Rina Kent Books in Order: The Complete Rinaverse Reading Guide

For most new readers, the best place to start is Cruel King, followed by the Royal Elite series. If you specifically want the newer-generation college dark romance that made Rina Kent especially popular with BookTok readers, God of Malice is another possible entry point, but reading Royal Elite first gives you more context for the interconnected world. Rina Kent herself recommends Royal Elite or Legacy of Gods for new adult readers.

Rina Kent Books in Order at a Glance

This is the current official suggested reading order published by Rina Kent. The author also provides an alternative order for readers who want to enter the Rinaverse through its mafia stories first.

Who Is Rina Kent?

Rina Kent is a bestselling romance author known primarily for dark romance, interconnected fictional worlds, morally gray and often ruthless characters, high-intensity relationships, and stories involving themes such as obsession, power, revenge, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, mafia families, college romance, and forbidden relationships.

Her official website organizes her books into several interconnected branches, including Royal Elite, Legacy of Gods, Empire, Vipers, Villain, Monster Trilogy, Deception Trilogy, Throne Duet, Kingdom Duet, Thorns Duet, and Lies & Truths Duet.

One reason the Rina Kent reading order can be confusing is that these aren’t simply unrelated romance series sitting beside one another. The books occupy the same broader world, and characters can appear across different stories and generations. At the same time, Kent states that every series, duet, and standalone can be read independently.

That creates two different questions:

• Can you read a Rina Kent series by itself? Yes.
• Is there a best order for reading the entire Rinaverse? Also yes.

If you’re planning to read multiple interconnected series, the official order is the safest choice because it minimizes minor spoilers and gives recurring characters and families more context.

Rina Kent Books in Order

1. Cruel King — Royal Elite #0

Cruel King is the starting point of Rina Kent’s official recommended reading order and serves as Royal Elite #0.

The story introduces the Royal Elite world and characters connected to the King family. It is a dark high-school romance and provides an early look at the world that develops through the rest of Royal Elite.

Why read it first?
Although numbered #0 rather than #1, it is included as the opening title in Kent’s official reading order. Starting here gives you the intended introduction to the Royal Elite generation.

2. Deviant King — Royal Elite #1

Deviant King moves deeper into the Royal Elite storyline and is one of the books most closely associated with the series’ central power struggles.

The novel combines dark romance, school romance, enemies-to-lovers tension, obsession, secrets, and power dynamics.

It is an important starting point if you’re interested in the Royal Elite books because the relationships and conflicts established here continue into subsequent installments.

3. Steel Princess — Royal Elite #2

The Royal Elite story continues with Steel Princess, expanding the world and its complicated relationships.

Readers who enjoy possessive romance, powerful characters, revenge, secrets, and high-stakes relationship drama will find this part of the series particularly important.

4. Twisted Kingdom — Royal Elite #3

Twisted Kingdom continues the Royal Elite storyline and brings another major stage of its central conflict to the forefront.

The official description presents it as the final part of its particular trilogy, with secrets unraveling and the characters confronting the consequences of earlier choices.

5. Black Knight — Royal Elite #4

The fourth Royal Elite novel shifts attention to another relationship within the interconnected school universe.

This is where the broader Royal Elite cast and family connections become increasingly important, making it useful to continue reading the series rather than jumping randomly between individual books.

6. Vicious Prince — Royal Elite #5

Vicious Prince continues the Royal Elite collection with another dark romance centered around the complicated relationships of the Royal Elite world.

As with the previous installments, the appeal lies not simply in the individual romance but in the wider network of characters and relationships.

7. Ruthless Empire — Royal Elite #6

Ruthless Empire completes the main Royal Elite sequence before the official reading order moves into the Kingdom Duet.

The book is particularly important for readers intending to explore the larger Rinaverse because characters and families introduced in Royal Elite continue to connect with later generations and stories. Rina Kent’s character database, for example, connects characters from Ruthless Empire with the broader world.

Kingdom Duet Books in Order

8. Reign of a King — Kingdom Duet #1

Reign of a King begins the Kingdom Duet.

This section of the Rinaverse moves further into the interconnected dark romance world while continuing to develop characters and relationships that become relevant to the broader universe.

The official reading order places the Kingdom Duet immediately after the six main Royal Elite novels.

9. Rise of a Queen — Kingdom Duet #2

Rise of a Queen concludes the Kingdom Duet.

