How to Read Amy Butler Greenfield: Recommended Reading Path
Amy Butler Greenfield's works span fantasy, children's historical mysteries, and highly researched narrative non-fiction. Because her books belong to distinct genres, where you should start depends on your reading preferences:
- For YA Fantasy Readers: Start with Chantress (2013). This is the first book in her alternate-history fantasy trilogy, which blends magic, music, and the political intrigue of 17th-century England.
- For Middle Grade Mystery Fans: Start with Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective (2018). This lighthearted mystery series set in ancient Egypt is perfect for younger readers and animal lovers alike.
- For History Buffs: Start with A Perfect Red (2005), her award-winning non-fiction debut about the history, empire, and espionage surrounding the red dye cochineal, or The Woman All Spies Fear (2021), a captivating biography of pioneering cryptanalyst Elizebeth Smith Friedman.
Below, we break down her series and standalone books in detail, along with their recommended reading orders.
The Chantress Trilogy (YA Alternate History & Fantasy)
The Chantress trilogy is set in an alternate 17th-century England where music is the source of all magic. However, under the reign of the Shadow Lord and the harsh laws of the land, women are strictly forbidden to sing or practice magic. The story follows Lucy, a young woman who discovers she is a Chantress—a rare magic-worker who can control elements and bend minds through song. The trilogy is a continuous narrative, meaning you must read these books in order to follow the character development and overarching plot.
Recommended Reading Order for the Chantress Trilogy:
- Chantress (2013) – Lucy lives on a hidden island, protected from the magic-hunting priests of the mainland. When her sanctuary is breached, she is thrown into the dangerous politics of London, where she must hide her magical voice while searching for the key to saving England.
- Chantress Alchemy (2014) – Now living in the royal court, Lucy must navigate the courtly intrigues of King Charles II. When the country faces financial ruin, she is forced to search for the secrets of alchemy, risking her life to prevent an impending war.
- Chantress Fury (2015) – The final battle for the fate of England. As natural disasters threaten the country and the Shadow Lord seeks to regain absolute control, Lucy must muster all her musical power to fight for her freedom and the future of her land.
Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective (Middle Grade Mysteries)
For younger readers, Greenfield wrote the Ra the Mighty series, a historical mystery series set in ancient Egypt. The books follow Ra, the pampered, lazy, and self-important cat of the Pharaoh, who begrudgingly becomes a detective. Alongside his energetic best friend Khepri (a scarab beetle who acts as the brains of the operation), Ra solves crimes in the royal palace and the streets of Egypt. While each book features a standalone mystery, reading them in chronological order allows you to see the friendships and recurring characters grow.
Recommended Reading Order for Ra the Mighty:
- Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective (2018) – Ra is accused of a crime he didn't commit when a valuable royal amulet goes missing. To clear his name, he and Khepri must find the real thief.
- Ra the Mighty: The Great Tomb Robbery (2019) – When a tomb is looted and a young boy is accused, Ra and Khepri head to the Valley of the Kings to dig up the truth.
- Ra the Mighty: The Crocodile Caper (2020) – Set along the Nile, this mystery involves a sacred crocodile, a missing girl, and a series of strange occurrences that Ra must unravel.
Standalone Historical Fiction
Before writing the Chantress trilogy, Greenfield published a standalone historical adventure novel under the name Amy Butler:
- Virginia Bound (2003) – Set in 1627, this novel follows Rob Brackett, a thirteen-year-old orphan who is kidnapped from the streets of London and sent to the Jamestown colony in Virginia as an indentured servant. The book details his fight for survival, his bond with a young Native American girl named Mattoume, and their plans for escape. It is a standalone work and can be read at any time.
Non-Fiction Works
Greenfield's background as an Oxford-educated historian shines through in her acclaimed non-fiction books. These books are completely standalone and can be read in any order:
- A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Color of Desire (2005) – The history of cochineal, a brilliant red dye derived from tiny insects in Central America. For centuries, Spain held a monopoly on this highly prized luxury good, prompting rivals to engage in espionage, piracy, and war to steal the secret.
- The Woman All Spies Fear: Code Breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Her Hidden Life (2021) – A detailed biography of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, America's first great female codebreaker. Friedman cracked codes during WWI, targeted bootleggers during Prohibition, and took down a Nazi spy ring in South America during WWII, though her contributions were classified and overlooked for decades.