The Recommended Entry Point: Diving into the Lanaverse
If you are new to Angela Roquet's work, the absolute best place to start is with the Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc. series. Often referred to by fans as the foundation of the "Lanaverse," this flagship urban fantasy series introduces Roquet's signature blend of macabre comedy, rich mythological world-building, and gritty yet humorous heroines. Starting here allows you to fully appreciate the quirky afterlife capital of Limbo City, which sets the tone for much of her other writing.
Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc. Reading Order
The main Lana Harvey series is highly serialized and should be read strictly in order of publication to avoid major plot spoilers. The series centers on Lana, an eighth-generation reaper who finds herself caught in political struggles and divine conflicts. Short stories and novellas are interspersed between the core novels, and reading them in their chronological spots enhances the overarching narrative.
- Graveyard Shift (2009): The debut novel that introduces Lana Harvey, her soul-harvesting duties, and the chaotic neutral landscape of Limbo City.
- Pocket Full of Posies (2012): Lana returns to handle new supernatural challenges while navigating the complex bureaucracy of the afterlife.
- For the Birds (2013): The third installment ramps up the mythological stakes as deities from different pantheons clash in Limbo City.
- Psychopomp (2014): Lana's role as a reaper becomes increasingly complicated by political intrigue among the afterlife's ruling classes.
- Death Wish (2015): High-stakes consequences force Lana to make difficult alliances.
- Season's Reapings (2015): A holiday-themed short story (often numbered as Book 5.5) that provides a fun, festive interlude for Lana and her companions.
- Ghost Market (2016): Lana delves into Limbo City's black market, facing new threats to the balance of life and death.
- Hellfire and Brimstone (2016): The explosive seventh novel where the mythological scale reaches its peak.
- Limbo City Lights (2017): A collection of short stories that serves as a companion to the main series. It includes previously published pieces like Dearly Departed, Hair of the Hellhound, and Season's Reapings, along with new shorts such as Pre-Mortem, Post-Mortem, and the crossover story Death or Something Like It (co-authored with Kory M. Shrum).
Return to Limbo City: The Direct Spin-Off
After finishing the main Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc. series, you should proceed directly to the Return to Limbo City series. This spin-off acts as a direct continuation, picking up the story and characters where the original series left off. It maintains the same tone and setting but explores fresh conflicts and character developments.
- Life After Death (2021): Re-enters Limbo City to explore the aftermath of the original series' climax.
- Shadow of Death (2022): Lana and her allies deal with new shadowy threats emerging from the cracks of the afterlife.
- Tree of Death (2022): The mythos expands further as ancient forces threaten the very structure of Limbo City.
- To the Death (2022): A thrilling conclusion to the spin-off arc that ties up remaining loose ends.
The Blood Vice and Spero Heights Crossover Universe
For readers who prefer a mix of detective mysteries, police procedurals, and vampire lore, the Blood Vice series is an excellent alternative starting point. While it is set in a separate corner of Roquet's supernatural world, it features exciting crossovers with the Spero Heights series. You can read these two series independently, but reading them in parallel or starting with Blood Vice provides a rewarding experience for fans of shared universes.
Blood Vice Series Reading Order
The Blood Vice series follows Jenna Skye, a detective who is turned into a vampire and must work within a special police division handling supernatural crimes. The books should be read in the following sequence:
- Blood Vice (2017): Introduces Jenna Skye and her transition from human detective to vampire investigator.
- Blood and Thunder (2017): Jenna takes on her next major case involving high-profile vampire politics.
- Blood in the Water (2017): The mystery deepens as Jenna investigates threats close to home.
- Blood Dolls (2018): Jenna navigates the dangerous underworld of vampire societal hierarchies.
- Thicker Than Blood (2018): Personal and professional loyalties are tested.
- Blood, Sweat, and Tears (2018): A high-action installment that challenges Jenna's detective skills.
- Bloodnog and Mistletoe (2019): A cozy, holiday-themed novella (frequently read as Book 6.5) featuring Jenna and her team.
- Flesh and Blood (2019): The eighth installment wrapping up key character arcs.
Spero Heights Series Reading Order
Spero Heights is a paranormal romance and cozy urban fantasy series set in a small haven town populated by supernatural beings. It is lighter in tone compared to Blood Vice but shares crossover elements. Read them in this order:
- Blood Moon (2015): Sets the scene in Spero Heights, introducing the town's unique dynamics and residents.
- Death at First Sight (2016): A supernatural romance mystery that further explores the town's lore.
- The Midnight District (2018): Expands on the characters and includes ties that cross over with the Blood Vice series.
Other Worlds: Steampunk, Cozy Haunts, and High Fantasy
Angela Roquet has also branched out into other speculative subgenres, including steampunk, cozy paranormal mysteries, and high fantasy. These series do not share continuity with the Lanaverse and can be read at any time.
Haunted Properties (Magic & Mayhem Universe)
The Haunted Properties series is written within Robyn Peterman's collaborative Magic and Mayhem Universe. It follows Margo West, a real estate agent specializing in haunted houses. It is a lighthearted, humorous, and cozy paranormal mystery series.
- How to Sell a Haunted House (2018)
- Better Haunts and Graveyards (2019)
- This Old Haunt (2020)
- Haunt Wrecker (2021)
World Clock Journals
For fans of gears, gadgets, and temporal anomalies, the World Clock Journals series offers a steampunk fantasy setting. This trilogy should be read in chronological order:
- Cursed Cogs (2020)
- Gear Hearts (2021)
- Time Peace (2021)
Sacred Realms and Standalones
For high fantasy, Roquet began the Sacred Realms series with the novel Daughter of the War (2018), focusing on secluded warrior women in the treacherous mountains of LouMorah. Additionally, she has published standalone titles like the horror-comedy Crazy Ex-Ghoulfriend (2013) and the post-apocalyptic comedy Backwoods Armageddon (2014), which are great for quick, self-contained reads. For superfans of the Lana Harvey series, the non-fiction companion book The Illustrated Guide to Limbo City (2017) provides fun illustrations and lore about the afterlife capital.