Daniel Jose Older Books in Order

Where Should You Start Reading Daniel José Older?

Daniel José Older writes across multiple genres, age groups, and universes, which means your ideal starting point depends on what you enjoy most:

• For Urban Fantasy & Mythology Fans (YA): Start with Shadowshaper. It is Older's breakout Young Adult novel, centering on Sierra Santiago and a magic system based on art, ancestral spirits, and community in Brooklyn.
• For Gritty Noir & Ghost Stories (Adult): Start with Half-Resurrection Blues, the first novel in the Bone Street Rumba series, which follows a half-dead protagonist navigating a supernatural New York City.
• For Younger Readers or Alt-History Fans (Middle Grade): Start with Dactyl Hill Squad, an imaginative Civil War adventure where the North and South fight using dinosaurs.

Bone Street Rumba Reading Order

The Bone Street Rumba series features Carlos Delacruz, an "in-betweener" who is half-dead and works for the Council of the Dead. While the main series is a trilogy, Older wrote several digital novellas and a short story collection that expand the world. Interestingly, the three novellas (Anyway: Angie, Kia and Gio, and Ginga) were later incorporated directly into the second novel, Midnight Taxi Tango, as chapters. Because of this, you can choose to skip the individual novellas, but reading them in publication order remains a popular option for completionists.

We recommend reading the series in this order:

1. Salsa Nocturna (2012) – This is Older's debut short story collection. It introduces the world and characters of the Bone Street Rumba, making it a great prelude.
2. Anyway: Angie (2014) – A companion novella focusing on Angie, a key character.
3. Half-Resurrection Blues (2015) – The official Book 1 of the series.
4. Kia and Gio (2015) – A companion novella focusing on Kia and Gio.
5. Ginga (2015) – A companion novella focusing on the character Ginga.
6. Midnight Taxi Tango (2016) – Book 2 of the series (incorporates the perspectives of Angie, Kia, Gio, and Ginga).
7. Battle Hill Bolero (2017) – Book 3 and the action-packed conclusion to the trilogy.

Shadowshaper Cypher Reading Order

The Shadowshaper Cypher series is a Young Adult urban fantasy set in Brooklyn that follows Sierra Santiago as she learns the art of shadowshaping—binding spirits to murals, music, and stories to fight dark forces. For this series, reading the intermediate novellas is highly recommended because they bridge the gaps between the main novels and expand the cast.

Follow this exact reading order:

1. Shadowshaper (2015) – The main novel that starts it all.
2. Ghost Girl in the Corner (2016) – Novella 1.5, focusing on Sierra's friend Tee and a mystery involving local girls disappearing.
3. Dead Light March (2017) – Novella 1.6, which builds up the stakes and mythology.
4. Shadowhouse Fall (2017) – Book 2, where the conflict between the shadowshapers and the House of Light intensifies.
5. Shadowshaper Legacy (2020) – Book 3, the grand finale of the trilogy.

Dactyl Hill Squad Reading Order

This Middle Grade alternate history series takes place in 1863 New York City. The Civil War is raging, but with a twist: dinosaurs coexist with humans. The story follows Magdalys Roca and her friends from the Colored Orphans Asylum as they fight for survival and freedom. Read this trilogy in chronological publication order:

1. Dactyl Hill Squad (2018)
2. Freedom Fire (2019)
3. Thunder Run (2020)

Outlaw Saints Duology

Published under the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, this Young Adult duology blends urban fantasy with Santería-inspired magic and diaspora mythology. It takes place in Little Caribbean, Brooklyn, where the music is magic and the gods are very real. The books should be read in order:

1. Ballad & Dagger (2022)
2. Last Canto of the Dead (2023)

Star Wars Contributions & Reading Order

Daniel José Older is a prominent writer in the Star Wars universe, particularly in the High Republic publishing initiative. Because the High Republic is a massive, multi-author project, his books are best read as part of the broader Star Wars timeline, though they connect deeply to his own comic runs.

Here are his primary Star Wars books and how they fit into the timeline:

• Last Shot: A Han and Lando Novel (2018) – A standalone canon novel featuring Han Solo and Lando Calrissian, split across three different eras of their lives (pre-Solo, post-Return of the Jedi, and post-demise of the Empire). This can be read entirely on its own.
• Star Wars: The High Republic – Phase I (Light of the Jedi): Older wrote the middle-grade novel Race to Crashpoint Tower (2021) and the Young Adult novel Midnight Horizon (2022). They are best read alongside his comic series, Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (Phase I).
• Star Wars: The High Republic – Phase III (Trials of the Jedi): Older co-wrote the middle-grade novel Escape from Valo (2024) with Alyssa Wong. This fits into the later era of the High Republic initiative and connects to the Phase III comic runs.

Standalone Novels

If you prefer standalone stories that do not require committing to a series, Older has written two highly acclaimed standalone books:

• The Book of Lost Saints (2019) – A haunting historical fantasy that explores the Cuban revolution, the diaspora, family secrets, and the spirits that linger across generations.
• Flood City (2021) – A middle-grade sci-fi adventure set in a flooded world where the only land left is a massive floating city.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Older's books, it helps to understand the unique perspective he brings to speculative fiction. Having worked for a decade as a bike messenger and a paramedic in New York City, as well as playing as a professional musician, Older infuses his stories with a visceral, rhythmic sense of city life. His urban landscapes are not just settings—they are living characters. Furthermore, his writing is deeply committed to social justice, addressing topics like systemic inequality, racism, and gentrification while celebrating Afro-Latinx and Latinx culture, identity, and folklore.