How to Navigate Christina Bauer's Fantasy Realms
Christina Bauer is known for creating high-octane fantasy worlds packed with snarky, independent heroines, romance, and unique twists on mythology. Her sprawling, interconnected series can be intimidating to dive into, especially since she describes herself as a non-linear thinker who doesn't always write or publish her books in chronological order. To help you get the most out of your reading experience, we have compiled the ultimate reading order for her books, based on the official guidelines and reading companions.
The Core Universe: Where to Start
The absolute best place to start is with the flagship series that put Christina Bauer on the map: Angelbound Origins. This series introduces Myla Lewis, a fierce quasi-demon heroine fighting in Purgatory's Arena. However, reading this series in publication order can get confusing because the narrative timeline does not match the order in which the books were released. Most notably, the book Armageddon was published third in 2014, but narrative events place it seventh in the chronological sequence, occurring after the events of The Brutal Time (2019).
Angelbound Origins Chronological Reading Order
If you want to follow Myla's story in the exact sequence the events occur, follow this chronological path:
- Angelbound (2013) – The entry point where we meet Myla Lewis and Prince Lincoln.
- Scala (2014) – Myla embraces her role as the Great Scala.
- Acca (2016) – Myla faces off against the ancient quasi-demons.
- Thrax (2017) – High-stakes battles in the demonic realm of Thrax.
- The Dark Lands (2018) – Journeying deep into the dark corners of Purgatory.
- The Brutal Time (2019) – A critical clash that sets the stage for the battle of ages.
- Armageddon (2014) – The epic showdown against the King of Hell to save Myla and Lincoln's son, Maxon.
- Quasi Redux (2020) – Dealing with the immediate aftermath of the war.
- Clockwork Igni (2021) – Introducing new steam-powered magical elements and threats.
- Lady Reaper (2022) – Myla steps into a deadly new underworld role.
- Angry Gods (2023) – A clash against ancient, primordial deities.
- Reaper Games (2023) – High-stakes tournaments and ancient trials.
The Extended Angelbound Universe
Once you are familiar with the main timeline, you can branch out into the companion and spin-off series that expand on different characters in the same world. You can read these parallel to the main series or save them for a massive binge after finishing the Origins timeline.
Angelbound Lincoln: The Hero's Perspective
This subseries retells and expands on the main storyline from the perspective of Myla's love interest, Prince Lincoln. It is highly recommended to read these alongside the main books to get the full picture of their romance and individual struggles.
- Duty Bound (2018) – A prequel novella establishing Lincoln's early responsibilities.
- Lincoln (2019) – Reliving the initial events of Angelbound from his perspective.
- Trickster (2020) – Lincoln's secret operations and tactical battles.
- Baculum (2021) – Deeper political and magical conflicts within the celestial realms.
- Angelfire (2022) – The culmination of Lincoln's magical trials.
Angelbound Offspring: The Next Generation
This series moves the spotlight onto Myla and Lincoln's son, Maxon, and other next-generation characters as they navigate their own dangerous trials, romances, and supernatural battles.
- Maxon (2015)
- Portia (2015)
- Zinnia (2019)
- Rhodes (2019)
- Kaps (2020)
- Mack (2020)
- Huntress (2021)
- Gage (2022)
Angelbound Xavier
This spin-off dives into the story of Xavier, another key figure in the celestial hierarchy, charting his rise and the obstacles he faces.
- Archenemy (2023)
- Archenemesis (2024)
Other Standalone Series and Worlds
Beyond the Angelbound universe, Christina Bauer has created several other highly popular urban fantasy and sci-fi worlds that feature the same sassy tone and fast-paced adventure.
Fairy Tales of the Magicorum
This modern urban fantasy series features fairy tale retellings with a paranormal twist. The main characters belong to the Magicorum, a society of people descended from magical beings who are forced to live out their fairy tale destinies unless they find a way to break their curses.
- Wolves and Roses (2017)
- Moonlight And Midtown (2018)
- Shifters And Glyphs (2018)
- Slippers And Thieves (2019)
- Bandits And Ball Gowns (2020)
- Fire and Cinder (2021)
- Fairies and Frosting (2021)
- Towers and Tithes (2021)
- Mirrors and Mysteries (2022)
- Rapunzels and Powers (2023)
Dimension Drift
A dystopian science fiction adventure packed with aliens, conspiracy, and snark. Unlike the other series, the author explicitly recommends starting with the two prequel novellas to understand the world's complex setup before reading the novels.
- Scythe (2018) – Prequel Novella 1
- Umbra (2019) – Prequel Novella 2
- Alien Minds (2019) – Book 1
- ECHO Academy (2020) – Book 2
Pixieland Diaries
A fun, lighthearted, and completed series following a sassy pixie named Calla and her wild adventures in Pixieland.
- Pixieland Diaries (2020)
- Calla (2020)
- Dare (2021)
- Winter Prince (2022)
Beholder Series
This completed medieval fantasy romance follows Elea, a young woman who possesses the rare and dangerous ability to see souls. Her character and journey were inspired by the historical figure Eleanor of Aquitaine.
- Cursed (2016)
- Concealed (2016)
- Cherished (2017)
- Cradled (2018)
- Crowned (2019)