Where to Begin Your Aimee Carter Journey
With stories ranging from mythological fantasies to dark royal thrillers, Aimee Carter has built a versatile library of young adult and middle-grade fiction. Because her series span different genres, tones, and target age groups, the best place to start depends entirely on what you enjoy reading:
- For Mythology & Romance Fans: Start with The Goddess Test. This is Carter's breakout YA series, blending modern romance with a dark, atmospheric reimagining of Hades and Persephone.
- For Dystopian & Sci-Fi Enthusiasts: Begin with Pawn, the first book in the Blackcoat Rebellion trilogy. It features a rigid, rank-based society where one girl must impersonate a key figure in the ruling family.
- For Thriller & Mystery Lovers: Pick up Royal Blood. Set in an alternate modern-day England, it is a fast-paced murder mystery following the scandalous life of the King's illegitimate American daughter.
- For Middle-Grade Adventure Seekers: Start with Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den. It is a fantastic choice for readers who love secret societies, shape-shifters, and animal kingdoms.
The Goddess Test Series Reading Order
The Goddess Test series is Aimee Carter's most famous work. It follows Kate Winters, who enters the world of the Greek pantheon and must pass seven trials to become immortal and save her mother. While the core story is told across three main novels, Carter also wrote several companion novellas and short stories that flesh out the background of the gods.
The Recommended Reading Order
Although the novellas are prequels or side stories, reading them in publication/recommended order is highly advised. This ensures you get to know the characters organically before diving into their complex, centuries-old backstories.
- The Goddess Test (Book 1) – Published in 2011. Kate meets Henry (Hades) and agrees to his trials.
- The Goddess Hunt (Novella 1.5) – Published in 2012. A transitional story set during a summer vacation that bridges the first and second books.
- Goddess Interrupted (Book 2) – Published in 2012. Kate struggles with her new role and the emotional distance of the gods.
- The Goddess Legacy (Anthology 2.5) – Published in 2012. A compilation of five prequel novellas exploring the tragic histories of the gods before Kate arrived. (These can also be read individually as: The Goddess Queen, The Lovestruck Goddess, Goddess of the Underworld, God of Thieves, and God of Darkness).
- The Goddess Inheritance (Book 3) – Published in 2013. The high-stakes conclusion to Kate's story as war looms among the Olympians.
Chronological Timeline Caveat
If you prefer a strictly chronological timeline, you would start with the prequel stories in The Goddess Legacy (specifically Calliope's story in The Goddess Queen) before reading The Goddess Test. However, we do not recommend this for first-time readers, as the prequels reveal character motivations that spoil the mystery and suspense of the first two main novels.
The Blackcoat Rebellion Trilogy
For readers who enjoy dystopian settings like The Hunger Games or Divergent, Aimee Carter's Blackcoat Rebellion is a straightforward trilogy. In this world, citizens are tested at age VII and ranked from 1 to VII, which determines their entire future. The reading order is simple and linear:
- Pawn (2013) – Kitty Doe is given a choice: accept a miserable life as a VII, or undergo surgery to become a decoy for the Prime Minister's niece.
- Captive (2014) – Kitty must navigate the dangerous political landscape of the court while secretly assisting the rebellion.
- Queen (2015) – The final showdown as Kitty leads the fight to tear down the oppressive ranking system.
The Royal Blood Series
Aimee Carter's recent foray into YA mystery and political intrigue follows Evan Brighton, the illegitimate daughter of the King of Great Britain. When she is dragged to London, she finds herself at the center of a murder investigation. The books should be read in order:
- Royal Blood (2023) – Evan arrives in London and becomes the prime suspect in a high-profile murder.
- Royal Scandal (2024) – Evan tries to move on, but a new threat brings the royal family back into the media spotlight.
- Royal Vengeance (2026) – The dramatic continuation of Evan's struggle against royal secrets and conspiracies.
Simon Thorn & the German 'Animox' Expansion
The Simon Thorn series is a beloved middle-grade urban fantasy about a boy who discovers he can speak to animals and shift into a bird of prey. For English-speaking readers, the series is a trilogy:
- Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den (2016)
- Simon Thorn and the Viper's Pit (2017)
- Simon Thorn and the Shark's Cave (2018)
The International Twist
If you only read in English, the series ends after the third book. However, the series became an absolute phenomenon in Germany, where it is known as Animox. Because of this massive success, the German publisher continued to translate and release Carter's sequels and expansions, which remain unreleased in English. For bilingual fans, the expanded German reading order is:
- Animox (Main Series Books 4 & 5): Der Biss der Schwarzen Witwe (2018) and Der Flug des Adlers (2019) finish the original arc.
- Die Erben der Animox (Heirs of Animox Sequel Series): A five-book sequel series starting with Die Beute des Fuchses, continuing Simon's adventures in the animal kingdoms.
- Animox Origins: A three-book spin-off series focusing on the origins of major side characters (including Der verlorene Schatz der Delfine).
Early Works & Standalone Novels
Before achieving mainstream publishing success, Aimee Carter wrote early novels that are now mostly out of print. Her very first book, Phoenix Ashes (2002), was written when she was just 16. It was later revised and published as part of the Zac Lucas Trilogy in 2004:
- Blue Car Nights (2004) – Formerly Phoenix Ashes
- Words Without Rhyme (2004)
- Leaving to Stay (2004)
If you are looking for modern standalone novels, Carter has two prominent releases:
- Forever Glass (2019) – A YA speculative fiction story.
- Curse of the Phoenix (2021) – A middle-grade fantasy novel following twins Zac and Lu as they discover the Wildewoods, a secret sanctuary for mythical creatures, and search for a phoenix to break a family curse.