Touched Books in Order

How to Read the Touched Saga

The Touched saga, written by Italian romantic fantasy author Elisa S. Amore, is a popular young adult paranormal romance series that has captured the hearts of hundreds of thousands of readers worldwide. The story centers on Gemma, a mortal girl with unsettling premonitions, and Evan, a Subterranean—an angel of death tasked with taking her life. When Evan defies his duties out of love, they trigger a chain of supernatural events involving death angels, witches, and dark ancient forces.

Because the series includes both full-length novels and companion prequels, readers often debate the best way to experience Gemma and Evan's story. Below, we break down the publication and chronological reading orders to help you decide how to start.

Recommended Starting Point

For first-time readers, the best way to experience the saga is in Publication Order. While the prequels provide valuable backstory, reading them too early can spoil key mysteries or interrupt the emotional momentum of the main narrative. Starting with Touched: The Caress of Fate allows you to discover the world alongside Gemma, building the tension naturally before you dive into the historical backstories of other characters.

Option 1: The Publication Reading Order

Reading the books in publication order follows the release of the translations and allows you to enjoy the companion novellas exactly when fans did during the series' original run. Here is the publication sequence:

1. Touched: The Caress of Fate (2012) – The first main novel. Introduces Gemma and her initial, fateful encounter with the brooding death angel Evan James, who chooses to defy destiny to keep her alive.
2. Unfaithful (2013) – The second main novel. Pushes the forbidden romance into deeper peril as celestial forces demand retribution for Evan's rebellion.
3. The Mark of Fate (2013) – A companion novella focusing on Evan's backstory. Set in London in 1720, it details his life long before he met Gemma.
4. Brokenhearted (2015) – The third main novel. Introduces darker elements as Gemma is forced to confront a seductive evil growing within herself.
5. The Shadow of Fate (2015) – A prequel novella focusing on Gemma's life and her relationship with her close friend Peter right before the events of the first book.
6. Expiation (2017) – The fourth and final novel of the primary saga, resolving Gemma and Evan's war against fate in an emotional climax.

Option 2: The Chronological Reading Order

If you prefer to read the events in the exact sequence they happen in-universe, you can opt for the chronological order. This structure places the character-specific prequels relative to their timelines, though it may alter the pacing of the main mystery. Here is how the chronological order is structured:

1. Touched: The Caress of Fate (2012) – Gemma and Evan meet, setting off their star-crossed romance.
2. The Shadow of Fate (2015) – A prequel focusing on Gemma and Peter's friendship before the magical elements disrupt her life. Reading this immediately after the first book provides great context before the plot thickens in book two.
3. Unfaithful (2013) – The consequences of Evan's choice unfold as the supernatural conflict escalates.
4. The Mark of Fate (2013) – Offers a historical escape to 1720 London to explore Evan's origins as a Soldier of Death.
5. Brokenhearted (2015) – The dark fantasy elements intensify as internal and external forces threaten to tear the lovers apart.
6. Expiation (2017) – The ultimate conclusion to the main narrative arc.

The Spin-Off: Infernal Odyssey Series

Once you finish the main Touched saga, you can continue exploring Elisa S. Amore's supernatural universe through the spin-off series, Infernal Odyssey (also known as the Dark Tournament series). This trilogy shifts focus to Drake, a deadly Executioner and death angel who previously lost his fiancée Stella. When Drake finds himself trapped in Hell, he discovers Stella is also there, fighting to survive in a brutal afterlife tournament. To get the full context of the world, you should read these after completing the main four Touched novels.

• Infernal Odyssey / Dark Tournament (2021) – Drake enters Hell and enters the magical tournament to find and rescue Stella.
• Lost Paradise / Rogue Arena (2021) – The high-stakes action continues as Drake and Stella navigate the dangerous arena of the damned.
• Eternal Limbo (2021) – The final installment of the Infernal Odyssey spin-off, wrapping up Drake and Stella's quest for freedom.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into the books, it helps to understand a few unique aspects of Elisa S. Amore's universe:

• The Mythology: The series blends elements of traditional Norwegian folklore with original paranormal romance concepts. Death angels (Subterraneans) function as ferrymen of souls, while witches possess distinct magical powers that clash and align with the celestial realms.
• Italian Origins: The books were originally written and self-published in Italian by Amore, where they became a massive indie success before being translated into English starting in 2016. Because of this translation history, publication dates may slightly vary depending on whether you look at the Italian debuts or the English releases.
• The Audiobooks: If you enjoy audiobooks, the Touched audio versions are highly regarded by the fanbase, featuring narration by Hollywood actor Matt Lanter, who brings the character of Evan James to life.