Amy Harmon Books in Order

How to Navigate Amy Harmon’s Multi-Genre Masterpieces

Amy Harmon’s catalog spans across historical fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. Because she does not write one single overarching series, a reader's starting point depends entirely on what genre they prefer. For historical fiction lovers, starting with What the Wind Knows or From Sand and Ash is highly recommended. For readers who enjoy epic, mythic fantasy, The Bird and the Sword or The First Girl Child is the perfect entry point. Contemporary romance fans should begin with the emotionally charged bestseller Making Faces.

The Law of Moses & Interconnected Universe Order

While often grouped as separate standalones, several of Amy Harmon's early contemporary novels are linked through shared characters and family lines. To get the full experience of these emotional connections, we recommend reading them in the following order:

1. Running Barefoot (2012): This is contemporary romance that introduces Samuel Yazzie and Josie Jensen. Their bond lays the emotional groundwork for future books.
2. The Law of Moses (2014): Set years later, this novel follows Moses Wright, a young man who was raised and mentored by Samuel Yazzie.
3. The Song of David (2015): A direct sequel/companion to The Law of Moses, focusing on David Parkin, a close friend of Moses.
4. The Smallest Part (2018): This book wraps up the loose universe, centering on Mercedes Lopez (a key character in The Law of Moses) and Noah Andelin (a major presence in both preceding books).

The Bird and the Sword Chronicles

This is a lush, romantic fantasy duology set in a kingdom where magic is outlawed and feared. The books must be read in order of publication:

1. The Bird and the Sword (2016): Introduces Lark, a young mute woman who possesses a dangerous, forbidden power, and the young King Tiras, who holds his own dark secrets.
2. The Queen and the Cure (2017): Focuses on Kjell, a character from the first book, as he journeys to find his own path and encounters a woman with a gift that changes everything.

The Chronicles of Saylok

A Norse-inspired fantasy duology featuring ancient curses, clans, and deep mythological worldbuilding. These books should be read in order:

1. The First Girl Child (2019): Set in the land of Saylok, where a curse has prevented the birth of female children for nearly two decades, threatening the future of the six clans.
2. The Second Blind Son (2021): Follows the events of the first book, focusing on Hod, a young man hidden away due to his differences, and his relationship with the young girl child who holds the kingdom's fate.

The Purgatory Series

Amy Harmon’s debut series is a young adult paranormal romance duology. They must be read in order:

1. Slow Dance in Purgatory (2012): A story of love, ghosts, and high school mysteries.
2. Prom Night in Purgatory (2012): Continues and resolves the supernatural struggles of the characters from the first book.

Standalone Historical and Contemporary Novels

Most of Harmon’s most famous, award-winning novels are standalones. These do not share characters or worlds, meaning you can pick them up in any order that strikes your interest:

• A Different Blue (2013): A contemporary romance about a young woman named Blue who has to overcome a difficult past, finding mentorship and love in unexpected places.
• Making Faces (2013): A heart-wrenching small-town contemporary romance exploring grief, inner beauty, and the devastating aftermath of 9/11 on a group of young friends.
• Infinity + One (2014): A road-trip romance featuring an unlikely pair—a math prodigy and a famous country singer—fleeing their respective struggles.
• From Sand and Ash (2016): Winner of the Whitney Award, this historical fiction novel is set in Italy during World War II, following a Catholic priest and a Jewish woman fighting to survive the Holocaust.
• What the Wind Knows (2019): A time-travel historical romance set in 1921 Ireland, following a woman who slips back in time to the Irish War of Independence and finds the love of her life.
• Where the Lost Wander (2020): An atmospheric historical novel detailing a love story on the Oregon Trail in 1850, highlighting the trials, tragedy, and resilience of pioneers.
• The Songbook of Benny Lament (2021): Set in the 1960s, this historical novel explores the music industry, racial segregation, and a forbidden romance between a songwriter and a singer.
• The Unknown Beloved (2022): A historical mystery romance set in late 1930s Cleveland, involving the infamous Torso Murders, a detective, and a woman with supernatural intuition.
• A Girl Called Samson (2023): A historical novel based on the true story of Deborah Samson, a young woman who disguised herself as a man to fight in the American Revolutionary War.
• The Outlaw Noble Salt (2024): A historical romance that reimagines the later years of Butch Cassidy under the alias "Noble Salt" as he falls in love with a famous singer during an American tour.

What to Know Before You Start

Amy Harmon is celebrated for her emotional depth, lyricism, and meticulous historical research. Her books rarely contain lighthearted, low-stakes plots; instead, she dives into serious topics such as war, trauma, disability, and loss. Despite these heavy themes, her stories are ultimately driven by hope, redemption, and the healing power of love. The historical standalones are highly praised for their factual grounding, often using real historical figures (like Eliot Ness in The Unknown Beloved or Butch Cassidy in The Outlaw Noble Salt) to anchor her romantic narratives. Readers looking for a complete series experience will find her fantasy duologies (Saylok and Bird and the Sword) to be satisfying, self-contained tales that don't drag on for too many volumes.