Christina Henry Books in Order

Where to Start with Christina Henry

If you are new to Christina Henry's dark, imaginative worlds, your starting point depends entirely on your preferred subgenre. Henry's bibliography is broadly split into two distinct styles: her action-oriented urban fantasy series and her darker, psychological fairytale retellings and standalone horror novels. Here are the two best entry points:

• For classic fairytale retellings and gothic horror: Start with Alice (2015). This novel reimagines Alice in Wonderland as a gritty, psychological journey through a nightmarish asylum and a brutal city. It is the perfect introduction to Henry's atmospheric style and morally gray characters.
• For fast-paced, witty urban fantasy: Start with Black Wings (2010). This series follows Madeline Black, an Agent of Death navigating supernatural politics in Chicago, accompanied by her sassy, popcorn-loving gargoyle sidekick, Beezle. It has a lighter, snarkier tone than her standalone horror novels.

The Black Wings Series: Chronological vs. Publication Order

The Black Wings series consists of seven novels and several companion short stories. While you can read the main novels in publication order without any issues, inserting the short stories chronologically gives a much deeper look into Madeline's past and her daily encounters with supernatural threats.

Chronological Reading Order

To read the series in chronological order, incorporate the short stories and novellas at their narrative placements:

1. "Moonlight and Sunscreen" (Short Story): Takes place several months before the events of the first two novels. It introduces Madeline Black and her gargoyle sidekick Beezle dealing with typical supernatural hassles.
2. "Aren't You Glad You Didn't Turn On the Lights?" (Short Story): Set immediately before the events of the first book, putting a dark twist on a classic urban legend.
3. Black Wings (Book 1, 2010): The novel that starts it all. Madeline Black is introduced as an Agent of Death escorting souls to the afterlife in Chicago.
4. "Night Out" (Short Story): A serialized short story that bridges the gap between Black Wings and Black Night.
5. "A Good Bargain" (Short Story): Another short tale set in the interval between the first and second book.
6. Black Night (Book 2, 2011): Madeline faces increasing danger as the supernatural political landscape of Chicago shifts.
7. "The 12 Dancing Princes" (Short Story): Set mere minutes after the conclusion of Black Night, resolving immediate aftermath details.
8. Black Howl (Book 3, 2012): Madeline continues her duties while handling escalating celestial and demonic conflicts.
9. Black Lament (Book 4, 2012): Deeper secrets of Madeline's heritage and the agency of death are revealed.
10. Black City (Book 5, 2013): The stakes rise as Chicago becomes a literal battleground.
11. Black Heart (Book 6, 2013): Madeline must make difficult choices to protect those she cares about.
12. Black Spring (Book 7, 2014): The epic conclusion to Madeline Black's main story arc.

Additionally, you can read the side stories "A Gargoyle's Guide to Chicago" and "The Care and Feeding of Gargoyles" (2011) at any point after the first novel. These stories are written from the perspective of Beezle, Maddy's gargoyle companion, providing a humorous look behind the scenes of their partnership.

The Chronicles of Alice

If you prefer dark, psychological retellings, The Chronicles of Alice is Christina Henry's signature series. It reimagines Lewis Carroll's fantasy world as a nightmarish, gothic landscape of monsters and asylum cells. The reading order is straightforward:

1. Alice (2015): Introduces Alice, a young woman locked in a mental asylum with no memory of how she got there, and her escape with Hatcher, a fellow inmate.
2. Red Queen (2016): Picks up after their escape as they travel into the wilderness and face new, dangerous rulers.
3. Looking Glass (2020): A collection of four interconnected novellas that expand the lore and characters.

What is inside 'Looking Glass'?

The third volume, Looking Glass, contains four novellas that serve as prequels and sequels to the main narrative:

• "Lovely Creature": Focuses on Alice's younger sister, Elizabeth, who lives in the New City and possesses hidden magical abilities.
• "Girl in Amber": Follows Alice and Hatcher during a snowstorm as they seek refuge in a strange, abandoned mansion in the wilderness.
• "When I First Came to Town": A prequel story detailing Hatcher's origin story as a young cage fighter named Nicholas in the Old City.
• "The Mercy Seat": A sequel story tracking Alice and Hatcher's encounters with a mountain settlement known as the Village of the Pure, where magic is deeply feared and hated.

Standalone Novels

Aside from her two primary series, Christina Henry is highly regarded for her standalone horror novels and dark classic retellings. These books can be read in any order, but reading them in publication order shows her progression from fairytale adaptations to atmospheric, original horror.

• Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook (2017): A chilling, dark origin story of Captain Hook, revealing the sinister side of Peter Pan and Neverland.
• The Mermaid (2018): A historical fantasy exploring the life of a real mermaid captured by P.T. Barnum for his famous museum hoax.
• The Girl in Red (2019): A post-apocalyptic, thriller-horror reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood set in a world ravaged by a deadly plague.
• The Ghost Tree (2020): An original, nostalgic teen-horror story set in a small town during the 1980s where the woods harbor a terrible monster.
• Near the Bone (2021): A claustrophobic survival horror novel following a woman trapped on an isolated mountain with an abusive husband and a mysterious monster.
• Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow (2021): A dark, atmospheric retelling of the Sleepy Hollow legend, focusing on the grandchildren of Brom Van Brunt and Katrina Van Tassel.
• Good Girls Don't Die (2023): A meta-horror mystery featuring three different women who wake up trapped inside various classic thriller and horror scenarios.
• The House That Horror Built (2024): A gothic thriller centering on a single mother working as a cleaner in the private home of a reclusive horror director.
• The Place Where They Buried Your Heart (2025): A supernatural horror novel exploring dark secrets, trauma, and lingering entities.
• Pinfeathers (Scheduled for late 2026): An upcoming horror novel from Henry that continues her signature style of blending dread with rich, human characters.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Christina Henry's work, it is important to understand that she writes under a pseudonym (her real name is Tina Raffaele). While she began her career writing urban fantasy with a sarcastic edge, her post-2015 work focuses heavily on horror, fairy tale deconstructions, and survival thrillers. Many of her standalone books explore themes of trauma, survival, and independence, containing dark themes and violence. If you are sensitive to horror elements, you might prefer starting with her Black Wings series, whereas horror fans will feel right at home with Alice or Lost Boy.