Where to Begin with Charlotte Abel
If you are new to Charlotte Abel's books, you have two primary entry points. Because her series are set in separate universes with completely different magic systems and casts, you can choose where to start based on your personal reading tastes. If you prefer young adult urban fantasy featuring teenage mages, a heavy dose of romance, and high school drama, start with the Channie Series. If you are looking for a more mature, survival-focused shifter romance set deep in the Colorado wilderness, start with the Sanctuary Series.
For contemporary romance fans, Abel also writes New Adult stories under the pen name Charli Webb, starting with her Rocky Mountain Romance series.
Channie Series Reading Order
The Channie series follows Channie Kerns, a teenage mage who moves from a magical community in the Ozarks to a suburban high school in Colorado. Throughout the series, she struggles with her powers, a chastity curse, and her feelings for Josh, a local BMX racer. The recommended reading order is chronological, which integrates the prequels and novellas seamlessly into the main trilogy:
- The Gathering (Book 0.5) (2012) – A prequel novella that sets up the magical rules and community origins before the main story begins.
- Enchantment (Book 1) (2011) – The debut novel where Channie moves to Colorado, meets Josh, and tries to navigate high school while keeping her magic hidden.
- Taken (Book 2) (2012) – The stakes rise as Channie and Josh's relationship is tested by dark magic and external threats.
- Love Hurts (Book 2.5) (2013) – A companion novella (about 8,000 words) that shifts focus to the secondary characters Kassie and Hunter during a dramatic Valentine's Day.
- Finding Valor (Book 3) (2013) – The final book in the main trilogy, wrapping up Channie and Josh's romantic arc and the conflict with dark magic.
If you prefer to buy everything at once, look for Believe: The Complete Channie Series (2015), which compiles the entire sequence from Book 0.5 to Book 3 into a single omnibus volume.
Sanctuary Series Reading Order
The Sanctuary series introduces readers to a secret, isolationist society of wolf shifters living deep within the Sawatch Mountains of Colorado. The series is known for its intense pack politics, alpha and omega dynamics, and survival themes. While the prequel novella was published second, reading it first provides valuable backstory on the male lead:
- Down the Rabbit Hole (Book 0.5) (2013) – A standalone prequel novella focusing on Jonathan McKnight and Franklin the night before they leave for military basic training. While not strictly required, it offers key insight into Jonathan's character.
- River's Recruit (Book 1) (2012) – The first novel. It follows Jonathan, a wounded veteran searching for redemption in the Sawatch Mountains, who is rescued by a shifter named River. To save his life, River claims him as her "recruit," binding their fates.
- River's Remorse (Book 2) (2014) – Continues Jonathan and River's struggle against the oppressive laws of the shifter Sanctuary.
- River's Revenge (Book 3) (2014) – The conclusion of River and Jonathan's direct story arc.
- Gabriel's Gift (Book 4) (2015) – The focus shifts to Gabriel, a powerful alpha who must find his fated mate before his next birthday or face exile, and Lilith, a starving omega who attempts a forbidden merge.
- Rose's Rebel (Book 5) (2016) – The final book in the series, focusing on Rose and Noah, a shifter who refuses to believe in predestined soulmates and believes love must be earned.
Rocky Mountain Romance & Alternate Pen Names
In addition to her paranormal books, Charlotte Abel writes New Adult contemporary romance under the pen name Charli Webb. Her main release under this name is:
- Naked Edge (Rocky Mountain Romance, Book 1) (2015) – A contemporary romance set in Eldorado Springs and Eldorado Canyon State Park, Colorado. It follows Skylar, who returns to her hometown after her mother's death and runs into her former high school sweetheart, Rowdy, amidst rock-climbing settings and witness protection drama.
Abel also contributed to the 2012 paranormal romance anthology Midnight Surrender, which featured short stories from various authors in the genre designed to give readers alternate perspectives of their favorite universes.
What to Know Before You Start
While the Channie series is a lighthearted, sweet Young Adult romance focusing on mages and high school, the Sanctuary series leans heavily into New Adult territory with mature themes. Sanctuary features a darker tone, focusing on pack hierarchy, survival, and the harsh rules governing shifter societies (including threats of exile and physical punishment for rulebreakers). If you prefer softer romance, Channie is your best bet. If you enjoy survivalist romance and pack lore, dive straight into Sanctuary.