Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path
If you are stepping into the haunted, historic streets of Jerome, Arizona, for the first time, your path is clear. You should start with the core trilogy that launches the series: Darkangel, Darknight, and Darkmoon. Unlike the rest of the series, which shifts focus to different couples and behaves more like a sequence of standalone romances, this opening trilogy tells a continuous, linear story centered on Angela McAllister, the future head of the McAllister clan, and her star-crossed romance with Connor Wilcox.
Reading the first three books in order is crucial because they establish the complex magical lore, the blood feud between the McAllister and Wilcox clans, and the rules of the magic system. Once you complete the trilogy, you can technically read the subsequent books in any order, but following the publication order is highly recommended. The later books continue to develop the town's magical community, introducing new clan members, allies, and threats while building toward the series climax in Darktide.
The Core Witches of Cleopatra Hill Series in Order
Here is the complete sequence of novels and novellas in the original series, listed in their recommended publication order. The main series consists of 11 full-length novels and several companion novellas that flesh out the lives of the wider McAllister clan and their allies.
- Darkangel (Book 1 - 2014): The saga begins with Angela McAllister, who must find her fated consort by her 21st birthday to unlock her true power. When her dreams point to a mysterious stranger, she must choose between clan duty and the pull of her heart.
- Darknight (Book 2 - 2014): The romance between Angela and Connor Wilcox deepens, but their love is threatened by an ancient clan feud and dark forces determined to keep them apart.
- Darkmoon (Book 3 - 2014): Angela and Connor must confront a 150-year-old curse in the dramatic conclusion to the opening trilogy, securing the future of their combined clans.
- Sympathetic Magic (Book 4 - 2014): This installment follows Angela's brother, Ethan McAllister, a warlock who has sworn off love until he crosses paths with a non-magical woman who needs his help, testing his loyalty to the clan.
- Protector (Book 5 - 2015): The focus shifts to Caitlin McAllister, a witch who hides her powerful seer abilities. When a dark warlock clan hunts her, she is forced to rely on a handsome bodyguard, Noah Wilcox.
- Spellbound (Book 6 - 2015): Centered on rare magical talents, this novel follows a witch who can manipulate time and must work with an unpredictable warlock to prevent a magical catastrophe.
- A Cleopatra Hill Christmas (Book 7 - 2015): A festive holiday novella set about a month and a half after the events of Sympathetic Magic, checking in on the extended family during a snowy Jerome winter.
- Impractical Magic (Book 8 - 2016): This novel explores the life of a witch with the power of luck, who finds her fortunes changing when she gets entangled with a skeptic who doesn't believe in magic.
- Strange Magic (Book 9 - 2016): A story featuring a witch who specializes in potions and her complicated relationship with a warlock who enters her life under mysterious circumstances.
- The Arrangement (Book 10 - 2017): Part of the Chronicles of Cleopatra Hill, this is a historical paranormal romance novella that digs into the past of the witch clans, showing how matchmaking arrangements shaped their history.
- Defender (Book 11 - 2017): Another action-packed romance focusing on the security of the clans, where a protector warlock must defend a target who is much more than she seems.
- Bad Blood (Book 12 - 2017): The second historical novella in the Chronicles of Cleopatra Hill, detailing a dark historical feud that set the stage for modern conflicts.
- Deep Magic (Book 13 - 2017): A novel focusing on deep-seated magical secrets and the high stakes of forbidden power as the series prepares for its grand finale.
- Darktide (Book 14 - 2018): The final main-sequence novel, bringing the overarching plotline regarding the Wilcox and McAllister clans to a dramatic, high-stakes conclusion.
- Star Bright (Book 15 - 2023): A holiday return to the series, this festive novella follows Miranda McAllister, the daughter of the clan's head witch, as she navigates Christmas magic and new romance.
Chronological Caveats and the Subseries
While the publication order mirrors the chronological flow of the modern-day events, there are a few exceptions that readers should keep in mind:
The Prequel Novella
Christine Pope wrote a prequel short story titled Illusions (Book 0.5). This story is a prequel to the entire series, but it is not widely sold as a standalone book, as it is primarily distributed as an exclusive gift to the author's email newsletter subscribers. If you obtain it, you can read it before Darkangel, though starting with Darkangel remains the most natural entry point for the world-building.
The Chronicles of Cleopatra Hill Historical Novellas
Both The Arrangement (Book 10) and Bad Blood (Book 12) are historical novellas that take place long before the events of the modern series. They explore the historical roots of the McAllister and Wilcox clans. You can read these at any point after Book 3, but reading them in publication order provides a nice break between the high-stakes modern novels.
Spin-Offs: Expanding the Jerome Universe
The magic doesn't end with Darktide. Christine Pope has written two spin-off series set in the same shared universe. They are highly recommended for readers who want to see how the next generation and neighboring communities fare.
The Witches of Wheeler Park
This series serves as the most direct sequel sequence. It begins approximately three years after the events of Darktide and follows a new group of characters dealing with the fallout of the original series. The books in this subseries include Storm Born, Thunder Road, Winds of Change, Mind Games, A Wheeler Park Christmas, and Smoke and Mirrors.
The Witches of Canyon Road
For a jump forward in time, this spin-off series takes place roughly 21 years after the end of the original Cleopatra Hill series. It shifts focus to the younger generation and new settings, though it maintains the signature blend of romance and danger. The titles in this series include Hidden Gifts, Darker Paths, Mysterious Ways, Haunted Hearts, and Demon Born.
Practical Reader Advice
If you prefer a pure reading experience without skipping back and forth in time, you can safely skip the historical novellas (The Arrangement and Bad Blood) and the prequel (Illusions) on your first pass, as they are not required to understand the main modern storyline. However, they add significant depth to the lore. For the spin-off series, it is highly recommended to finish Darktide (Book 14) first to avoid major spoilers regarding the resolution of the original clan war.