Where to Start with Ariel Kaplan’s Books
Ariel Kaplan (who also publishes under the pen name A.E. Kaplan) has written across two distinct styles: sharp, contemporary young adult novels and epic historical fantasy. Because her contemporary YA works are completely standalone and her fantasy works form a single trilogy, your starting point depends entirely on what genre you prefer.
If you love high fantasy with deep mythological roots, start with The Pomegranate Gate, the first book in The Mirror Realm Cycle. If you prefer witty, humorous contemporary stories with high-stakes teenage drama or classic retellings, start with her debut novel, Grendel’s Guide to Love and War.
The Mirror Realm Cycle (Recommended Reading Order)
This epic fantasy trilogy is Kaplan’s most ambitious project, heavily inspired by Jewish folklore, Sephardic history, and the atmosphere of 15th-century Inquisition-era Spain. It features a parallel-world structure split between the Mortal Realm, where Jewish communities face intense persecution, and the Mazik Realm, populated by semi-immortal mythical beings. The trilogy must be read in order to follow the overarching plot and the shifting fates of the main protagonists, Toba Peres and Naftaly Cresques.
- The Pomegranate Gate (2023) – The journey begins as Toba Peres and Naftaly Cresques are forced to flee their home in the mortal realm. Toba is drawn through a magical gate into the mirror world of the Maziks, while Naftaly searches for her while carrying a forbidden family book.
- The Republic of Salt (2024) – The narrative expands as the characters deal with the political machinations of the Mazik courts and the looming threat of the tyrant Tarses, who seeks power across both realms.
- The Kingdom of Almonds (2026) – The final installment brings the story to a dramatic conclusion, introducing the legendary third realm of Aravoth and uniting the mortal and immortal factions for a final confrontation.
Standalone Young Adult Novels
Before writing epic fantasy, Kaplan built a reputation for hilarious and heartfelt contemporary YA fiction. These books are completely standalone and can be read in any order.
- Grendel’s Guide to Love and War (2017) – Published under the name A.E. Kaplan, this is a modern-day, lighthearted retelling of the classic epic poem Beowulf. Set in Lake Heorot, Virginia, it follows Tom Grendel as he tries to wage a neighborhood war against disruptive teenage neighbors while falling for the ringleader's sister.
- We Regret to Inform You (2018) – Published as Ariel Kaplan, this novel follows Mischa Abramavicius, a high-achieving student who is rejected by every single college she applied to. Suspecting her transcripts were hacked, she teams up with a group of rogue hackers to uncover a conspiracy.
- We Are the Perfect Girl (2019) – A feminist, gender-swapped retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac. It focuses on the friendship between Aphra (the brains) and Bethany (the beauty) as they run a text-based deception to win over a mutual classmate, only for real feelings to complicate their bond.
Ariel Kaplan’s Books in Publication Order
If you prefer to read Kaplan’s bibliography in the order she wrote them, follow this list:
- Grendel’s Guide to Love and War (2017)
- We Regret to Inform You (2018)
- We Are the Perfect Girl (2019)
- The Pomegranate Gate (2023)
- The Republic of Salt (2024)
- The Kingdom of Almonds (2026)
What to Know Before You Start
When searching for her books, keep in mind that her debut, Grendel’s Guide to Love and War, was published under the name A.E. Kaplan, whereas all subsequent novels carry her full name, Ariel Kaplan. There are no crossover elements between her contemporary YA novels and The Mirror Realm Cycle, so you can freely transition between her realistic humor and her complex folklore fantasy without worrying about missed connections.