Where to Start Reading Danielle Rose
If you are new to Danielle Rose's work, your ideal starting point depends on your preferred genre. As a USA Today bestselling author, Rose has established herself in two distinct categories: dark urban fantasy and contemporary romantic suspense. Here is how to choose your entry point:
- For Urban Fantasy Fans: Start with Dark Secret, the first book of the Darkhaven Saga. This is her most polished, expansive supernatural series, complete with witches, vampires, and deep lore.
- For Suspense and Romance Fans: Start with Lies We Keep, the opening volume of the Pieces of Me duet, which delivers a high-stakes, protective-bodyguard romance.
The Core Supernatural Universe: Blood Books vs. Darkhaven Saga
One of the most common points of confusion for new readers is the relationship between Rose's debut trilogy, the Blood Books, and her later series, the Darkhaven Saga. They are not sequels or spin-offs set in the same universe; rather, the Darkhaven Saga is a comprehensive, reimagined rewrite of the original Blood Books.
In the original trilogy, the protagonist is named Avah Taylor, a witch forced to hide among vampires. When Rose decided to revisit and fully realize this universe, she revamped the narrative, expanded the plot elements, and renamed the protagonist to Ava López. The result was the Darkhaven Saga, which grew from a simple trilogy into a massive nine-book series.
Because the Darkhaven Saga represents the author's definitive, more mature vision of the story with significantly more character development and world-building, it is highly recommended that you read the Darkhaven Saga instead of the older Blood Books. Only read the Blood Books if you are curious to see the original, shorter iteration of the concept.
The Darkhaven Saga Reading Order
The Darkhaven Saga is a continuous story following Ava López as she navigates conflicts between covens and vampire royalty. You must read these books in their strict publication and chronological order to follow the overarching plot:
- Dark Secret (2020)
- Dark Magic (2020)
- Dark Promise (2020)
- Dark Spell (2020)
- Dark Curse (2020)
- Dark Shadow (2021)
- Dark Descent (2021)
- Dark Power (2021)
- Dark Reign (2021)
The Blood Books Reading Order (Original Trilogy)
If you choose to read the original, shorter version of Ava's story, you should read the trilogy in this order:
- Blood Rose (2015)
- Blood Magic (2016)
- Blood Promise (2016)
The Pieces of Me Duet Reading Order
In addition to her fantasy work, Danielle Rose wrote a contemporary romance suspense duet called Pieces of Me. This duet features a unique structure: both books focus on the same core plot involving a successful author, Jezebel Tate, who goes into hiding with her bodyguard, James Blakely, to escape a stalker. However, each book is told from a completely different perspective.
You should read this duet in the following order:
- Lies We Keep (2019) – Told from Jezebel Tate's point of view, focusing on her trauma, writing career, and the rising threat of her stalker.
- Truth We Bear (2019) – Told from James Blakely's point of view, revealing his dark past, his internal struggles, and how he views the events of their hiding.