Caighlan Smith Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Caighlan Smith?

For readers new to Caighlan Smith's writing, the recommended entry point is her critically acclaimed YA dystopian fantasy duology, starting with Children of Icarus (2016). This series highlights her ability to subvert traditional young adult tropes, blending Greek mythology with a dark, high-stakes labyrinth trial. It is her most celebrated work, earning her the 2018 Scottish Teenage Book Prize.

Alternatively, if you prefer post-apocalyptic, video-game-inspired survival thrillers with quick pacing and supernatural elements, you can start with her debut series, the Surreality quartet, beginning with Hallow Hour (2013). This series showcases the raw creativity of her early writing career, which began when she was still in high school.

The Children of Icarus Duology

This dark fantasy duology is published by Switch Press, an imprint of Capstone. It reimagines classical Greek myths inside a brutal, post-apocalyptic maze. Because the story follows a continuous character arc and a progressive mystery, you must read these books in exact publication order.

• Children of Icarus (2016) – The story introduces a nameless narrator who, along with her friend Clara, is selected to enter the Daedalum, a massive, monster-filled labyrinth. While the chosen children are expected to ascend to become angels, the narrator quickly discovers the horrific reality of the maze.
• Children of Daedala (2018) – The sequel picks up the narrative threads of the survivors, deepening the emotional stakes and exploring the aftermath of the labyrinth's secrets as the characters fight to navigate the power struggles within and outside the walls.

The Surreality Series (The Hallow Hour Quartet)

Published by Red Deer Press, the Surreality series is a science-fiction and supernatural survival saga set in a nightmarish, post-apocalyptic world. The books follow phantom hunters and orphaned heroes struggling to survive in a landscape filled with dangerous entities. Like her other work, this quartet has a strict narrative progression and should be read in publication order:

1. Hallow Hour (2013) – Written during Smith's final year of high school, this debut novel introduces the gaming-inspired, survival-focused setting of Surreality, where teenagers fight supernatural threats.
2. New Year (2014) – The second installment continues the survival struggle, raising the stakes for the main characters as they uncover more about the phantoms surrounding them.
3. Firefly (2016) – The third book dives deeper into the lore of the post-apocalyptic setting, focusing on the character dynamics and the relentless pace of their survival journey.
4. Into Surreality (2016) – The final book wraps up the main narrative arcs, bringing the quartet to a high-stakes conclusion.

Short Stories and Novellas

In addition to her primary novels, Caighlan Smith has published standalone short fiction that showcases her range in dark fantasy and steampunk genres. Both notable short stories were originally published on Tor.com (now Reactor Magazine) and do not have any direct ties to her main series, making them perfect standalones for a quick read.

• The Weather (2016) – A post-apocalyptic science-fiction story set in a barren wasteland. The plot contrasts the mundane daily routine of the protagonist, Lolly, who is looking after her grandmother and going to school, with the looming threat of an impending supernatural storm.
• A Pest Most Fiendish (2016) – A steampunk dark fantasy story following Miss Philippa "Pippa" Kipling and her automaton companion, the Porter. Together, they work as supernatural pest exterminators, but a routine cavern job goes wrong when they run into dangerous undead creatures.
• Some of the Best from Tor.com, 2016 Edition (2017) – This annual anthology collects the year's best short fiction from the site, including a reprint of "A Pest Most Fiendish."

Chronological vs. Publication Order

For both the Children of Icarus duology and the Surreality quartet, chronological order matches publication order. There are no prequels or companion novels that take place out of order. Consequently, the simplest and most effective reading path is to follow the publication sequence of each individual series.

Because the short stories are completely separate from the main novels, they can be read at any point. We recommend reading them between the major series to experience the progression of Smith's writing style, or saving them for last as a supplement to her longer novels.

What to Know Before You Start

Before you dive in, there are a few useful details that can help you appreciate Caighlan Smith's work:

• Pronunciation: The author's first name is pronounced "Kay-lan" (the "C" is hard, and the "gh" is silent).
• Academic Influence: Smith holds an English and Classics degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland and a Master's in Fantasy Literature from the University of Glasgow. Her academic background in classical mythology and interactive narratives heavily influences the world-building in Children of Icarus.
• Writing Productivity: While Smith is commercially published for the six novels and two short stories listed above, biographical sources note she has written over a dozen manuscripts, showing a high level of creative productivity from a very young age.
• Gaming Dynamics: Her debut series, Surreality, draws heavy inspiration from video games, featuring action-heavy sequences and a fast-paced, survival-oriented plot structure.