Aprilynne Pike Books in Order

Where to Start with Aprilynne Pike

If you are new to Aprilynne Pike's novels, the best starting point is undoubtedly the Wings Series (also known as the Laurel Series). This is her debut and most famous series, which redefined modern faerie mythology and became a #1 New York Times bestseller. From there, readers can dive into her other paranormal, sci-fi, and contemporary romance series depending on their interest. Her books are generally best read in publication order within their respective series, as the overarching plots build directly on previous volumes.

The Wings Series: Recommended Reading Order

The Wings series follows Laurel Sewell, an ordinary teenager who discovers she is actually a Summer faerie sent to live in the human world to protect the gateway to Avalon. The main storyline runs through the first four books, while the fifth is a companion sequel set over a decade later. For the best experience, read them in this order:

1. Wings (2009): Laurel discovers her true nature when a massive flower blooms on her back, thrusting her into a struggle between the human world and the magic of Avalon.
2. Spells (2010): Laurel travels to Avalon to begin her training as a Winter faerie, learning more about her heritage while torn between her human boyfriend David and her faerie sentry Tamani.
3. Illusions (2011): Also published under the title Wild in the UK and international markets. Laurel enters her senior year of high school, trying to maintain a normal life while being hunted by old enemies.
4. Destined (2012): The climax of Laurel's primary story, where the gates of Avalon are threatened and she must make ultimate choices regarding her loyalty and her heart.
5. Arabesque (2016): A companion sequel novel set more than twelve years after the events of Destined. It shifts focus to Rowen, the Summer faerie niece of Laurel and Tamani, who attempts to blend in at a human ballet school in California but is caught up in an ancient magical mystery. Because it contains heavy spoilers for the original quadrilogy, it should be read last.

The Earthbound Trilogy

For readers who enjoy amnesia tropes, past-life mysteries, and elements of elemental magic, the Earthbound trilogy is a perfect follow-up. It must be read in strict chronological order:

1. Earthbound (2013): Introduces Tavia Michaels, the sole survivor of a plane crash who discovers she has strange powers and visions of a life she cannot remember.
2. Earthquake (2014): Tavia struggles to master her abilities and uncovers the dark truth about her past lives and the ancient conflict she is caught in.
3. Earthrise (2015): The final installment where Tavia and her allies face the ultimate battle to decide the fate of their magic and the world.

The Glitter Duology

Pike shifts from magical fantasy to a futuristic, sci-fi thriller setting in this duology. Often described as "Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette meets Breaking Bad," it features a high-stakes palace drama:

1. Glitter (2016): Set in a near-future, tech-heavy Palace of Versailles, Danica sells a highly addictive drug called Glitter to buy her freedom from an abusive forced marriage.
2. Shatter (2018): Danica fights to escape the consequences of her actions and secure a future outside the gilded walls of Versailles.

The Charlotte Westing Chronicles

This supernatural mystery duology focuses on Charlotte Westing, a teenager who can see the future. The two books should be read in this order:

1. Sleep No More (2014): Charlotte is an Oracle, bound by rules that forbid her from using her visions to alter the future. However, when she foresees a local murderer's next victim, she must decide whether to break the rules to save a life.
2. Sleep of Death (2014): A sequel novella (released as a digital-exclusive eBook) that continues Charlotte's story as she deals with the aftermath of her choices and new visions.

Life After Theft: Novel and Novella

This humorous, paranormal mystery duology consists of a standalone novel and a prequel novella:

• One Day More (2013): A 50-page digital prequel novella that details the backstory of Kimberlee Schaffer, a popular teenager who suffers from a compulsive, insatiable need to steal.
• Life After Theft (2013): The main novel following Jeff, a teen who can see ghosts, and Kimberlee, who is now a ghost and needs his help returning all the items she stole before she can move on.

Reading Tip: While One Day More can be read first as a prequel, most fans recommend starting with the main novel Life After Theft to enjoy the mystery before reading the prequel novella for extra character depth.

Standalone Novels and Collaborations

Beyond her major series, Pike has written standalone projects and contributed to popular anthologies:

• Clockwork Scott (2020): A collaborative steampunk children's book co-authored by Aprilynne Pike and Kenneth Pike, with illustrations by Ashley Moore, following a robot hero recovering from an accident in Geartown.
• Heat (2021): A contemporary "clean teen" YA romance focusing on Sienna McNally and her relationship with the Breslin brothers after one returns from Hawaii.
• Anthology Contributions: Pike has contributed short stories and essays to anthologies such as Pitch Dark (2012 promotional sampler), Defy the Dark (2013 YA anthology), Life Inside My Mind (2018 mental health essay collection), and Noir (2022 mystery anthology).

What to Know Before You Start

When starting Aprilynne Pike's books, keep the following in mind:

• Wings Titles: In the UK and some international markets, the third book of the Wings series, Illusions, was published under the title Wild. They are the exact same book.
• No "Orlana" Novella: Some online forums or fan lists mistakenly reference a Wings novella called "Orlana." There is no such book or short story published by Aprilynne Pike; this is likely a confusion with other fan fiction or character concepts.
• Completed Series: The Wings series, Earthbound trilogy, Glitter duology, and Charlotte Westing Chronicles are all fully completed, meaning you can binge-read them without waiting for new releases.