Where to Start with Carly Spade
If you are new to Carly Spade’s books, the absolute best place to begin is the Contemporary Mythos series. This is her signature universe, where ancient Greek gods walk among mortals in modern-day settings, dealing with everyday drama, high-stakes investigations, and sizzling romance. You can start directly with the first full-length novel, Hades (2020), which introduces a cybersecurity specialist who meets the God of the Underworld, or you can ease in with the prequel short story collection, The Hades Chronicles: A Short Story Collection Through The Ages (Book 0.5), which provides fun backstory on the Lord of the Underworld's centuries on Earth.
For readers who prefer a shift from Greek lore to Celtic legends, Power of Eternity (the first book in the Druid Duo series) offers a fast-paced urban fantasy setting featuring druids and death gods. If you are in the mood for classic paranormal vampire romance, the standalone-style Irresistible Demise from the After Midnight series is a great quick entry point.
Contemporary Mythos Series Reading Order
The Contemporary Mythos series is a shared-universe romance collection. While each book centers on a different couple and can theoretically be read as a standalone, they feature recurring characters, overlapping events, and an overarching timeline. Reading them in publication order is highly recommended to appreciate the easter eggs and character cameos.
Main Series Order
- Book 0.5: The Hades Chronicles: A Short Story Collection Through The Ages (2020) – A prequel collection of short stories setting up Hades' character history.
- Book 1: Hades (2020) – Follows digital forensics examiner Stephanie Costas and Hades on a Greek vacation.
- Book 2: Apollo (2020) – Centers on the arrogant God of Music and Sun, Apollo, and a feisty contemporary heroine.
- Book 3: Ares (2021) – Features the hot-tempered God of War, Ares, in a modern-day enemies-to-lovers romance.
- Book 4: Eros (2021) – Explores the God of Love, Eros, navigating his own complicated modern love story.
- Book 5: Poseidon (2022) – Focuses on the moody God of the Sea, Poseidon, and a marine biologist.
- Book 6: Zeus (2022) – The dramatic conclusion focusing on the King of Olympus, Zeus.
Contemporary Mythos Holidays (Companion Novellas)
Spade has written several holiday-themed companion novellas that revisit the beloved couples from the main series. While they are not mandatory to understand the main plots, they are delightful treats for fans. It is best to read these after you have completed at least the first four main books to avoid minor spoilers regarding who ends up with whom.
- A Contemporary Mythos Halloween (2021)
- A Contemporary Mythos Yuletide (2021)
- A Contemporary Mythos Valentine's (2022)
- A Contemporary Mythos St. Patrick's (2022)
- A Contemporary Mythos Thanksgiving (2022)
Beyond a Contemporary Mythos (Spin-offs and Prequels)
In addition to the main contemporary line, Spade expanded the universe into different genres and historical settings under the banner of Beyond a Contemporary Mythos and related prequels. These stories experiment with subgenres like cyberpunk and historical pirate romantasy.
- Lords of the Underworld (2023) – A unique prequel set in the American Old West. It follows Hades and Thanatos as they escape their Tartarus duties for a brief respite on Earth. (Note: Not to be confused with Gena Showalter's paranormal series of the same name.)
- Of Love and Forge (2023) – A cyberpunk fantasy romance that reimagines Hephaestus and Aphrodite in a futuristic, neon-drenched setting.
- Of Magic and Rum (2024) – An adult pirate romantasy featuring the sea nymph Rhode and the historical pirate captain Calico Jack Rackham aboard the ship The Revenge.
The Druid Duo and After Midnight Series
Aside from her Greek mythology romances, Carly Spade has dipped her toes into other supernatural folklore, notably Celtic mythology and classic vampire tropes.
The Druid Duo
This series moves the action to the lush landscapes of Ireland, blending Celtic myth, ancient magic, and high-tension romance.
- Book 1: Power of Eternity (2019) – Introduces Abby Weber as she teams up with a charming Irish Druid to stop a Celtic death god.
- Book 2: Eternally Yours (2020) – Continues the magical adventures and romance of the druid couples.
After Midnight
- Book 1: Irresistible Demise (2019) – Follows Freya, a bartender at the 'After Midnight' bar, who gets drawn into a dangerous world of ancient vampires and sizzling chemistry.
The Tide Series (Contemporary Romance)
For readers looking for a break from the supernatural, the Tide Series is a contemporary romantic suspense duology set in the world of marine biology and ocean exploration.
- The Approaching Tide (2020) – The first novel in the duology, introducing the main romantic arc and ocean settings.
- The Other Tide (2019) – Follows Dr. Samantha Smith, a shark specialist, and Luke Jansen, an Australian diver, on a high-stakes marine expedition. (Note: While some database catalogs list The Other Tide with a 2019 publication date ahead of The Approaching Tide, they are best read as a continuous duology starting with the setup in Approaching Tide.)
What to Know Before You Start
Carly Spade's background as a former cybersecurity professional heavily influences her writing. You will notice that many of her heroines are highly analytical, tech-savvy, or work in fields like digital forensics and marine biology, bringing a refreshing dose of intelligence and realism to the urban fantasy settings. Her stories are famous for their slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, witty banter, heavy doses of 80s and 90s pop culture references, and high steam ratings. Whether you are swimming with sharks in Miami or negotiating with the King of the Underworld, you can expect strong-willed characters who hold their own against gods and monsters alike.