Colleen Oakes Books in Order

Where to Start with Colleen Oakes

If you are new to Colleen Oakes, the absolute best starting point is her signature work, the Queen of Hearts Saga. This trilogy reimagines the origin story of Wonderland's infamous villain, Dinah, taking her from a naive princess to a complex, hardened ruler. It perfectly showcases Oakes's ability to blend dark fantasy, intricate political maneuvering, and high emotional stakes.

For readers who prefer classic adventure stories with a dark, feminist edge, the Wendy Darling trilogy is another excellent place to begin. It offers a gritty spin on Peter Pan's Neverland, placing Wendy at the center of a battle against a much more sinister Peter than the one you remember from childhood tales.

If you are looking for contemporary fiction, Oakes's debut series, the Elly Jordan / Elly in Bloom books, offers lighthearted, humorous romance set in the floral industry. Meanwhile, younger readers can jump straight into the middle-grade antics of The Second Favorite Daughters Club.

The Queen of Hearts Saga

This series is a dark, epic prequel to the classic Alice in Wonderland story. It follows Dinah, the Princess of Hearts, as she faces betrayal within her family, navigates the dangerous politics of Wonderland's court, and prepares to inherit a crown she may have to fight to keep. The books must be read in order of publication to follow the overarching narrative arc.

Recommended Reading Order for Queen of Hearts

1. Queen of Hearts (2014) – Introduces Dinah as she struggles to earn her father's approval and discovers the secrets hidden in the palace.
2. Blood of Wonderland (2017) – Follows Dinah as she escapes into the wild and brutal depths of Wonderland to build an army and reclaim her throne.
3. War of the Cards (2017) – The final battle for the crown where Dinah must decide what she is willing to sacrifice to save Wonderland.

The Wendy Darling Series

In this trilogy, Neverland is not a place of harmless magic, but a beautiful trap ruled by a deceptive, narcissistic Peter Pan. Wendy Darling must find the strength to survive and protect her brothers in an increasingly hostile and shadowy world. This series is also strictly sequential.

Recommended Reading Order for Wendy Darling

1. Stars (2015) – Wendy and her brothers arrive in Neverland and initially fall under Peter's spell before the dark reality of the island begins to set in.
2. Seas (2016) – Wendy aligns herself with the island's native inhabitants and coordinates a rebellion on the seas.
3. Shadow (2017) – The final showdown as Wendy attempts to rescue her brothers and escape Neverland's grip forever.

The Elly Jordan / Elly in Bloom Series

Before writing young adult fantasy, Colleen Oakes began her publishing career in contemporary romance and chick-lit. Inspired by her real-life experience working as a wedding florist, she wrote a series focusing on Elly Jordan, a divorced boutique florist navigating messy love triangles, demanding brides, and a hilarious assistant.

Recommended Reading Order for Elly Jordan

1. Elly in Bloom (2012) – Introduces Elly as she is forced to design the flowers for her ex-husband's wedding to his mistress.
2. Elly in Love (2014) – Follows Elly's thriving career and new romantic challenges.

The Second Favorite Daughters Club

Focusing on middle-grade readers, this series features humorous stories about sibling rivalry and family dynamics. It is currently a single-book series, but it sets the stage for future fun.

• Sister Sabotage (2024) – Santana Barnes and Casey Hammond team up to create a secret club aimed at reclaiming their parents' attention from their overachieving siblings through elaborate pranks.

Standalone Novels and Collaborative Works

Colleen Oakes has written several standalone YA books that span different genres, from modern thrillers to gothic ghost stories. These can be read at any time and in any order:

• The Black Coats (2019) – A dark, contemporary YA thriller about a secret vigilante group of women who deliver justice to men who have harmed girls.
• Sister of the Chosen One (2020) – Co-authored with Erin Armknecht, this fantasy novel follows twin sisters Grier and Valora as they navigate a prophecy, fame, and magical powers.
• Eleven Houses (2024) – An atmospheric gothic fantasy set on a mysterious island off Nova Scotia, where eleven families guard a gateway to the dead.

What to Know Before You Start

While the Queen of Hearts and Wendy Darling series are dark fantasy retellings, they do not crossover. Each operates in its own distinct universe with its own version of magical lore, meaning you can finish one trilogy entirely before starting the other. Note that although initial editions of some books (like Blood of Wonderland) had limited releases or digital previews as early as 2014, the official wide publication dates reflect their major publisher releases.