Christopher Artinian Books in Order

Where Should You Start Reading Christopher Artinian?

If you are new to Christopher Artinian's visceral, character-driven survival horror, you have two excellent entry points depending on what kind of story you want to experience first. Both are set in a bleak, zombie-infested landscape but follow different survivors and narrative styles:

• Option A: Start with Safe Haven. This is Artinian’s flagship universe, beginning with Rise of the RAMs (2017). It is a sprawling, multi-part epic that follows Mike Fletcher and his family as they navigate a world overrun by 'RAMs' (reanimated corpses driven by a monstrous virus). If you want an expansive, world-building saga that grows to include spin-offs and prequels, start here.
• Option B: Start with The End of Everything. Beginning with The End of Everything (Book 1, 2019), this 14-book series is set in zombie-ravaged Scotland and focuses tightly on the survival of two sisters, Wren and Robyn. It offers a more emotionally self-contained, linear journey and is widely praised for its heartfelt sisterly bond amidst unrelenting horror.

Safe Haven Universe Reading Order

The Safe Haven universe is Christopher Artinian's largest project. It consists of the main series, a prequel novel, and character-focused prequel novellas. Because of how they were published, you have two primary options for tackle this massive saga: Publication Order or Chronological Order.

Option 1: Publication Order (Recommended)

Reading in the order the books were released is the most popular way to experience Safe Haven. It allows you to discover the mysteries of the world along with the characters, avoiding spoilers that are revealed in the prequels. Follow this sequence:

1. Rise of the RAMs (2017)
2. Realm of the Raiders (2017)
3. Reap of the Righteous (2018)
4. Ice (2018)
5. Vengeance (2019)
6. Is This the End of Everything? (2020)
7. Neverland: Part 1 (2021)
8. Doomsday (2021) (Note: This is a prequel exploring the outbreak, but it functions beautifully as a mid-series flashback that contextualizes later conflicts.)
9. Neverland, Part 2 (2021)
10. Raining Blood (2022)
11. Hope Street (2022)
12. No Hope in Hell (2023)
13. War Zone (2023)

Option 2: Chronological Order

If you prefer to watch the apocalypse unfold chronologically from day one, you can start with the outbreak stories before diving into the main timeline. Keep in mind that some of the prequel character novellas may lose their emotional impact if read before you know the characters in the main series.

1. Doomsday (2021) (Outbreak story focusing on Andy Beck)
2. Before Safe Haven Prequels: Read Lucy, Alex, Mike, and Jules to get character backstories.
3. Rise of the RAMs (Book 1) through Neverland: Part 1 (Book 7)
4. Neverland, Part 2 (Book 9) through War Zone (Book 13)

The Before Safe Haven Prequel Novellas

The Before Safe Haven series provides crucial backstories for the main cast. They were published between 2018 and 2019. The best time to read them is after you have completed Reap of the Righteous (Book 3) or Ice (Book 4), as this is when you are fully invested in these survivors' fates:

• Lucy (2018)
• Alex (2018)
• Mike (2019)
• Jules (2019)

The End of Everything Series

Unlike Safe Haven, The End of Everything is a highly linear 14-book series. There are no complicated spin-offs or reading order debates here—simply start with Book 1 and read them sequentially. The series follows Wren and Robyn through a ruined Scotland:

1. The End of Everything (2019)
2. The End of Everything: Book 2 (2019)
3. The End of Everything: Book 3 (2019)
4. The End of Everything: Book 4 (2019)
5. The End of Everything: Book 5 (2019)
6. The End of Everything: Book 6 (2019)
7. The End of Everything: Book 7 (2020)
8. The End of Everything: Book 8 (2020)
9. The End of Everything: Book 9 (2020)
10. The End of Everything: Book 10 (2021)
11. The End of Everything: Book 11 (2022)
12. The End of Everything: Book 12 (2022)
13. The End of Everything: Book 13 (2024)
14. The End of Everything: Book 14 (2024)

The Burning Tree Series

In 2021, Artinian branched out with The Burning Tree series, moving away from traditional zombies into a post-apocalyptic dystopian survival scenario triggered by a catastrophic asteroid strike. The series follows a group of survivors in bunkers led by Callie. You must read these in order:

1. Salvation (2021)
2. Rebirth (2021)
3. Infinity (2022)
4. Anarchy (2022)
5. Redemption (2023)
6. Power: Part 1 (2023)
7. Power: Part 2 (2024)

Relentless Trilogy

If you are looking for a quick, self-contained story, the Relentless trilogy is a fast-paced survival horror series. It is not connected to the Safe Haven timeline, making it a great weekend read. Read these in order:

1. Relentless (2020)
2. Relentless: Book 2 (2020)
3. Relentless: Book 3 (2020)

Scares in Scotland, Anthologies, and Standalones

Artinian has also written supernatural horror and standalone thrillers that showcase his versatility:

• Scares In Scotland: A supernatural horror series starting with Night of the Demons (2023), which delves into demonic forces rather than viral outbreaks.
• Standalone Novels: The Devil's Face (2024) is a psychological thriller.
• Anthologies: Trick-or-Treat Thrillers (Best Paranormal and Best Horror, both 2018) contain early short stories.

What to Know Before You Start

Christopher Artinian's move from Leeds to the isolated, windswept Outer Hebrides of Scotland in 2004 heavily influences his writing. The stark beauty and raw survival elements of the Scottish landscape act as a backdrop for his stories, especially in The End of Everything. If you enjoy audiobooks, the entire Safe Haven and End of Everything series are highly recommended in audio format, narrated by Broadway veteran Kim Bretton, whose emotional delivery brings the characters to life.