Where to Start Reading Elizabeth A. Reeves
For most readers, the best entry point into Elizabeth A. Reeves’s cozy, whimsical universe is the Cindy Eller Books. This series combines romance, laugh-out-loud humor, and magical baking. The first book, How (Not) to Kiss a Toad, introduces Cindy Eller, a witch-baker in Tucson who suffers from a hilarious curse: every man she kisses turns into a toad. It establishes the warm, recipe-filled tone that defines her urban fantasy writing.
If you prefer a slightly darker coming-of-age story that still retains a touch of humor, you can start with the Unlife series (beginning with Deathly Still). This series is set within the same universe and features character crossovers with the Cindy Eller books, but it focuses on destiny, fate, and dealing with Death himself.
The Cindy Eller & Were Bears Crossover Order
The Cindy Eller Books and Goldie Locke and the Were Bears Books exist in the same universe and eventually collide. Goldie Locke is Cindy's sister, a witch and environmental lawyer. To get the best reading experience and avoid spoilers, it is recommended to read both series in parallel or catch up on both before reading the crossover novel, How (Not) to Kiss a Were Bear (which acts as Cindy Eller #8 and Goldie Locke #5 in publication order, or Cindy Eller #6 and Goldie Locke #4 in chronological plot progression).
Cindy Eller Books in Order
- How (Not) to Kiss a Toad (2012)
- How (Not) to Kiss a Prince (2013)
- How (Not) to Play With Magic (2013)
- How (Not) to Kiss a Beast (2013)
- How (Not) to Kiss a Ghost (2013)
- How (Not) to Kiss a Gargoyle (2013)
- How (Not) to Love a Hero (2014)
- How (Not) to Kiss a Were Bear (2014) — Crucial Crossover Event
- First Kisses, Near Misses (2014)
- How (Not) to Spook a Spectre (2015)
- How (Not) to Soothe a Siren (2016)
- How (Not) to Amuse a Muse (2016)
- How to Free a Firebird (2018)
Goldie Locke and the Were Bears Books in Order
- Baehrly Beginning (2013)
- Baehrly Breathing (2013)
- Baehrly Bitten (2013)
- Baehrly Alive (2013)
- How (Not) to Kiss a Were Bear (2014) — Crossover Event
- Baehrly Breaking (2015)
Karma's Witches Series
This is Reeves’s longest-running urban fantasy series, following Amber as she discovers her witch heritage and navigates family secrets, romances, and magical conflicts. It should be read in publication order:
- Life's a Witch (2013)
- Love's a Witch (2013)
- Haunting Karma (2015)
- Healing Karma (2015)
- Hard as Flint (2015)
- Sharp as Steele (2015)
- Flint Lock (2016)
- Amber in Ashes (2016)
- Black as Obsidian (2016)
- Pandemonium: Demons of Karma (2016)
- Amber Alone (2016)
- Spark of Life (2017)
- Payback's a Witch (2017)
Unlife Series
A darker, YA urban fantasy duology tracking Antigone "Annie" Baehr as she battles her fate and deals with Death. The characters cross paths with the Tucson magical community from Cindy Eller:
- Deathly Still (2015)
- Deathly Quiet (2017)
Middle-Aged Fairy Godmother Books
This series follows Grace, a middle-aged fairy godmother who investigates fairy-tale-themed murders in the magical world. Read these in chronological order:
- Stinking Beauty (2020)
- The Little Murder Maid (2020)
- Twelve Dancing Witnesses (2020)
Other Series and Standalones
The Bee Witch Books
- The Voice of Bees (2020)
Last Selkie Books
- Adrift (2012)
Jumping Into Danger Books
- Doubletake (2012)
Witness Protection for Monsters Books
- Cost of Found (2013)
Standalone Novels
- The Dangers of Black Magic (2012)
- Running (2012)
- Diary of a Teenage Oracle (2016)
- Midnight at the Salem Cafe (2017)
- Drawing Breath (2019)
- In Shattered Places (2020)
Short Stories and Novellas
- Shoes (2014)
- Cutthroat Chicken (2015)