Amanda Carlson Books in Order

Where to Start with Amanda Carlson

Amanda Carlson is best known for creating kickass heroines who fight their way through urban fantasy, dystopian futures, and paranormal romance worlds. While she has written across several distinct subgenres, her series are generally self-contained. The best entry point depends entirely on what kind of story you are looking for:

• For Classic Urban Fantasy Fans: Start with the Jessica McClain series. This is her debut and most popular series, featuring a fast-paced werewolf storyline filled with vampires, demons, and goddesses.
• For Post-Apocalyptic & Dystopian Sci-Fi Lovers: Start with the Holly Danger series. It's a gritty, action-packed story about a scavenger surviving in a ruined future Earth.
• For Norse Mythology & Valkyrie Enthusiasts: Start with the Phoebe Meadows trilogy, which follows an ordinary Macy's stockroom worker who discovers she's a Valkyrie.
• For Quick, Steamy Paranormal Romance: Start with the Sin City Collectors novellas, which feature shifters and witches navigating supernatural law enforcement in Las Vegas.

1. Jessica McClain Series Reading Order

The Jessica McClain series is a high-octane urban fantasy that must be read in order. The narrative follows Jessica, the only female werewolf in existence, which makes her a target for rival packs, vampires, and demonic entities. As the series progresses, the scope expands into Norse mythology, portals to Hell, and divine conflicts.

While there is a prequel novella (Blooded) that explains Jessica's backstory, you can easily begin with the first full-length novel, Full Blooded, and read the prequel later if you prefer. However, chronological order is the most satisfying path:

1. Blooded (2012) – Prequel Novella (Book 0.5)
2. Full Blooded (2012) – Book 1
3. Hot Blooded (2013) – Book 2
4. Cold Blooded (2013) – Book 3
5. Red Blooded (2014) – Book 4
6. Pure Blooded (2015) – Book 5
7. Blue Blooded (2016) – Book 6 (Winner of the 2017 RT Reviewers Choice Award)

2. Holly Danger Series Reading Order

Set 153 years in the future after a devastating meteor strike, this post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller follows Holly Danger, a professional scavenger in a ruined world. When she is hired to rescue a suicidal street kid named Daze, she ends up protecting him and a mysterious quantum drive from raiders and corrupt authorities. The books follow a single continuous story arc and should be read in order:

1. Danger's Halo (2017) – Book 1
2. Danger's Vice (2017) – Book 2
3. Danger's Race (2017) – Book 3
4. Danger's Cure (2018) – Book 4
5. Danger's Hunt (2018) – Book 5
6. Danger's Fate (2019) – Book 6

3. Sin City Collectors Series Reading Order & Co-Authorship

The Sin City Collectors series is a shared-world paranormal romance collaboration set in Las Vegas, featuring shifters, witches, and incubi. It is critical for readers to know that this series is co-authored by Amanda Carlson and Kristen Painter. They alternate writing the books, which are designed as standalone romances that fit into a larger shared universe.

To read the entire shared-world series in order, follow this list (with authors noted):

1. Aces Wild (2014) – Written by Amanda Carlson (Book 1)
2. Queen of Hearts (2014) – Written by Kristen Painter (Book 2)
3. Ante Up (2014) – Written by Amanda Carlson (Book 3)
4. Dead Man's Hand (2014) – Written by Kristen Painter (Book 4)
5. All In (2014) – Written by Amanda Carlson (Book 5)

4. Phoebe Meadows Series Reading Order

The Phoebe Meadows series is a contemporary urban fantasy trilogy heavily rooted in Norse mythology. The story starts when Phoebe, a retail employee at Macy's in New York City, is struck by a strange light and discovers she is a Valkyrie. She is quickly pulled into the Nine Worlds and must team up with Fenrir, the son of Loki, to survive. This series has a tight three-book structure:

1. Struck (2014) – Book 1
2. Freed (2016) – Book 2
3. Exiled (2017) – Book 3

5. Mina Kane Series Reading Order

The Mina Kane series represents Carlson's foray into futuristic sci-fi police procedurals. Set in the year 2105, the stories follow Mina Kane, an agent for the Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU). The series begins with Mina going undercover at the "Total Enhancement Pet Center" to investigate a data smuggling ring, only to uncover a much larger and more dangerous conspiracy. Read these books in order:

1. Total Enhancement (2020) – Book 1
2. Perfect Plant (2020) – Book 2
3. Cupid's Bow (2020) – Book 3
4. Vid Star (2021) – Book 4
5. Code Teal (2021) – Book 5
6. Drop Zone (2021) – Book 6

What to Know Before You Start

Amanda Carlson's books are known for their fast pacing, cinematic action scenes, and strong romantic subplots. If you are starting with the Jessica McClain series, keep in mind that the books build directly on top of each other; trying to read them as standalones will leave you lost. In contrast, the Sin City Collectors series can be read out of order or by focusing solely on one author's books, although reading them in sequence gives the best sense of the shared Las Vegas setting. Finally, her sci-fi series (Holly Danger and Mina Kane) lean heavier on technology and post-apocalyptic elements, showing a distinct stylistic shift from her earlier urban fantasy roots.