Where to Start with Avina St. Graves: The Recommended Reading Path
If you are new to the dark and intense worlds of Avina St. Graves, the absolute best starting point is her breakout debut novella, Death's Obsession (2023). It is a relatively short, hauntingly gothic romance that perfectly encapsulates her signature style: dual perspectives, a possessive and morally grey love interest (in this case, a personified, faceless entity representing Death), and a heavy focus on raw human grief and trauma. Starting here lets you sample her prose and thematic depth without committing to a full-length novel right away.
From there, your path depends on what flavor of dark romance you want to experience next:
- For contemporary, dark stalker romance: Proceed directly to Skin of a Sinner (2023) or Midnight Message (2026).
- For high school enemies-to-lovers vibes: Read Fiery Little Thing (2024).
- For paranormal, monster, or collaborative fantasy: Move to The Saltwater Curse (2025) or her co-authored mansion romance, Eldrith Manor (2026).
The Complete List of Avina St. Graves's Books in Publication Order
Since almost all of Avina St. Graves's books are written as standalones set in different universes or collaborative settings, there is no strict chronological timeline you must follow. Reading her work in order of publication allows you to see how her storytelling style and world-building have evolved over time.
Standalone Novels and Co-Authored Works
- Death's Obsession (2023) – A gothic paranormal romance novella about a grieving woman named Lilith who attracts a mysterious, possessive entity representing Death.
- Skin of a Sinner (2023) – A contemporary dark romance featuring Roman Riviera, an obsessive childhood connection who returns to the protagonist's life with dangerous intensity.
- Fiery Little Thing (2024) – A volatile high school dark romance exploring the toxic, enemies-to-lovers relationship between Blaze and Kohen Osman.
- The Saltwater Curse (2025) – A dark monster romance following Kristy Gallagher, who escapes an abusive past only to find herself captured by the Kraken king, Ordus.
- Eldrith Manor (2026) – A paranormal dark romance co-authored with Leigh Rivers, centering on a ghost and a demon trapped together in a haunted estate.
- Midnight Message (2026) – A dark, psychological stalker-meets-stalker contemporary romance.
- Pink Ink (August 2026) – A highly anticipated dark academia serial killer romance focusing on a dangerous relationship between a professor and a student.
The Exodus Books (Multi-Author Series)
In 2024, Avina St. Graves participated in The Exodus, a collaborative multi-author series. The books are interconnected standalones that share a secret-society theme and a dark romance universe. You do not need to read the entire series to enjoy Avina's contribution, but if you want to tackle the full project, here is the publication order of the series:
- Karma by Lauren Biel (2024)
- Scorpion by Avina St. Graves (2024) – A reverse-bodyguard romance featuring an ex-military female protagonist.
- Thrill of the Hunt by Dana LeeAnn (2024)
- Homecoming by Kinsley Kincaid (2024)
- Cry Little Sister by Willow McQuerry (2024)
- Above All Else by Ann-Marie Davis (2024)
- Phantasm by Harleigh Beck (2024)
- Game of Revenge by Amber Nicole (2024)
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order Caveats
Because there is no narrative continuity between the standalone books (such as Death's Obsession and Skin of a Sinner), you will not encounter any plot spoilers or character crossovers if you read them out of order. They exist in entirely separate fictional worlds. The only exception is The Exodus Books series, where the books share a loose overarching environment. For the best experience within that specific collaborative universe, reading in publication order is recommended, although reading Scorpion as a complete standalone is also entirely viable.
Categorizing by Subgenre: Choosing Your Next Read
If you prefer to read by theme or subgenre rather than publication dates, you can divide Avina St. Graves's bibliography into three distinct categories:
1. Gothic & Paranormal Romance
If you enjoy supernatural themes, haunted settings, and non-human love interests, focus on these titles:
- Death's Obsession: Features a personification of Death.
- The Saltwater Curse: Features a Kraken king.
- Eldrith Manor: Features a demon and a ghost.
2. Contemporary Dark Romance & Psychological Thrills
If you prefer gritty, real-world settings with highly obsessive, stalker, or enemies-to-lovers dynamics, pick up these books:
- Skin of a Sinner: Obsessive childhood connection.
- Fiery Little Thing: High school enemies-to-lovers.
- Midnight Message: Stalker vs. stalker tension.
- Pink Ink: Dark academia and serial killer themes.
3. Action-Oriented Romantic Suspense
If you like a mix of danger, military backgrounds, and high-stakes tension, read her contribution to the collaborative universe:
- Scorpion (The Exodus Book 2): Features protective details and military elements.
What to Know Before You Start
Avina St. Graves writes dark romance, which means her books deal with heavy, challenging themes. Common elements across her novels include severe grief, childhood trauma, toxic relationships, obsessive behavior (including stalking), and explicit sexual content. Readers should always check the content warnings provided by the author at the beginning of each book, especially for titles like Skin of a Sinner and Pink Ink, which push the boundaries of psychological dark romance.