Where to Start Reading Cady Austin
For readers new to Cady Austin's signature blend of high-heat reverse harem dynamics, playful humor, and alien romance, the best starting point is Diamond Girl. As the first book in her flagship Cherished Galaxy series, it provides a comprehensive introduction to her world-building, writing style, and character dynamics. The story follows a human heroine who was abducted as a child and eventually finds her freedom—and love—among a crew of protective alien mates.
Alternatively, if you prefer fantasy romance over space sagas, you can begin with her Red Forest series. Starting with The Lords Savage & the Lady allows you to experience her take on monster romance, specifically focusing on protective orc heroes and high-stakes fantasy settings.
Cherished Galaxy Series in Order
The Cherished Galaxy series is a collection of standalone science fiction romances. While each book features a self-contained story focusing on a different set of main characters with a guaranteed Happily Ever After (HEA), reading them in publication order is recommended. This allows readers to catch recurring universe elements and subtle background details as the overarching galactic lore unfolds.
- Diamond Girl (2020) – Follows Beth, a human woman abducted at a young age, who builds a new life and finds romance with a crew of alien thieves.
- Their Tribute (2022) – Focuses on Emery, who navigates trauma, cultural intrigue, and a relationship with powerful alien lords.
- Backwater Queen (2022) – Expands the universe further, bringing Austin's trademark emotional depth and steamy relationship dynamics to a new set of characters.
Outlaw Planet Mates: A Shared Universe
The Outlaw Planet Mates series is a collaborative multi-author project set on the dangerous former prison world of Reazus Prime. The shared premise involves a transport ship carrying abducted human women that explodes in orbit, leaving the survivors to crash-land on a planet populated by outlaws, pirates, and gladiators who compete to find and claim them.
Because this is a multi-author series, it is important to distinguish between Cady Austin's specific contributions and the full list of titles written by other authors (such as Leslie Chase, Nancey Cummings, and Cara Wylde). The full multi-author project spans over twenty titles, beginning with Leslie Chase's Alien's Mercy (2021). Cady Austin has contributed two specific standalones to this shared universe, which can be read independently:
- Aliens' Sacrifice (2021) – Book #7 in the shared series. It features a human heroine saved from a monstrous alien kraken by three silver-skinned alien protectors.
- Aliens' Princess (2022) – Book #11 in the shared series. It follows a crash-landed heroine who is claimed by three cat-like alien princes on Reazus Prime.
Red Forest Series in Order
Stepping away from interstellar travel, Cady Austin's Red Forest series shifts the focus to monster and fantasy romance, utilizing classic fated mates tropes and reverse harem dynamics. These books should be read in order of release:
- The Lords Savage & the Lady (2023) – An orc romance following Princess Luna, who is captured by a rival clan of protective orc warriors.
- Orc Tested (2023) – Continues the fantasy theme with high heat, survival elements, and monstrous love interests.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Cady Austin's catalog, readers should expect high-spice content, reverse harem relationships (where the heroine ends up with multiple partners), and protective, possessive heroes. While her books deal with heavy themes—such as past trauma and abduction—they maintain a lighthearted, humorous undercurrent. Austin's unique real-life inspiration (including raising pet possums) often influences the quirky and endearing behavior of her alien and monster characters, making her worlds feel uniquely personal and warm.