Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path
If you are new to A.L. Knorr’s books (often referred to as Abby by her fans), the best place to begin is the Elemental Origins series. This series acts as "Season 1" of her interconnected Elemental Universe, establishing the rules of elemental magic and introducing key characters who cross paths later in the franchise.
While the first five books in the Elemental Origins series are standalones that can be read in any order, we recommend starting with Born of Water. It establishes the siren lore that anchors many of Knorr's spin-off series. Once you have read the first five origin stories, you can proceed to the crossover finale, The Elementals, which brings all the heroines together.
The Elemental Universe: Season-by-Season Breakdown
A.L. Knorr's books are structured like a television series, organized into distinct "Seasons" and companion series. Below is the recommended reading path through the Elemental Universe.
Season 1: Elemental Origins
The core series introduces five young women who each control a different element. You can read the first five books in any order, but the sixth book is a crossover event that must be read last.
- Born of Water (2016) – Follows Targa, a half-siren teenager.
- Born of Fire (2017) – Introduces Serena, a fire elemental. (Note: The companion novella Pyro is often bundled with this book).
- Born of Earth (2017) – Focuses on Georjayna, who wields earth magic.
- Born of Aether (2017) – Follows Akiko, who controls spirit/aether magic.
- Born of Air (2018) – Focuses on Era, who controls air magic.
- The Elementals (2018) – The crossover season finale where all five girls team up.
Targa's Siren Saga (Sequels & Spin-Offs)
If you enjoyed Targa's story in Born of Water, you can follow her direct continuation through two sequential series:
Mermaid's Return Series:
- Returning: Mermaid's Return (2016)
- Surfacing (2018)
The Siren's Curse Series (Season 2):
- Salt & Stone (2018)
- Salt & the Sovereign (2019)
- Salt & the Sisters (2019)
Companion and Sequel Series
After completing the main Elemental Origins storyline, you can dive into several spin-off and sequel series that expand the universe:
Rings of the Inconquo: A companion series focusing on metal elementals.
- Born of Metal (2019)
- Metal Guardian (2020)
- Metal Angel (2020)
Earth Magic Rises (Season 3): A trilogy that weaves Scottish folklore and fae elements with earth magic.
- Bones of the Witch (2019)
- Ashes of the Wise (2020)
- Heart of the Fae (2020)
Arcturus Academy (Season 4): A direct sequel series that follows Serena (the fire elemental from Born of Fire) as she attends a magical academy.
- Firecracker (2020)
- Fire Trap (2020)
- Fire Games (2020)
- Legends of Fire (2021)
- Source Fire (2021)
The Scented Court: An expansion series set on a new fae-ruled continent called Ivryndi.
- A Blossom at Midnight (2022)
- A Memory of Nightshade (2022)
- A Shiver of Frost (2023)
- A Prince of Autumn (2023)
- A Star of Darkness (2024)
Pretty Little Mermaids: A siren-focused series following a set of siren triplets in a contemporary setting.
- Cobalt: Prequel novella (2023)
- Aquamarine (2023)
- Ultramarine (2024)
Collaborations: The Oriceran Universe
Aside from her independent books, A.L. Knorr has co-authored stories in the Oriceran Universe, a massive collaborative urban fantasy world created by Martha Carr and Michael Anderle. Knorr's main contribution is The Kacy Chronicles, which she wrote with Carr and Anderle.
While the broader Oriceran Universe contains over 130 books (including series like the Leira Chronicles and the Alison Brownstone books), readers do not need to read them all. The Kacy Chronicles can be enjoyed as a self-contained four-book urban fantasy arc:
- Descendant (2018)
- Ascendant (2018)
- Combatant (2018)
- Transcendent (2018)
What to Know Before You Start
A.L. Knorr’s books are known for their clean, fast-paced storytelling, rich world-building, and strong female leads. The magic systems are heavily inspired by nature and elemental forces. While the stories are written primarily for Young Adult (YA) and New Adult (NA) audiences, they are also popular with adult fantasy readers who enjoy clean stories free of graphic violence and language. Environmental conservation, especially ocean and marine life protection, is a recurring theme that reflects Knorr's personal passions.