Constance Sayers Books in Order

Recommended Reading Order: Where to Start?

Constance Sayers writes rich, immersive historical fantasy novels that stand completely on their own. Because there is no overarching narrative continuity, recurring protagonist, or chronological sequence connecting them, you can read them in any order you choose. However, for the best experience, we recommend starting with her breakout debut, which perfectly introduces her signature style of shifting timelines, dark magic, and epic romance.

1. The Recommended Path: Chronology of Themes

If you want to experience the evolution of Sayers' intricate world-building, starting with her debut is highly recommended:

• A Witch in Time (2020): The perfect entry point. It establishes Sayers' trademark blend of historical detail, time-shifting romance, and generational curses. The story follows a young woman cursed in 1895 Belle Époque France to relive a doomed love affair across multiple lifetimes, leading up to 1970s Los Angeles and modern-day Washington, D.C.
• The Ladies of the Secret Circus (2021): A lush and mysterious follow-up that takes readers to a magical, hidden circus in 1925 Paris and modern-day Virginia. It features a dark family legacy and a search for a missing fiancé.
• The Star and the Strange Moon (2023): A haunting mystery centering on 1960s Hollywood. An actress mysteriously vanishes into the projection of a cursed horror film, leaving behind a puzzle that a student tries to piece together decades later.

2. Publication Order of Novels

Since the novels are standalone releases, the publication order is identical to the recommended reading order:

1. A Witch in Time (2020)
2. The Ladies of the Secret Circus (2021)
3. The Star and the Strange Moon (2023)

Crucial Reading Caveats and Myth-Busting

When searching for Constance Sayers' bibliography online, readers often run into a couple of points of confusion. Here is what you need to know to keep your TBR pile accurate:

• The Fabled Earth (2024) is NOT by Constance Sayers: Some databases mistakenly list this book under Sayers' bibliography. In reality, The Fabled Earth is a historical novel written by Kimberly Brock. Constance Sayers only provided a blurb and promotional praise for the book, praising its storytelling. It does not take place in Sayers' fictional universe.
• Subtle Easter Eggs: While the books are completely standalone and do not share major characters or plotlines, eagle-eyed readers may catch very minor, atmospheric nods or Easter eggs across the books. However, these are strictly aesthetic and do not impact the plot.
• The Sky Is a Free Country (2019): This is not a novel, but rather the first volume of the Luminaire Award anthology published by Alternating Current Press. Sayers contributed a short prose piece to this collection after being named a prose finalist for the 2016 Luminaire Award. It is not required reading to understand her main novels.

What to Know Before You Start

Constance Sayers' writing style is heavily grounded in historical accuracy mixed with magical realism. She spends roughly six months researching primary historical sources—such as reading Emile Zola to capture the authentic vibe of Belle Époque Paris—before writing a single word of her drafts. Her books deal with heavy themes of obsession, cursed love, and ambition, shifting effortlessly between the past and the present. If you enjoy authors like Erin Morgenstern (The Night Circus), Louisa Morgan, or the time-hopping elements of Outlander, you will feel right at home in Sayers' universe.