Lyre.
7. Reap the Shadows (Steel & Stone Book 4) – Confronting magical conspiracies and betrayal within the Consul ranks, Piper must embrace her half-daemon nature to survive the impending war.
8. Unleash the Storm (Steel & Stone Book 5) – The explosive finale of Piper's main story arc, where alliances are tested, dragons are unleashed, and the fate of both the human and daemon realms hangs in the balance.

2. The Legacy Reading Order (Original Publications)

If you are reading the original "legacy" editions of the books (which are no longer widely sold but are still cherished by long-term fans), the reading order is slightly different. In the original publishing run, the novella Feed the Flames and the Steel & Stone Companion Collection were published as separate standalones. For the legacy versions, the chronological reading order is as follows:

1. The Night Realm (Spell Weaver Book 1)
2. The Shadow Weave (Spell Weaver Book 2)
3. The Blood Curse (Spell Weaver Book 3)
4. Chase the Dark (Steel & Stone Book 1)
5. Bind the Soul (Steel & Stone Book 2)
6. Yield the Night (Steel & Stone Book 3)
7. Feed the Flames (Steel & Stone Novella Book 3.5) – A side novella focusing on Seiya and Lyre as they are taken prisoner and must work together to escape, bridging the gap between Yield the Night and Reap the Shadows.
8. Reap the Shadows (Steel & Stone Book 4)
9. Unleash the Storm (Steel & Stone Book 5)
10. Steel & Stone Companion Collection (Anthology Book 6) – A collection of 12 short stories narrated from the points of view of Ash and Lyre, offering their perspectives on the events of the main series along with new side adventures.

Understanding the Subseries & Prequels

Steel & Stone (The Core Series)

This is the foundation of the universe. It follows Piper Griffiths, a human-raised teen who lacks the magic of her daemon father but possesses a fierce fighting spirit. The books are written in first-person from Piper's perspective (though the Anniversary Editions add extra POVs) and are categorized by fast-paced combat, slow-burn romantic tension, and rich urban fantasy worldbuilding that bridges Earth and the Underworld.

Spell Weaver (The Prequel Trilogy)

Focusing on the character Clio, a nymph from the Underworld, this prequel trilogy introduces readers to the magic of weaving and explains how the delicate balance between daemon factions began to crumble. Lyre plays a major role in this trilogy, making it an excellent backstory builder for his character before he meets Piper in Chase the Dark.

The Upcoming Sequel: Blackfire

Annette Marie has announced a highly anticipated sequel series titled Blackfire. This series is planned to unite the casts of both Steel & Stone and Spell Weaver (including Piper, Ash, Lyre, and Clio) for the first time. The timeline of Blackfire is set five years after the events of Unleash the Storm, promising to explore the long-term aftermath of the war and the evolution of the characters' relationships.

What to Know Before You Start

The most important factor to consider before starting the series is edition compatibility. Annette Marie has strongly advised against mixing the legacy editions with the new 10th Anniversary Editions. Because the anniversary versions incorporate the entire Companion Collection and the Feed the Flames novella directly into the main novels as newly integrated scenes and alternate POV chapters, trying to read a legacy copy of one book and an anniversary copy of another will result in a confusing, disjointed reading experience.

For readers who prefer a classic urban fantasy experience where the lore is revealed gradually, starting with the original publication order (starting with Chase the Dark) is a perfectly valid alternative. However, for the most cohesive narrative arc and the highest quality prose, beginning with the revised 10th Anniversary edition of The Night Realm is the gold standard.