Where to Start with Deborah Wilde
Deborah Wilde is known for writing urban fantasy books filled with snarky, flawed heroines, high-stakes magical action, and slow-burn romance. Because she has written multiple series with distinct styles, the best place to start depends on what you enjoy reading most.
If you love classic, high-octane urban fantasy with a hot-mess heroine who stumbles into her magical powers, start with The Unlikeable Demon Hunter. If you prefer Paranormal Women's Fiction (PWF) featuring a mature protagonist in her forties rebuilding her life with a healthy dose of magic and humor, you should begin with Magic After Midlife.
1. The Unlikeable Demon Hunter (Nava Katz) Series
This is the series that put Deborah Wilde on the urban fantasy map. It follows Nava Katz, a Jewish party girl in Vancouver who unexpectedly inherits the magic of a legacy demon slayer. Nava is loud, inappropriate, and fiercely independent—a true "unlikeable" heroine who grows into a powerhouse across the series. The main story arc concludes in book six, but there is a spin-off novel focusing on her best friend, Leonie.
Here is the recommended reading order for Nava Katz's story:
- The Unlikeable Demon Hunter (2017)
- Sting (2017)
- Need (2017)
- Crave (2018)
- Fall (2018)
- Burn (2019)
- Leonie Hendricks: Demon P.I. (2019) – A standalone spin-off novel (sometimes referred to as Book 6.5 or Book 7) following Nava's half-demon best friend on her own detective case.
2. The Jezebel Files Series
Set in a world of houses, magic, and secrets, this series features Ashira "Ash" Cohen, a snarky private investigator who suddenly gains illegal magic. The series is known for its enemies-to-lovers tension and intricate plotting. While the first four books focus on Ash's story, the series expands into the "World of the Jezebel Files" to cover Raisa Montefiore's adventures.
The recommended reading order, including the companion novellas, is:
- Blood & Ash (2020)
- His Lordship Weighs In (2023) – Book 1.5, a companion novella written from Levi's perspective.
- Death & Desire (2020)
- Shadows & Surrender (2020)
- Revenge & Rapture (2020)
- Howl at the Moon (2023) – Book 5, shifting the spotlight to Raisa Montefiore in a werewolf-centric shifter romance.
- Marrakesh (2021) – Book 5.5, a companion short story taking place right after Howl at the Moon.
- Lost in the Woods (2023) – Book 6, wrapping up Raisa's magical scientific journey.
3. Magic After Midlife Series
If you want a heroine who has lived some life, this Paranormal Women's Fiction series is perfect. It follows Miriam Feldman, a forty-something mother who discovers she has magical abilities and starts working as a supernatural investigator. This series is fully complete at seven main books and one companion story.
Read the Miriam Feldman books in this order:
- Throwing Shade (2021)
- A Deader Shade of Pale (2021) – Book 1.5, a companion novella detailing Miriam's chaotic date night. This story was also published in the Seasoned Magic anthology.
- Made in the Shade (2021)
- A Shade Too Far (2021)
- A Shade of Myself (2022)
- The Shade of Things (2022)
- Bent Out of Shade (2022)
- Ace of Shades (2022)
4. Bedeviled AF Series
This series introduces a brand-new setting with the signature Wilde style: snark, romance, and supernatural threats. The series should be read in order of release to appreciate the overarching plot.
- Big Demon Energy (2023)
- Demon on Deck (2024)
- Better the Demon You Know (2024)
- Demon in Disguise (2025)
- The Demon's Due (2025)