Alta Hensley Books in Order

Where to Start with Alta Hensley

Alta Hensley has written dozens of novels, ranging from dark contemporary romance to gritty mafia retellings. For readers brand new to her style, deciding where to begin depends heavily on your preference for series continuity:

• For a serial story (Must be read in order): Start with the Wonderland series. Beginning with the prequel novella The White Rabbit, this series takes you on a dark journey through a mafia-infused underworld.
• For interconnected standalones (Can be read out of order): Start with the Top Shelf series. The first book, Bastards & Whiskey, introduces readers to her trademark alpha antiheroes and powerful, emotionally charged storylines.
• For a billionaire drama co-authored series: Begin with Breaking Belles, a collaborative effort with Stasia Black set in the mysterious Oleander Mansion.

The Core Solo Series

While Alta Hensley is famous for her partnerships, several of her most popular series are written entirely solo. These should generally be read in publication order to appreciate how the characters and subplots develop.

Wonderland Series

This series is a scorching, dark modern retelling of Alice in Wonderland, following the intense power struggles of the underworld. It is highly recommended to read this trilogy and its prequel in order:

1. The White Rabbit (2022)
2. King of Spades (2022)
3. Queen of Hearts (2022)
4. Ace of Diamonds (2022)

Gods Among Men Series

A gripping trilogy focusing on dark themes, redemption, and morally gray figures. These books are also sometimes collected in a single omnibus titled House of Heathens: The Complete Trilogy.

1. Villains Are Made (2023)
2. Monsters Are Hidden (2023)
3. Vipers Are Forbidden (2023)

The Secret Bride Series

A psychological dark romance trilogy dealing with captivity, secrets, and intense romantic tension. Reading order:

1. Captive Bride (2021)
2. Kept Bride (2021)
3. Taken Bride (2021)

Heathens Hollow Series

Set on an isolated, mysterious island estate, this series revolves around dark games, submission, and secrets. Reading order:

1. Heathens (2024)
2. Primal (2024)

Evil Lies Series

A dark fairy-tale duet that twists classic stories into dark romance. Reading order:

1. The Truth About Cinder (2019)
2. The Truth About Alice (2019)

Delicate Disaster Series

This emotional contemporary duet follows characters trying to heal from their pasts. Reading order:

1. Delicate Scars (2017)
2. Filthy Fight (2019)

Harem Series

An early duology diving into themes of dominance, surrender, and control. Reading order:

1. In the Palace of Lazar (2014)
2. Conquering Lazar (2015)

Notable Co-Authored Series

Alta Hensley frequently collaborates with fellow romance authors to create rich, interconnected worlds. The reading orders for these collaborative series are straightforward but critical for keeping track of the overarching plots.

Breaking Belles Series (with Stasia Black)

This six-book series takes place in the prestigious and sinful Oleander Mansion. The books are interconnected and best enjoyed in the following sequence:

1. Elegant Sins (2020)
2. Beautiful Lies (2020)
3. Opulent Obsession (2021)
4. Inherited Malice (2021)
5. Delicate Revenge (2021)
6. Lavish Corruption (2023)

Gilded Decadence Series (as Blake Hensley with Zoe Blake)

Co-authored with Zoe Blake under the joint pen name Blake Hensley, this series is set in New York's high society, filled with scandal and revenge. Reading order:

1. The More I Hate (2024)
2. Then Hate Me (2024)
3. My Only Hate (2024)
4. Fair Love of Hate (2024)
5. A Hate at First (2024)

Chicago Sin Series (with Renee Rose)

A duet co-authored with Renee Rose focusing on dark mafia romance, captivity, and obsession. Reading order:

1. Den of Sins (2023)
2. Rooted in Sin (2023)

Dark Pen Series (with Livia Grant)

A dark romance trilogy co-authored with Livia Grant dealing with contracts, secrets, and corporate power. Reading order:

1. Devil's Contract (2022)
2. Dirty Ledger (2022)
3. Dangerous Notes (2022)

Dark Fantasy / Wicked Ever After Series (with Zoe Blake)

Another fairy-tale inspired dark romance series featuring possession and high-intensity relationships. Reading order:

1. Snow & the Seven Huntsmen (2018)
2. Red and the Wolves (2018)
3. Queen and the Kingsmen (2018)

Black Stallion Series (with Maggie Ryan)

This trilogy follows the Steele brothers on their family ranch. The books are also compiled in an omnibus called Kings & Sinners. Reading order:

1. Maddox (2016)
2. Anson (2017)
3. Stryder (2019)

Understanding the Shared Worlds

Readers looking through Alta Hensley's catalog will notice listings for large series like Black Light and Black Mountain Academy. It is important to know that these are multi-author shared worlds. Alta Hensley does not write the entire series; she only contributes individual entries.

• Black Light Series: A massive collaborative project set around an exclusive club. Alta Hensley's main contribution is Roulette Redux (2018). While the database tracks all 37 entries, readers only need to read the main series if they want the full shared universe. Otherwise, her contributions can be read as standalones.
• Black Mountain Academy Series: A multi-author project set at a private academy. Alta Hensley's contribution is Mr. D (also published as Sick Crush). The other titles are written by different authors and do not require reading in order to enjoy her specific story.

Standalones and Collections

Outside of her main series, Alta Hensley has penned several standalone novels (such as Forbidden, Gold In Locks, and Sucker Punch) and short stories. These standalone titles can be read at any time without worrying about character crossovers or cliffhangers.