Where to Start with Cynthia Leitich Smith
Cynthia Leitich Smith is a celebrated Muscogee Creek author whose versatile bibliography spans realistic contemporary fiction, dark gothic fantasy, picture books, and graphic novels. Because her books cover highly distinct genres and age groups, the best place to start depends entirely on what you are looking to read:
- For Contemporary Realism & YA Mystery: Start with Hearts Unbroken (2018). This award-winning novel is the perfect entry point into her interconnected family universe, blending teenage romance, high school journalism, and a thoughtful exploration of systemic prejudice.
- For Gothic Fantasy & Paranormal Romance: Start with Tantalize (2007). This marks the beginning of her dark fantasy universe set in Austin, Texas, filled with vampires, werewolves, and hybrid shape-shifters.
- For Middle-Grade Adventure: Start with Sisters of the Neversea (2021), a brilliant, Indigenous-centered retelling of Peter Pan that turns the classic story on its head from the perspectives of two stepsisters.
- For Younger Readers (Early Chapter Books): Start with Indian Shoes (2002), a collection of heartwarming, humorous stories following a Cherokee-Seminole boy growing up in Chicago.
The Wolfe Family & Cousins Universe (Contemporary YA)
For readers who appreciate realistic contemporary stories, Smith has crafted a series of novels set in the same universe that follow members of an extended Muscogee Creek family. Although they are written as standalones and can be read independently, reading them in publication order allows you to see the characters grow and watch the family timeline unfold.
1. Rain Is Not My Indian Name (2001)
The first book in this universe introduces fourteen-year-old Cassidy Rain Berghoff. Dealing with the sudden grief of losing her best friend, Rain isolates herself from her community in Kansas. She begins to heal when she takes up photojournalism, covering a controversial local Native teen summer camp for her town's newspaper. Rain is the cousin of Lou and Hughie Wolfe, who star in the subsequent novels.
2. Hearts Unbroken (2018)
Shifting focus to Rain's cousin, Louise "Lou" Wolfe, this novel follows a high school journalist who recently moved to a suburban Kansas town. When Lou's brother Hughie gets a role in a local production of The Wizard of Oz, a casting controversy erupts over the inclusion of non-white actors, forcing Lou to confront racism in her school and community while navigating her first relationship.
3. Harvest House (2023)
A direct follow-up to Hearts Unbroken, this novel moves Lou's younger brother, Hughie Wolfe, into the spotlight. Set during the autumn season, Hughie volunteers at a local rural Halloween attraction called Harvest House. However, things take a mysterious and dark turn when he learns of a creepy local urban legend and encounters an actor portraying a cruel stereotype. The book blends realistic themes of theater and indigenous representation with a spine-chilling mystery.
The Tantalize & Feral Gothic Universe (YA Dark Fantasy)
For readers who love paranormal romance and urban fantasy, Smith created an extensive, interconnected universe set in a version of Austin, Texas, where supernatural creatures live among humans. The universe consists of the original Tantalize quartet and the spin-off Feral trilogy. While the books are divided into subseries, they feature major character crossovers, making it highly recommended to read them in order of publication.
The Tantalize Quartet
The core series introduces a world of vampires, angels, and shapeshifters, centering around a gothic, vampire-themed restaurant in Austin called Sanguini's.
- Tantalize (2007): Focuses on Quincie Morris, a human teen trying to save her family's restaurant, and her best friend/love interest Kieren, who is secretly a werewolf.
- Eternal (2009): Focuses on Miranda, a girl who becomes a guardian angel, and Zachary, a boy turned into a vampire. It takes place concurrently with the events of Tantalize.
- Blessed (2011): Brings Quincie, Kieren, Miranda, and Zachary together to face a powerful vampire threat.
- Diabolical (2012): The epic conclusion to the main series, uniting the characters at a mysterious boarding school for a final battle.
Companion Graphic Novels: Smith also released two graphic novels, Tantalize: Kieren's Story (2011) and Eternal: Zachary's Story (2013). Illustrated by Ming Doyle, these retell the events of the first two novels from the perspectives of the male protagonists and can be read alongside the main novels for extra depth.
The Feral Trilogy
The spin-off trilogy shifts the focus to a group of young therianthropes (animal shapeshifters) who are drawn into a dangerous supernatural conflict. Because characters from Tantalize make crucial appearances in this trilogy, you should complete the Tantalize books before starting these.
- Feral Nights (2013): Follows Yoshi, a young shape-shifter looking for his missing sister, and introduces werewolf pack politics.
- Feral Curse (2014): Continues the story as Yoshi and his friends search for a cure to a supernatural curse.
- Feral Pride (2015): The final book, where the worlds of Tantalize and Feral fully collide in a climactic showdown.
Short Stories in this Universe: If you want the complete experience, you can track down the short stories "Haunted Love" (originally published in the 2008 anthology Immortal: Love Stories with Bite) and "Cat Calls" (originally published in the 2009 anthology Sideshow). Both are set within this dark fantasy universe.
Middle-Grade Gems and Graphic Novels
Smith has also written and edited several standout middle-grade books that explore Indigenous experiences and youth activism. They are excellent standalones and collaborative projects:
- Indian Shoes (2002): This collection of stories about Cherokee-Seminole boy Ray Halfmoon and his grandfather is a warm, lighthearted read. Ray and his grandfather also return in the short story "Between the Lines," which is featured in the Smith-curated anthology Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids (2021).
- Sisters of the Neversea (2021): A modern retelling of Peter Pan focusing on Lily Roberts (Muscogee Creek) and Wendy Darling (of English descent). It reclaims the classic fantasy by exposing Peter Pan's manipulative nature and highlighting the strength of the indigenous children on the island.
- Blue Stars: Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem (2024): Co-authored with Kekla Magoon and illustrated by Molly Murakami, this graphic novel kicks off a series about two very different cousins, Riley Halfmoon and Maya Dawn, who team up as superheroes to defend their school's library and programs from cuts.