How to Read the Seven Deadly Veils Series
For fans of steam, supernatural politics, and ancient mysteries, Diana Marik's award-winning Seven Deadly Veils series is a must-read. The saga blends urban fantasy elements with sizzling paranormal romance, centering on Miranda Crescent—an art authenticator with hidden elemental powers—and the dangerous, seductive vampire lord of New York City, Valadon.
When it comes to reading this series, you have two primary options: chronological order and publication order. Because of digital catalog re-issues and licensing updates in 2022, the official publication order recorded in retail databases can be highly confusing for newcomers. To protect yourself from major spoilers and narrative whiplash, we strongly recommend following the chronological reading order detailed below.
The Recommended Chronological Reading Order
Reading the series chronologically allows you to watch the relationships develop naturally and follow the complex mythological arc of the elemental and vampire factions without confusion. Here is the chronological path:
1. Veil of Shadows
Originally published in 2016, this is the essential starting point of the series. We meet Miranda Crescent, a talented New York City art authenticator who discovers she is a rare Elemental. When she is pulled into the orbit of the enigmatic vampire lord Valadon, she must work with his fierce second-in-command, Remare, to uncover a deadly conspiracy. The chemistry is instant, the stakes are high, and the world-building lays the foundation for everything to come.
2. The Blue Veil (Book 1.5)
This critical novella takes place directly after the events of the first book. It follows Miranda as she adjusts to her new reality and the dangerous politics of the vampire underworld. While some digital platforms list its publication year as 2022 due to re-releases, reading it here bridges the emotional gap between the first and second full-length novels.
3. Veil of Mists (Book 2)
Picking up where the novella leaves off, this novel heightens the tension between the mortal world and the supernatural elite. Miranda's elemental powers grow, making her a target for rival factions. It expands on the lore of the Seven Deadly Veils and deepens the romance and peril surrounding ValCorp's leadership.
4. Veil of Darkness (Book 3)
Released in 2018, this installment forces Miranda and Valadon to confront the terrifying Human Order of Light. The threat of exposure looms large over the New York vampire coven, and trust becomes a rare commodity as betrayal strikes from within the ranks.
5. Veil of Secrets (Book 4)
This crucial novel dives deep into the ancient past of Lord Valadon. We learn how he became the leader of the city's vampires and what sacrifices were made along the way. Although technically cataloged under 2022 due to publishing rights transfers, the events here are vital to understand before moving on to the back half of the series.
6. Veil of Destiny (Book 5)
Published in 2019, this book escalates the supernatural war. The boundaries between the different paranormal factions begin to break down, forcing vampires and shape-shifters into uneasy alliances to survive the onslaught of the Order of Light.
7. Veil of Orion (Book 6)
A massive fan-favorite, this book shifts the focus to a scorching romance between the werewolf Orion and the vampire Bastien. It offers a fantastic look at the broader shifter society in the American Southwest and provides a breath of fresh air while advancing the overarching plot of the series.
8. Veil of Honor (Book 7)
Published in 2020, this novel returns to the main NYC theater, dealing with the fallout of the shifting alliances. It focuses heavily on duty, sacrifice, and the personal cost of keeping the supernatural world hidden from humanity.
9. The Were Queen (Book 8)
Released in 2021, this story spotlights Lizandra, the fierce Were Queen of the Black Star Clan. As she fights to secure her people's future, her path intersects with the main cast, setting the stage for the final conflict.
10. Veil of Light (Book 9)
The grand finale of the saga, published in 2022. It brings the conflict with the Human Order of Light to a head. The epic romance between Miranda and the vampire Remare takes center stage, delivering a satisfying, action-packed conclusion to the nine-book journey.
The Technical Publication Order
If you prefer to read the books in the order they are listed in modern digital databases (reflecting the 2022 re-releases of several early volumes), the technical order is as follows:
- Veil of Shadows (2016)
- Veil of Darkness (2018)
- Veil of Destiny (2019)
- Veil of Orion (2019)
- Veil of Honor (2020)
- The Were Queen (2021)
- The Blue Veil (2022)
- Veil of Secrets (2022)
- Veil of Mists (2022)
- Veil of Light (2022)
A Word of Caution: Reading in this database-driven publication order is not recommended. Reading The Blue Veil (Book 1.5) and Veil of Mists (Book 2) after The Were Queen (Book 8) will cause massive confusion, as characters who have progressed significantly will suddenly be reset to their early-series dynamics, and major plot lines that were resolved will suddenly be active again.
What to Know Before You Start
Diana Marik’s stories are highly serialized, meaning you cannot read them as standalones without losing the thread of the plot. The series is best described as a blend of J.R. Ward’s dark, gritty vampire hierarchy and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s high-stakes ancient mythology. Expect plenty of steam, detailed historical flashbacks, and strong female leads who stand toe-to-toe with ancient vampire lords.