Where to Start with Emigh Cannaday
If you are new to Emigh Cannaday’s books, the absolute best place to start is with the Annika Brisby series. Beginning with The Flame and the Arrow, this series is her signature work, blending urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and portal fantasy. It introduces readers to a rich world of fae, elves, and vampires, carrying a distinct indie rock-and-roll vibe that defines much of Cannaday’s early creative style.
For readers who prefer a lighter, more comedic urban fantasy with mystery elements (described by fans as 'Buffy meets X-Files'), the complete Faerie Files trilogy beginning with Wiretaps & Whiskers is an excellent, fast-paced alternative. If you want to skip the magic entirely and dive into spicy, humorous office romance, the Sloane Spadowski trilogy is your go-to starting point.
Annika Brisby Series
The Annika Brisby series follows a fierce rocker protagonist who accidentally stumbles through a magical portal into an enchanting but dangerous realm of fae and supernatural creatures. The recommended reading order is the publication order, as the story features a continuous chronological narrative:
- The Flame and the Arrow (2008 / 2010)
- The Silver Thread (2016)
- The Scarlet Tanager (2016)
- The Darkest of Dreams (2018)
- Song of the Samodiva (2022)
Note on publication dates: While some catalogs list the original indie debut of The Flame and the Arrow in 2008, it gained widespread digital release and popularity around 2010.
The Faerie Files Trilogy
This series moves away from portal fantasy into a gritty, humorous urban environment where magical cases are solved with a healthy dose of sarcasm and a slow-burn romance. This trilogy is complete and should be read in order:
- Wiretaps & Whiskers (2021)
- Catnip & Curses (2021)
- Hexes & Hairballs (2021)
The Novi Navarro Chronicles
A fantasy romance duology focusing on court politics, magic, and seductive power struggles. It is recommended to read these two books in order:
- Prince of Persuasion (2019)
- Crown of Contempt (2019)
Sloane Spadowski Series
Unlike her fantasy works, this contemporary romantic comedy series is a spicy, laugh-out-loud trilogy about a temp worker who gets caught up in a wildly inappropriate office romance with her billionaire boss. The books are direct continuations of the same couple's story and must be read in order:
- Jerk Bait (2017)
- Slip Sinker (2017)
- Catch & Release (2017)
These three books are also available together in the omnibus edition, Hooked: The Complete Sloane Spadowski Series.
Immortal Vices and Virtues Collaborative Universe
The Immortal Vices and Virtues series is a collaborative, multi-author paranormal romance project. While the books are set in a shared world, each is written by a different author. Emigh Cannaday contributed the ninth book in this lineup. You do not need to read the entire series to enjoy her contribution, but the full publication order is listed below for completeness:
- Reject Me by Kel Carpenter & Aurelia Jane (2022)
- Queen Me by Kel Carpenter & Aurelia Jane (2022)
- Haunt Me by Kel Carpenter (2022)
- Crave Me by Aurelia Jane (2022)
- Expose Me by Lucy Limon (2022)
- Ruin Me by Kel Carpenter (2022)
- Ignite Me by Joy Demorra (2022)
- Corrupt Me by Kel Carpenter & Aurelia Jane (2022)
- Release Me by Emigh Cannaday (2023)
- Slay Me by Kel Carpenter & Aurelia Jane (2023)
- Burn Me by Lucy Limon (2023)
- Worship Me by Joy Demorra (2023)
What to Know Before You Start
In recent updates, the author announced that she has officially stepped away from the 'Emigh Cannaday' pen name and is no longer publishing new books or updating her newsletter under this brand. Therefore, all of her active series under this name are considered complete, and the reading orders detailed above are definitive.