Ciara Graves Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Ciara Graves

Ciara Graves is a highly prolific indie author whose dark, action-packed urban fantasy series are famous for their tough heroines, complex magic systems, and diverse supernatural creatures like gryphons, gargoyles, and demons. Because her books are organized into distinct, self-contained series, you do not need to follow a single overarching chronological path across her entire bibliography. Instead, the best way to experience her work is to choose a series that appeals to you and read it in order from start to finish.

If you are new to her work, here are the three best entry points depending on what you like to read:

• For the Epic Urban Fantasy Experience: Start with Acts of Mercy, the first book in the Mercy Temple Chronicles. This is her longest and most famous series, following a cursed mage-turned-bounty hunter and her high-stakes partnership with a demon agent.
• For Classic Magic Academy Vibes: Start with Hexing, the first book of the Magic & Alchemy trilogy. It is a fast-paced, shorter series centering on a baker who is thrust into a hidden supernatural institution.
• For Gritty Action and Fae Lore: Start with Savage Secrets, the opening book of the Savagery and Skills series. This features a mercenary protagonist selling her deadly talents in a world of vampires, mages, and fae.

Ciara Graves Books in Reading Order

Once you choose a starting point, you should read each series in its publication order, as the books follow continuous character arcs and ongoing mysteries. Below is the complete reading order for all of Ciara Graves's series, based on publication records.

Mercy Temple Chronicles

This is Graves's signature series. It follows Mercy Temple, a mage cursed to live without magic, who makes a living as a bounty hunter. Her life becomes dangerously entangled with a demon federal agent named Rafael.

1. Acts of Mercy (2018)
2. Rules of Mercy (2018)
3. Sins of Mercy (2018)
4. Secrets of Mercy (2018)
5. Reaping Mercy (2019)
6. Saving Mercy (2019)
7. Having Mercy (2019)
8. Showing Mercy (2020)

Note for completionists: While the core story of Mercy Temple concludes in the eighth book, the universe has been expanded with spin-offs and sequels, such as the Bowen's Saga subseries starting with Heir of Nothing (2026), followed by Throne of Betrayal and Bloodline in Ashes.

Savagery and Skills Series

This action-heavy series centers on Seneca Savage, a fierce warrior who sells her combat skills to the highest bidder in a supernatural world of vampires, demons, and fae, operating under one strict rule: no killing humans.

1. Savage Secrets (2018)
2. Savage Deeds (2018)
3. Savage Worlds (2019)
4. Savage Magic (2019)

Magic & Alchemy Series

A trilogy focusing on Rori, a simple baker who discovers she has magic and is pulled into a secretive, high-stakes military-magic academy filled with necromancers, druids, and dark conspiracies.

1. Hexing (2017)
2. Conjuring (2018)
3. Sorcery (2018)

Seasons of Necromancy Series

Also known to fans as part of the wider Academy of Magics universe, this series follows Emery, a necromancer who must keep her forbidden magic and tattoos hidden from the academy authorities to avoid execution, all while dealing with suspicious deaths and unwanted vampire attention.

1. Death's Dealer (2020)
2. Death's Rival (2021)
3. Death's Denial (2021)

Reading Order Caveat: Some external retailers and reader catalogs list an additional second book, Death's Disciple (2020), between Death's Dealer and Death's Rival. If you are collecting physical copies or looking up the series on digital platforms, be aware of this potential four-book structure.

The Grave Chronicles

Set at the Crescent City Academy of Magics, this series follows Juliette Sanders, a witch and necromancer trying to solve the mystery of her mother's death while dodging suspicious school authorities and her own father's anti-paranormal crusade.

1. Cradle to Grave (2021)
2. Foot in the Grave (2021)
3. Grave Mistakes: Crescent City Academy of Magics (2021)
4. Grave Goods (2021)

Darkness Eternal Series

A fast-paced urban fantasy series focusing on the tense conflicts and alliances between witches and demons.

1. Veil Witch (2022)
2. Middle of Darkness (2022)
3. Edge of Darkness (2022)

Darkness Prevails Series

A gritty trilogy detailing a dark, supernatural fight for survival against apocalyptic forces.

1. Destined to Destruct (2019)
2. Path of Exile (2019)
3. Road to Salvation (2019)

Darkness Summons Series

This series expands Graves's dark fantasy landscape, focusing on shattered magical worlds and broken souls trying to reclaim their power.

1. Shattered Worlds (2021)
2. Shattered Deeds (2021)
3. Shattered Soul (2021)
4. Shattered Magic (2021)

Devil's Own Series

A shorter, duology-style urban fantasy focusing on devilish bargains, forbidden romance, and high-stakes supernatural games.

1. Devil of a Chance (2021)
2. Devil May Care (2021)

The Goblin Archives Series

Focusing on the historical and academic side of Graves's magical worlds, this series centers on the keepers of forbidden lore and dangerous magical books.

1. The Librarian (2020)
2. The Historian (2020)
3. The Tome (2020)

Melancholy Maine Magicks Series

Set in a moody, atmospheric Maine backdrop, this series follows local witches dealing with spells gone wrong, small-town secrets, and magical bedlam.

1. Sorcery and Spells (2020)
2. Magic and Mayhem (2020)
3. Witchery and Bedlam (2020)

Reign of Shadows Series

A dark urban fantasy trilogy dealing with magical judgments, vengeance, and the shadows that govern the paranormal underworld.

1. Judge Not (2019)
2. Will Be Done (2019)
3. Do Unto Others (2019)

Shadow Bound Series

A duology exploring bound magic, shadow elements, and characters forced into dark pacts to save those they love.

1. Bound to Darkness (2020)
2. Yield to Shadow (2020)

What to Know Before You Start

Ciara Graves is a master of the quick, serialized release format. Most of her books are relatively short, fast-paced, and highly bingeable. Her magic systems often overlap in theme—especially her focus on academies of magic, necromancy, and secret councils—but the characters and settings remain distinct. While there are occasional references to similar institutions (such as the Crescent City Academy of Magics and the Academy of Magics featured in Seasons of Necromancy), you do not need to worry about complex crossovers affecting your understanding. Each series is designed to stand on its own two feet, allowing readers to explore the different corners of her urban fantasy landscape at their own pace.