Recommended Reading Paths: Where to Start?
Whether you are drawn to dark, emotional mythology or witty, revisionist history, Brodi Ashton offers two distinct entry points. Because her solo work is very different in tone from her collaborative series, your starting line depends entirely on your reading mood.
Path 1: The Mythological Romance (Start with Everneath)
If you love high-stakes romance, urban fantasy, and Greek mythology (specifically the Persephone myth), start with her solo debut, Everneath. This path takes you through her completed trilogy and its companion novella, tracking Nikki Beckett's journey to escape the underworld and fight for her mortal life.
Path 2: The Historical Comedy Remix (Start with My Lady Jane)
If you prefer laugh-out-loud humor, feminist revisions of history, and playful fantasy elements, start with My Lady Jane. Co-authored with Cynthia Hand and Jodi Meadows, this series reimagines famous historical figures (and literary heroes) with magical twists and happy endings they never received in real life.
The Everneath Series in Order
Brodi Ashton's solo reputation was built on the Everneath series. Heavily inspired by the myths of Persephone and Orpheus, the story centers on Nikki Beckett, who spent a century in the Everneath—an underworld where immortals feed on human emotions—only to return to her normal life with a six-month window before she is pulled back down. To make the most of her remaining time, she must reconcile with her boyfriend Jack while resisting Cole, the charismatic immortal who brought her to the depths.
While the main narrative is a trilogy, there is a critical companion novella, Neverfall, which provides essential character context. Here is the recommended reading order:
- Everneath (2012) – The essential starting point. Nikki returns to the surface world to face her choices and find Jack.
- Neverfall (2012) – A companion novella (Book 1.5) written from the perspective of Cole. Reading this between the first and second novels offers crucial insights into his motivations and the inner workings of the Everneath.
- Everbound (2013) – The second full novel. The stakes rise as Nikki ventures back into the underworld to save someone she loves.
- Evertrue (2014) – The epic conclusion to the trilogy, bringing Nikki, Jack, and Cole's destinies to a final resolution.
The Lady Janies & Marys Series
For readers looking for something lighthearted, Brodi Ashton teamed up with authors Cynthia Hand and Jodi Meadows to write a series of standalone historical fantasy retellings. Known collectively as the Lady Janies (and later the Marys), these books take tragic historical figures and give them comedic, magical, and empowering updates.
Although the authors write these books as companion novels that can technically be read in any order, reading them in publication order is highly recommended to appreciate how the collaborative trio's humor and world-building style evolve over time. Here is the order of the series:
The Janies
- My Lady Jane (2016) – Reimagines the tragic tale of Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days' Queen, in a world where humans can shapeshift into animals (Eðians).
- My Plain Jane (2018) – A supernatural spin on Charlotte Brontë's classic novel Jane Eyre, featuring ghosts, ghost-hunters, and a lot of meta-humor.
- My Calamity Jane (2020) – Takes on the Wild West, following Calamity Jane, Annie Oakley, and Wild Bill Hickok as they hunt garou (werewolves).
The Marys
- My Contrary Mary (2021) – Shifts focus to Mary, Queen of Scots, who must navigate court politics, conspiracies, and her own secret shapeshifting abilities.
- My Imaginary Mary (2022) – Reimagines Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, using actual magic to bring her creations to life alongside Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley.
- My Salty Mary (2024) – A high-seas adventure retelling the story of famous female pirate Mary Read, combined with elements of The Little Mermaid, as she navigates pirate politics and magical sea secrets.
Solo Standalone Novel
Outside of her fantasy series, Brodi Ashton has written one contemporary young adult standalone novel:
- Diplomatic Immunity (2016) – This story follows Piper Baird, a student reporter who moves to Washington, D.C. and gets involved in the drama, romance, and secrets surrounding the children of international diplomats. It is a complete departure from her fantasy work, focusing instead on realistic contemporary mystery and romance.
What to Know Before You Start
Understanding the structure of Brodi Ashton's catalog makes for a much smoother reading experience. The Everneath series is a continuous narrative; you cannot read the sequels as standalones. Skipping Neverfall is possible, but fans highly recommend it because Cole's perspective shifts how you view his actions in the final two books.
In contrast, the Lady Janies and Marys books do not share characters or continuities. Each book is a self-contained story with a fresh cast and magic system. You can easily pick up My Salty Mary or My Plain Jane without having read My Lady Jane. However, reading them in order lets you enjoy the evolution of the authors' shared narrative voice, which features regular fourth-wall breaking and modern commentary on historical events.