How to Read Dean Lorey’s Books
Dean Lorey has built a highly successful career across multiple mediums, serving as a screenwriter for cult classic films, an Emmy-nominated producer and writer for hit television shows like Arrested Development and Harley Quinn, and a beloved author of young adult fantasy. While his bibliography is relatively focused, his work has a passionate following. Navigating his books is straightforward, but regional title changes for his core series can occasionally confuse new readers.
For the best experience, we recommend reading Lorey’s books in their standard publication order. His primary fiction work consists of a continuous trilogy, making a linear path essential to understand the character development and overarching plot. Here is how his books fit together and the best way to read them.
The Nightmare Academy Trilogy in Order
The core of Dean Lorey's literary work is the Nightmare Academy series (also known as the Monster Hunters series). This young adult fantasy trilogy follows Charlie Benjamin, a boy whose vivid nightmares literally open portals to the Netherworld, allowing dangerous, bizarre monsters to enter our reality. Charlie is recruited by the Nightmare Academy—a secret school constructed out of shipwrecks in the Bermuda Triangle—where he and other gifted children learn to control their powers and defend humanity as monster hunters.
Because the books were released with different titles in the United States and the United Kingdom, we have detailed both titles below to help you identify the correct editions. The narrative is strictly sequential, so you must read them in this order:
- Book 1: Monster Hunters (Published as Nightmare Academy or Charlie's Monsters in the UK) (2007)
- Book 2: Monster Madness (Published as Monster Revenge in the UK) (2008)
- Book 3: Monster War (2009)
Understanding the Title Differences
If you are searching for these books online or in libraries, you might find different covers and names. The first book was originally published in the United States under the title Nightmare Academy: Monster Hunters, but UK editions published by HarperCollins rebranded it as Charlie's Monsters. Similarly, the second book, Nightmare Academy: Monster Madness, was published in the UK as Monster Revenge. The final book, Monster War, retained its title globally. Regardless of the regional naming differences, the text inside remains the same, and the narrative continues seamlessly from one book to the next.
Anthology Contributions and Short Stories
In addition to his trilogy, Lorey has contributed to children's horror anthologies. If you want to read every piece of fiction he has published, you should look for his short story contribution:
- "Hank" in Half-Minute Horrors (2009): Published the same year as the conclusion of his trilogy, this quick-read anthology features extremely short, spooky stories designed to be read in thirty seconds or less. Lorey's story, "Hank," is a brief and unsettling tale about a talking puppy with a dark secret. Other contributors to this charity anthology include Neil Gaiman, Lemony Snicket, and Margaret Atwood.
Co-Authored Non-Fiction Work
Outside of fantasy and horror, Dean Lorey collaborated on a bestselling health and fitness book. If you enjoy his writing style and are interested in health or celebrity memoir, you may want to check out this title:
- Fitness Confidential (2013): Co-authored with celebrity personal trainer Vinnie Tortorich, this book acts as a hybrid of a memoir and a fitness guide. It details Tortorich's career in Hollywood, his battle with leukemia, and his advocacy for the "NSNG" (No Sugar, No Grains) lifestyle. Lorey brings his trademark comedic pacing and structure to the book, helping to present Vinnie's blunt, humorous advice in a highly readable format.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into the Netherworld, there are a few practical tips to keep in mind. First, the Nightmare Academy series is completed. The trilogy wraps up the main character arcs and the war against the Named Lords of the Netherworld, meaning you will not be left on an unresolved cliffhanger. While film adaptations have been optioned by Universal Studios in the past, no screen version has officially been released yet, making the books the definitive version of the story.
The tone of the series is often described as "Men in Black meets Harry Potter." It blends high-stakes action with bizarre creature designs and a strong sense of humor. Although written for middle-grade and young adult readers, the books do contain genuinely creepy monster concepts, making them perfect for fans of slightly darker children's fantasy like Percy Jackson or Goosebumps.