Where to Start Your Devon Monk Journey
With dozens of novels, novellas, and short stories, Devon Monk's bibliography can feel vast. Fortunately, her work is divided into distinct, self-contained universes. To decide where to begin, consider what kind of tone you enjoy most:
- For Gritty, High-Stakes Urban Fantasy: Start with the Allie Beckstrom series, beginning with Magic to the Bone. This is Monk's signature universe, featuring a complex magic system, corporate espionage, and a high-stakes overarching narrative.
- For Cozy, Humorous Urban Fantasy: Start with the Ordinary Magic series, beginning with Death and Relaxation (or the prequel novella, Dues and Don'ts). Set in a quirky tourist town populated by vacationing gods and monsters, it offers a lighter, found-family dynamic.
- For Steampunk and Weird West: Start with the Age of Steam series, beginning with Dead Iron. This series blends clockwork technology, folklore, and magic in a gritty alternate American West.
- For Sci-Fi Thrillers: Start with the House Immortal trilogy, beginning with House Immortal, featuring a stitched-together, bio-engineered protagonist fighting for survival.
1. The Allie Beckstrom & Broken Magic Universe
This is Devon Monk's most famous shared universe. Magic in this world is visceral and dangerous: casting a spell extracts a physical or mental toll from the user (such as memory loss, pain, or exhaustion). The universe consists of two major series that should be read in chronological order, as the events of the second series directly build on the aftermath of the first.
Allie Beckstrom Series
This nine-book series follows Allison Beckstrom, a "Hound" in Portland, Oregon, who tracks down illegal magic use. Allie must grapple with her father's dark legacy, corporate greed, and the physical toll of her own abilities. This series must be read in publication order:
- Magic to the Bone (2008)
- Magic in the Blood (2009)
- Magic in the Shadows (2009)
- Magic on the Storm (2010)
- Magic at the Gate (2010)
- Magic on the Hunt (2011)
- Magic on the Line (2011)
- Magic Without Mercy (2012)
- Magic For A Price (2012)
Broken Magic (Shame and Terric) Series
Set three years after the conclusion of the Allie Beckstrom series, this spin-off series shifts focus to Shame Flynn (a wielder of death magic) and Terric Conley (a wielder of life magic). Together, they are "breakers" trying to navigate a world where magic has been radically altered. While the series is officially called Broken Magic, fans and the local database sometimes group it under the protagonists' names, and it includes the standalone-published Back Lash. Read them in this order:
- Hell Bent (2013)
- Stone Cold (2014)
- Back Lash (2015)
- Dirty Work (2023)
2. The Ordinary Magic Universe
In stark contrast to the gritty streets of Portland, the Ordinary Magic series takes place in Ordinary, Oregon, a small coastal town that serves as a sanctuary for gods, monsters, and mythical beings who want to vacation away from the human world. The town is run by the Delaney sisters, who keep the peace. The series is highly character-driven and blends mystery, humor, and cozy urban fantasy elements.
For the best experience, start with the prequel novella and read the short stories immediately after Book 4, where they fit chronologically:
- Book 0.5: Dues and Don'ts (2019) – A prequel novella that introduces the town and characters, often available for free via the author's newsletter.
- Book 1: Death and Relaxation (2016)
- Book 2: Devils and Details (2016)
- Book 3: Gods and Ends (2017)
- Book 4: Rock Paper Scissors (2018)
- The Ordinary Magic Novellas (Book 4.5): These three novellas should be read after Book 4. They are often collected together:
- Rock Candy (2017)
- Paper Stars (2017)
- Scissor Kisses (2018)
- Book 5: Dime a Demon (2019)
- Book 6: Hell's Spells (2020)
- Book 7: Nobody's Ghoul (2021)
- Book 8: Sealed With a Tryst (2021)
- Book 9: Brute of All Evil (2022)
Souls of the Road (Wayward) Series
This is a sister series to Ordinary Magic, also set in the broader "Monkworld" universe. It features the same blend of magic and monsters but shifts the action to Route 66, following star-crossed lovers Lula and Brogan Gauge as they face road-trip dangers. You do not need to read Ordinary Magic to enjoy this trilogy, but they share thematic elements.
- Wayward Souls (2020)
- Wayward Moon (2021)
- Wayward Sky (2022)
3. Other Independent Series
Age of Steam Series
Devon Monk's steampunk series is a dark, gritty take on the American West. It follows Cedar Hunt, a cursed bounty hunter tracking down mad scientists, clockwork monsters, and dark magic. These books tell a continuous story and must be read in order:
- Dead Iron (2011)
- Tin Swift (2012)
- Hang Fire (2012)
- Cold Copper (2013)
House Immortal Series
This sci-fi fantasy blend centers on Matilda "Mat" Case, a stitched-together, bio-engineered woman who belongs to a class of immortals created to serve powerful houses. As she fights for her independence, she uncovers massive conspiracies. Read this trilogy in order:
- House Immortal (2014)
- Infinity Bell (2015)
- Crucible Zero (2015)
West Hell Magic Series
A fun, sports-themed urban fantasy duology that follows Random Hazard, a wizard and professional hockey player who is banished to a monster hockey league in Canada. It's a quick, entertaining read that stands apart from her other series.
- Hazard (2018)
- Spark (2018)
Las Fables Series
Devon Monk's foray into fairy tale noir. Set in a gritty city inhabited by nursery rhyme characters, the first book follows Detective Peter Peter (from the "Pumpkin Eater" rhyme) as he investigates the murder of the Seven Dwarves.
- Nursery Crimes (2024)