Where to Start with Alexandra Christo: The Recommended Reading Paths
For readers diving into the dark, magical worlds of British author Alexandra Christo, choosing where to start depends entirely on your preferred flavor of fantasy. Because her bibliography is relatively compact yet split between distinct subgenres, there are two primary entry points that offer the best introduction to her signature style of witty banter, morally gray protagonists, and lush atmospheres.
Path A: The Dark Fairy Tale Retellings (Most Popular)
If you love stories that twist childhood classics into bloody, high-stakes adventures, start with her international bestseller, To Kill a Kingdom (2018). As a standalone reimagining of The Little Mermaid, it perfectly showcases Christo’s ability to build dangerous worlds populated by sirens, pirates, and royal courts. After reading it, you can seamlessly transition to Princess of Souls (2022), which is set in the same universe but functions as a standalone companion following a teen witch and an immortal king's soldier. This path highlights her fairy tale subversions without requiring you to commit to a multi-book overarching narrative.
Path B: The Gritty Magic Gangs (For Heist Fans)
If you prefer urban fantasy with a gritty, street-level focus—reminiscent of stories like Six of Crows—start with the Into the Crooked Place duology. Beginning with Into the Crooked Place (2019) and concluding with City of Spells (2021), this series follows a ragtag group of magical criminals, street lords, and fighters in an underworld ruled by a deadly magic dealer. This is a direct two-book storyline, making it essential to read them in strict chronological order.
The Hundred Kingdoms Universe: Companion Standalones
Many readers are surprised to learn that To Kill a Kingdom and Princess of Souls share a setting known as the Hundred Kingdoms. However, there is no direct chronological connection between the two. The plots are entirely self-contained, and the characters do not cross paths.
- To Kill a Kingdom (2018): Follows Lira, a siren princess known as the Princes' Bane, and Elian, a prince who hunts sirens. It is a story of survival, betrayal, and romance on the high seas.
- Princess of Souls (2022): Inspired by the story of Rapunzel, it follows Selene, a witch trapped in a tower who must steal souls for an immortal king, and Nox, a rebellious soldier. It is packed with dark witchcraft and chaotic romance.
Because they are companion novels, you can read either book first without spoiling the other. However, reading them in order of publication is generally recommended to observe how Christo builds and expands the lore of her shared universe.
Into the Crooked Place Duology: A Completed Story
Unlike her standalone works, the Into the Crooked Place books form a continuous, character-driven story. Set in the dark streets of Crevy, the narrative focuses on four main anti-heroes: Tavia, a busker who smuggles magic; Wesley, a young street lord; Karam, a warrior; and Saxony, a resistance fighter. They are forced to work together to defeat a sinister magic dealer who threatens to destroy their city.
- Into the Crooked Place (2019): Introduces the characters, the magic system, and the criminal underworld. The plot kicks off when the characters discover a dangerous new type of magic being distributed.
- City of Spells (2021): Picks up immediately after the cliffhanger of the first book, resolving the characters' arcs and bringing their rebellion to a dramatic conclusion.
Standalone Mythologies and Upcoming Adult Romantasy
Beyond her retellings and duologies, Christo has ventured into mythology-inspired fantasy and is currently transitioning to the adult romantasy market.
The Night Hunt (2023)
This standalone fantasy novel departs from fairy tales to explore dark mythology. It centers on Atropos, a monster girl who feeds on the fear of humans, and Hermes's son, a cursed boy who can only speak the truth. When their paths cross, they must team up on a quest that challenges the gods themselves. It is a complete standalone with no connections to her other books.
The Library of Fallen Souls Trilogy (Upcoming)
Looking ahead, Christo is set to release Cursekeeper (scheduled for November 2026), which marks her debut in adult romantasy. It will be the first installment of the Library of Fallen Souls trilogy, following Thalia, a librarian who protects dangerous curses, and Soren, a brooding fae prince. They must work together to find Thalia's missing brother and stop the release of deadly plagues.
Alexandra Christo Books in Publication Order
If you prefer to read an author's bibliography in the order the books were presented to the world, use the following chronological release list:
- To Kill a Kingdom (2018)
- Into the Crooked Place (2019)
- City of Spells (2021)
- Princess of Souls (2022)
- The Night Hunt (2023)
- Cursekeeper (Upcoming - November 2026)
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Alexandra Christo's novels, keep a few stylistic elements in mind. Her young adult books feature higher levels of violence, dark themes, and morally gray characters than typical YA fantasy, making them popular crossover titles for adult readers. While her upcoming series, starting with Cursekeeper, is explicitly marketed as Adult fantasy, her YA backlog is already highly appealing to fans of darker romantasy. There are no critical reading-order disputes to worry about; as long as you read the Into the Crooked Place duology in order, you are free to explore the rest of her books in any sequence you choose.