Where to Start Reading Terran Times: Second Wave
If you want to dive into the second group of human volunteers navigating the Nyal Alliance, the best starting point is the series opener, Avenging Enjel (2013). Because each book in this science fiction romance series is a short, bite-sized story focusing on a different couple, every single novel functions perfectly well as a standalone with its own Happily Ever After (HEA). However, the background lore, secondary characters, and interstellar politics of the Alliance build progressively, so reading the series in publication order will give you the most satisfying reading experience.
The Unique Alphabetical Naming Pattern
While the series follows its chronological publication order, author Viola Grace structured the titles using a distinct alphabetical grouping. Aside from the first standalone entry, the remaining 35 books are published in batches of five, with each batch dedicated to a consecutive letter of the alphabet:
- The "A" Entry: Book 1 (Avenging Enjel)
- The "K" Batch: Books 2–6 (Karma, Keen, Keeper, Knell, Knotted)
- The "L" Batch: Books 7–11 (Lady, Lesser, Laser, Liberty, Logic)
- The "M" Batch: Books 12–16 (Mandate, Molten, Magnet, Manifest, Mission)
- The "N" Batch: Books 17–21 (Naked, Neutral, Negative, Numb, Noble)
- The "O" Batch: Books 22–26 (Obedient, Object, Obsolete, Oppose, Oblige)
- The "P" Batch: Books 27–31 (Perfect, Panacea, Pact, Pardon, Prohibit)
- The "Q" Batch: Books 32–36 (Query, Quiver, Quick, Quell, Quit)
Terran Times: Second Wave Publication Order
To experience the evolution of the Alliance and watch the Terran volunteers find their places in this vast galaxy, follow this chronological order of publication:
- Avenging Enjel (2013)
- Karma (2014)
- Keen (2014)
- Keeper (2014)
- Knell (2014)
- Knotted (2014)
- Lady (2014)
- Lesser (2014)
- Laser (2014)
- Liberty (2014)
- Logic (2014)
- Mandate (2014)
- Molten (2014)
- Magnet (2014)
- Manifest (2014)
- Mission (2014)
- Naked (2014)
- Neutral (2015)
- Negative (2015)
- Numb (2015)
- Noble (2015)
- Obedient (2015)
- Object (2015)
- Obsolete (2015)
- Oppose (2015)
- Oblige (2015)
- Perfect (2015)
- Panacea (2015)
- Pact (2016)
- Pardon (2016)
- Prohibit (2016)
- Query (2016)
- Quiver (2016)
- Quick (2016)
- Quell (2016)
- Quit (2016)
Connections to the Broader Terran Times Universe
The Second Wave is a companion sub-series to Viola Grace's original Terran Times Tales, which launched in 2008 with the book Flicker and features approximately 78 books. While the original series handles the first wave of human volunteers adjusting to life in space, the Second Wave focuses on the next generation of recruits who choose to leave Earth behind under new Alliance parameters. Reading the original series is not required to enjoy the Second Wave, but it does offer enriching context regarding the interstellar species, the role of Guardians, and how the volunteer program was established. You can also explore the Tales of the Citadel series (beginning with Soul Keeper in 2012) for more adventures set within the same shared universe.
What to Know Before You Start
Viola Grace (who also writes under the pseudonym Zenina Masters) is known for writing extremely compact, punchy sci-fi romance. Instead of epic space battles, the stories place a heavy focus on personal adaptability, character chemistry, and the domestic and professional lives of normal human women who step up as negotiators, auditors, scribes, and planetary avatars. The series is light, engaging, and guaranteed to deliver a satisfying, comforting romance in every volume.