Where to Begin Your Emery Belle Adventure
If you are looking for the ultimate lighthearted escape, Southern California author Emery Belle delivers paranormal cozy mysteries filled with beach vibes, quirky familiars, and slow-burn romances. Belle has established two distinct settings for her supernatural sleuthing: the sunny shores of the Magic Island series and the coven politics of the Brimstone Falls series.
The best starting point is undisputedly Beached & Bewitched, the first book in the Magic Island series. While each novel features a self-contained mystery that wraps up by the final chapter, reading them in order is highly recommended to follow the overarching character relationships, Wren Winters' growing mastery of her witchcraft, and the evolving lore of the island. The series is written in chronological order, matching the order of publication.
The Magic Island Series in Detail
The Magic Island Paranormal Cozy Mystery series introduces Wren Winters, an ordinary woman whose life changes forever on the eve of her thirtieth birthday when she discovers she is actually a witch. To claim her powers, she relocates to Magic Island—a beachy paradise where winged taxis fly, vampire surf instructors hit the waves, and merpeople teach water aerobics classes. Alongside her snarky sidekick Monty, Wren finds herself solving local crimes while trying to run a magic-infused potion business.
Here is the recommended reading order for the Magic Island series:
- Beached & Bewitched (2018) – The debut novel that started it all. Wren arrives on Magic Island and must quickly clear her name when she becomes the prime suspect in a local murder investigation.
- Oceans & Potions (2018) – Wren attempts to settle into her new life and run her potion shop, but a bitter fashion feud on the island leads to a murder that she must unravel before her business goes under.
- Fang Ten (2019) – Cozy mystery meets surf culture. Wren is forced to defend a local vampire surf instructor who has been accused of a crime, diving into the subculture of the island's undead residents.
- Beyond the Seer (2019) – When a local psychic's prediction leads to a real-life crime scene, Wren investigates whether the seer is truly clairvoyant or simply covering up a murder.
- Toil & Trouble (2019) – Potion mishaps and culinary disasters take center stage when a cooking competition on the island turns deadly, leaving Wren to find the killer among a group of competitive chefs.
- Fool's Gold (2020) – A legendary treasure hunt is announced on the island, drawing adventurers and treasure hunters from all over. The stakes turn lethal when one of the participants is found dead, and Wren must solve the historical puzzle to catch the killer.
- Witch's Brew (2020) – The seventh installment delivers high emotional stakes, matchmaking antics, and a complex puzzle, highlighting Wren's close bond with her talking sidekick Monty.
- Seashells & Spells (2022) – The eighth book sees Wren facing a new magical crisis on the sandy beaches, dealing with ancient spells and beachside secrets that threaten to disrupt the island's peaceful status quo.
The Brimstone Falls Series
For readers who want a slightly different flavor of magic, Emery Belle launched a spin-off style series set in a new location that focuses on coven dynamics and witchcraft tribunals.
- Spellfire & Fury (2020) – This novel introduces Josie, a witch who is hauled before a coven tribunal for the improper use of her magic. As punishment, she is banished to the mysterious town of Brimstone Falls, where she immediately stumbles into local secrets, coven politics, and a murder mystery she must solve to survive.
Chronological Reading Order
Since Emery Belle's books were published in chronological order, readers can easily follow the release timeline. If you wish to read both series in the exact order they were released, follow this combined timeline:
- Beached & Bewitched (2018)
- Oceans & Potions (2018)
- Fang Ten (2019)
- Beyond the Seer (2019)
- Toil & Trouble (2019)
- Fool's Gold (2020)
- Witch's Brew (2020)
- Spellfire & Fury (2020) (Brimstone Falls Book 1)
- Seashells & Spells (2022)
What to Know Before You Start
Emery Belle's novels are classic paranormal cozy mysteries. They feature lighthearted humor, quirky magical creatures, and zero graphic violence or explicit content. The romance subplots are clean and build slowly over the course of the series. The setting of Magic Island is heavily inspired by Southern California's beach culture, providing a sunny, relaxing backdrop that contrasts beautifully with the supernatural mayhem. Whether you are looking for a quick beach read or a comforting bedtime mystery, Emery Belle's series offers a delightful, magic-filled escape.