Alessa Thorn Books in Order

Where to Start with Alessa Thorn

Alessa Thorn has built a reputation in paranormal romance for giving villains, monsters, and morally gray antiheroes their happily-ever-afters. Her books are organized into distinct, sprawling universes that feature heavy world-building, found family dynamics, and plenty of steam. While you do not need to read every single universe to understand the others, reading in the recommended order is highly encouraged to catch the subtle cameos, crossovers, and character details that connect them.

If you are new to her work, you have two primary starting options depending on your mythological preferences:

• For Mythology Lovers: Start with the Gods Universe, beginning with Asterion. This massive, interconnected world updates Greek, Egyptian, and Roman mythologies in a modern, dark urban setting.
• For Fae and Fantasy Romance Fans: Start with the Fae Universe, beginning with Kiss of the Blood Prince, the first book of the Wrath of the Fae trilogy.

The Gods Universe Reading Order

The Gods Universe is Thorn’s largest project. It takes place in a near-future setting where ancient pantheons have emerged from hiding to establish territories, build empires, and mingle with mortals. This universe consists of three main subseries: The Court of the Underworld (Greek mythology), Gods of the Duat (Egyptian mythology), and The Lost Goddesses (Greek and Roman mythologies). While you can read these subseries individually, the author's recommended order weaves them together chronologically to show how the world expands.

Publication & Chronological Order of the Gods Universe

1. Asterion (2020) – Introduces the brooding Minotaur as a club owner in Styx, setting the foundation for the Court of the Underworld.
2. Medusa (2020) – A fresh retelling featuring the Gorgon finding love with Perseus.
3. Hades (2020) – A dark, modern spin on the classic Hades and Persephone dynamic.
4. Hermes (2020) – Focuses on the chaotic messenger god.
5. Thanatos (2020) – Follows the god of death.
6. Charon (2020) – Follows the ferryman of the River Styx.
7. Erebus (2020) – Follows the primordial god of darkness.
8. Set (2021) – The first entry in the Gods of the Duat subseries, moving the setting to the Egyptian pantheon.
9. Thoth (2021) – Follows the Egyptian god of wisdom and magic.
10. Anubis (2021) – Explores the lord of the Egyptian underworld.
11. Persephone (2024) – Bridges the Greek myths into the newer Lost Goddesses era.
12. Bellona (2024) – Focuses on the Roman goddess of war.
13. Laverna (2024) – Follows the Roman goddess of thieves and cheats.

The Fae Universe Reading Order

Thorn's Fae Universe is a high-magic, high-stakes fantasy setting filled with cursed royalty, fated mates, and dangerous magical borders. This universe is divided into three distinct arcs: the core Wrath of the Fae trilogy, the Ironwood spin-off series, and The Lost Fae Kings companion series.

1. Wrath of the Fae Trilogy

This trilogy is the absolute starting point for the Fae Universe, establishing the political landscape, the nature of the magic, and the war between the Fae realms and the human world. It must be read in chronological order:

• Kiss of the Blood Prince (2021)
• Heart of the Winter Prince (2021)
• Wings of the Night Prince (2021)

2. The Ironwood Series

Directly spinning off from the original trilogy, this series follows the Ironwood siblings, a family of monster hunters who find themselves entangled with the very creatures they once tracked. Read these in order:

• Trash and Treasure (2022)
• God Touched (2022)
• Elf Shot (2022)
• Luna Cursed (2022)

3. The Lost Fae Kings

This series runs parallel to the main Fae timeline and shifts the spotlight to the powerful uncles of the princes introduced in the Wrath of the Fae trilogy. It deals with healing the magical divide between Faerie and the mortal realm:

• Dance of the Forest King (2023)
• Song of the Sea King (2023)
• Roar of the Storm King (2023)

Mercenaries and Magic Series

Separate from her main mythological universes, Mercenaries and Magic focuses on a close-knit family of powerful wizards and mercenaries navigating high-stakes supernatural politics. It features Thorn's signature found family dynamic and action-heavy romance. While recent releases in 2026 have expanded the lineup, the core reading order remains chronological:

1. Darkest Night (2021)
2. Sharpest Edge (2022)
3. Toughest Deal (2023)
4. Deepest Cut (2023)

Other Standalones and Mythological Worlds

For readers looking for shorter commitments or different mythological backdrops, Thorn has written books in smaller, self-contained universes:

Feather and Stone Series

Based on Slavic folklore and mythology, this romantic fantasy series focuses on ancient gargoyles created to protect swan priestesses. It begins with:

• Ironheart (2023) – Follows Vladik, a gargoyle who discovers his fated mate is a swan priestess unaware of her heritage.

Inferno Universe

An urban fantasy setting located in Northern Greece, where supernatural factions of shifters, vampires, and other creatures control different sectors of the city. Each book is a complete standalone with no cliffhangers:

• Mercury Rising (2023)
• Dancing with Daggers (2024)

What to Know Before You Start

While every series under Alessa Thorn’s belt can technically be read as a standalone romance with a guaranteed happily-ever-after (HEA), the extensive world-building makes chronological reading within each universe far more satisfying. The author frequently brings back characters from previous books as mentors, allies, or friends, forming a grand found family. If you skip around, you will miss these connections and encounter minor spoilers regarding who ended up together in previous stories.