The Recommended Reading Order: Cora Reilly's Mafia Universe
Cora Reilly has built one of the most popular and interconnected contemporary mafia romance universes in self-publishing. Her stories span multiple crime families across major cities, and because characters constantly cross over, reading them out of order can lead to major spoilers. For the best experience, readers should follow the author's recommended chronological path, which weaves her main series together.
Step-by-Step Chronological Order
To follow the timeline of the Chicago Outfit, the New York Famiglia, and the Las Vegas Camorra as their paths cross, use this order:
- Bound by Honor (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles Book 1) - The foundation of the series, detailing the arranged marriage between Aria Scuderi and Luca Vitiello.
- Luca Vitiello (Born in Blood companion novel) - The events of the first book retold entirely from Luca's perspective. It can be read immediately after or alongside Bound by Honor.
- Bound by Duty (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles Book 2) - Dante and Valentina's story, exploring second chances and healing after loss in Chicago.
- Bound by Hatred (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles Book 3) - The fiery enemies-to-lovers story of Gianna Scuderi and Matteo Vitiello.
- Bound by Temptation (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles Book 4) - Liliana Scuderi and Romero's forbidden romance.
- Bound by Vengeance (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles Book 5) - Cara and Growl's dark, gritty story of survival and redemption.
- Bound by Love (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles Book 6) - A continuation of Luca and Aria's story, dealing with trust and loyalty in their marriage.
- Sweet Temptation (Standalone Mafia Romance) - Cassio and Giulia's story. While technically a standalone, the timeline overlaps with the latter part of the Born in Blood series. Cora Reilly recommends reading it immediately after Bound by Love.
- Twisted Loyalties (Camorra Chronicles Book 1) - Introduces the Las Vegas faction, following Fabiano Scuderi and Leona.
- Twisted Emotions (Camorra Chronicles Book 2) - The highly praised arranged marriage story of Kiara and Nino Falcone.
- Twisted Pride (Camorra Chronicles Book 3) - Remo Falcone and Serafina's tense, high-stakes captive romance.
- Bound by the Past (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles Book 8) - Dante and Valentina's marriage continuation, resolving unresolved threads.
- Fragile Longing (Standalone Mafia Romance) - Sofia and Danilo's age-gap romance. It should be read after Bound by the Past.
- A Touch of Fate (Standalone Mafia Romance) - The story of Emma Mancini and Samuel Mione. Best read after Fragile Longing.
- Bound by Blood: Anthology (Born in Blood Anthology) - A collection of short stories and bonus scenes following the main couples.
- Twisted Bonds (Camorra Chronicles Book 4) - Focuses on the dynamics of the Falcone family and Nino and Kiara's life.
- Twisted Hearts (Camorra Chronicles Book 5) - Savio Falcone and Gemma's childhood friends-to-lovers romance.
- Twisted Cravings (Camorra Chronicles Book 6) - Adamo Falcone and Dinara's dark and intense romance.
- Sins of the Fathers Series (Next Generation) - Follow the reading path for this subseries in publication order after completing all books above.
Major Series Breakdown
Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles
This is the flagship series that started it all. Set primarily in Chicago and New York, it focuses on the internal politics of the Famiglia and the Outfit. Arranged marriages are a major theme here, starting with Aria and Luca's volatile alliance. Later books branch out to explore siblings and closely related enforcers, painting a detailed picture of family duty, betrayal, and passion.
The Camorra Chronicles
Shifting the spotlight to Las Vegas, this spin-off series centers on the ruthless Falcone brothers. The tone of the Camorra books is generally darker and grittier than Born in Blood. Remo, Nino, Savio, and Adamo are outcasts who built their own empire, and their romances feature intense power struggles, trauma recovery, and tight-knit family loyalty.
Sins of the Fathers (Next Generation)
This series moves the timeline forward to focus on the children of the original couples from both the Born in Blood and Camorra series. Because the characters in these books are directly related to the original couples, it is absolutely essential to read this series last to avoid major spoilers regarding who ended up together and the ultimate fates of their parents. The reading order for this next-gen series is:
- By Sin I Rise: Part One (2021)
- By Sin I Rise: Part Two (2021)
- By Virtue I Fall (2022)
- By Fate I Conquer (2022)
- By Frenzy I Ruin (2024)
Other Cora Reilly Books and Series
For readers looking to step outside the main mafia universe, Cora Reilly has published several other projects that showcase her versatility in romance and suspense:
- Five-Leaf Clover Series: An Irish mafia romance series set in New York focusing on the five Devaney brothers. It starts with Dangerous Innocence (2023) and continues with Alluring Deception.
- Rules of Deception Series: Written under the pen name C. Reilly, this is a sci-fi suspense series featuring a special FBI unit. It includes Deceitful (2022) and Renegade (2022).
- Tough Games Series: A sports romance series, starting with the novel Only Work, No Play (2019).
- Standalone Contemporary Romance: Not Meant To Be Broken (2014) is a standalone novel outside of her mafia world.
What to Know Before You Start
Cora Reilly's books deal with dark themes typical of the mafia romance genre, including arranged marriages, violence, non-consensual situations, and morally gray characters. While each book focuses on a single couple and delivers a happily-ever-after or happy-for-now ending, the overarching plotlines regarding mafia wars, territorial disputes, and family alliances run continuously throughout the series. If you skip books, you may find yourself confused by the sudden shifts in alliances and the appearances of children or secondary characters in later installments.