Dani René Books in Order

Where to Start with Dani René

With a bibliography spanning over seventy novels, figuring out where to begin with Dani René’s catalog can feel daunting. Her stories specialize in dark romance, BDSM dynamics, romantic suspense, and morally grey antiheroes. To get the best introduction to her signature writing style, readers generally choose one of three distinct starting paths:

• The BDSM & Dark Romance Path (Sins of Seven Series): If you want to jump straight into her most famous BDSM-themed series, start with Kneel. This series explores intense power dynamics and emotional redemption across a group of interconnected characters.
• The Gritty Mafia Path (Thornes & Roses Series): For readers who love dark mafia intrigue, secrets, and high-stakes tension, starting with the prequel novella The Burning Roses or the first full-length novel A Cut So Deep is the ideal route.
• The Emotional Second-Chance Path (Forbidden Series): If you prefer highly emotional, heart-wrenching stories that touch on survival and recovery, start with From the Ashes, which introduces a raw and memorable trilogy.

Sins of Seven Series Reading Order

The Sins of Seven series is one of Dani René’s defining works. Although each book focuses on a different couple and can technically be read as a standalone, they share characters, settings, and overarching plot threads. Reading them in their publication order ensures you avoid spoilers and fully appreciate the character crossovers:

1. Kneel (2017)
2. Obey (also published under the title Whisper) (2017)
3. Indulge (2018)
4. Ruthless (2018)
5. Bound (2019)
6. Envy (2019)
7. Vice (2019)

Thornes & Roses Series Reading Order

The Thornes & Roses series is a gritty, suspenseful dark mafia romance. While you can start directly with the first full-length novel, starting with the prequel provides valuable backstory that sets the stage for the rest of the dark saga. The recommended order is:

1. The Burning Roses (Prequel Novella, Book 0.5) (2021)
2. A Cut So Deep (Book 1) (2020)
3. A High so Sweet (Book 2) (2021)
4. A Death to Seek (Book 3) (2022)

Royal Bastards MC: Belfast Chapter

Dani René is a contributing author to the massive, multi-author shared world of the Royal Bastards MC. She specifically writes the Belfast, Northern Ireland chapter. While you do not need to read other authors' chapters to understand her books, you should read her Belfast books in order to follow the club's local hierarchy and ongoing plotlines:

1. Monster (Book 1) (2022)
2. Yule Tyed (Book 1.5 - Novella) (2022)
3. Lucky Clover (Book 2) (2023)
4. Sully (Book 4) (2023)
5. Rebel (Book 5) (2023)
6. Rev (Book 6) (2024)

Other Core Series and Duets

The Forbidden Series

This series delivers intense emotional journeys and second-chance themes. The books should be read in chronological order to follow the character arcs:

1. From the Ashes (2017)
2. Crave (2017)
3. Covet (2017)

The Gilded Sovereign Series

A dark romance series filled with intense rivalry, secrets, and betrayal:

1. Cruel War (2019)
2. Volatile Love (2019)
3. Exquisite Death (2024)

The Taken Books

A gripping and dark suspense series that keeps readers guessing:

1. Stolen (2018)
2. Severed (2018)
3. Savage (2024)

Black Hollow Isle & Crimson Falls

If you are looking for shorter, fast-paced duets, these series are perfect standalones to read over a weekend:

• Black Hollow Isle: Lawless Princes (2023) followed by Ruthless Kings (2023).
• Crimson Falls: Bitter Vows (2021) followed by Bitter Truths (2021).

Collaborative Universes & Shared Worlds

Dani René has frequently collaborated with other indie romance authors to build shared fictional universes. In these projects, she writes standalone books that fit into a larger collective framework. You can read these as complete standalones without diving into the rest of the shared worlds:

• Underworld Kings Series: Dani René contributed the standalone mafia romance Twisted Obsession (2021) to this multi-author collection.
• Black Light Series: A BDSM club universe where Dani René wrote the standalone novel Obsessed (Book 10) and contributed to the multi-author collaboration Celebrity Roulette.
• Black Mountain Academy: Set in a prestigious and secretive academy, Dani René wrote the forbidden student-teacher romance Deviant (2020).
• Twisted Legends Collection: A collection of dark reverse harem romances inspired by urban legends and folklore. Dani René contributed Vengeance of The Fallen (2022).
• The Driven World: Inspired by K. Bromberg's Driven series, Dani René contributed standalone romance stories to this shared universe.

What to Know Before You Start

Dani René's novels deal with heavy, dark, and often taboo themes. BDSM, power play, trauma recovery, violence, and moral ambiguity are central elements in almost all of her series. If you are new to the dark romance genre, it is highly recommended to check the trigger warnings listed in the front matter of her books or on her official website before reading. While her standalones offer complete romantic resolutions, her series are heavily interconnected, meaning characters from past books will frequently appear as secondary characters in later installments.