Because the two books form a duet, they should be read together in order rather than treated as independent novels.

10. Royal Elite Epilogue

The Royal Elite Epilogue follows the main Royal Elite sequence and gives readers additional closure and context before the reading order moves deeper into other branches of the Rinaverse.

Lies & Truths Duet Books in Order

11. All the Lies — Lies & Truths Duet #1

All the Lies begins the Lies & Truths Duet.

This part of the Rina Kent universe introduces another relationship and storyline while remaining connected to the larger world.

12. All the Truths — Lies & Truths Duet #2

All the Truths completes the duet.

If you’re reading the complete Rina Kent books in order, keep these two together and read them sequentially.

Throne Duet Books in Order

13. Throne of Power — Throne Duet #1

Throne of Power begins the Throne Duet and marks a move toward the mafia side of the Rinaverse.

This makes the book particularly interesting for readers searching for Rina Kent mafia romance books, dark mafia romance, powerful families, and high-stakes relationships.

14. Throne of Vengeance — Throne Duet #2

Throne of Vengeance concludes the Throne Duet.

The official alternative reading order actually starts the entire Rinaverse with these two books, followed by the Deception and Monster trilogies. This is the best option for readers who specifically want to experience Kent’s mafia world before the new-adult side.

Thorns Duet Books in Order

15. Red Thorns — Thorns Duet #1

Red Thorns begins the Thorns Duet.

The two Thorns books form another connected story within the wider Rinaverse and are best read consecutively.

16. Black Thorns — Thorns Duet #2

Black Thorns concludes the Thorns Duet.

Readers who are working through the entire Rina Kent universe should continue directly from Red Thorns into Black Thorns.

Empire Books in Order

17. Empire of Desire — Empire #1

Empire of Desire begins the four-book Empire series.

The Empire books are particularly appealing to readers looking for dark contemporary romance, powerful characters, complicated relationships, and intense emotional conflict.

18. Empire of Sin — Empire #2

Empire of Sin continues the Empire sequence with another dark romance within the same broader world.

19. Empire of Hate — Empire #3

Empire of Hate is the third Empire book.

The title itself reflects one of the recurring emotional engines of dark romance: the transformation of hostility, resentment, or obsession into something more complicated.

20. Empire of Lust — Empire #4

Empire of Lust completes the four-book Empire sequence in the official Rinaverse reading order.

Deception Trilogy Books in Order

21. Vow of Deception — Deception Trilogy #1

Vow of Deception begins one of the major Rina Kent mafia romance series.

The Deception Trilogy is particularly suited to readers searching for mafia romance, dark romance, marriage/relationship deception, dangerous men, secrets, and high-stakes power dynamics.

22. Tempted by Deception — Deception Trilogy #2

Tempted by Deception continues the story introduced in Vow of Deception.

Because this is a trilogy rather than a collection of independent standalones, reading the books in sequence is strongly recommended.

23. Consumed by Deception — Deception Trilogy #3

Consumed by Deception concludes the Deception Trilogy.

The official Rina Kent reading order places the complete trilogy together after the Empire books.

Monster Trilogy Books in Order

24. Blood of My Monster — Monster Trilogy #1

Blood of My Monster begins the Monster Trilogy.

This is another major entry point for readers interested in the mafia side of the Rinaverse, and it follows naturally after the Deception Trilogy in the official recommended order.

25. Lies of My Monster — Monster Trilogy #2

Lies of My Monster continues the Monster Trilogy.

The book should be read after Blood of My Monster to preserve the intended progression of the story and character relationships.

26. Heart of My Monster — Monster Trilogy #3

Heart of My Monster concludes the Monster Trilogy.

At this point in the official reading order, readers have completed a substantial portion of the mafia branch of the Rinaverse before moving into the highly popular Legacy of Gods books.

Legacy of Gods Books in Order

For many readers, Legacy of Gods is the series that brings them to Rina Kent in the first place.

The official site describes the Legacy of Gods world as one of its major dark-romance series, and Rina Kent specifically recommends Royal Elite or Legacy of Gods as starting points for new-adult readers.

27. God of Malice — Legacy of Gods #1

God of Malice begins Legacy of Gods.

This is one of the most common answers to the question “What Rina Kent book should I read first?”, especially for readers who discovered the author through BookTok and want the newer-generation college dark romance.

The book introduces Killian Carson and Glyndon King, characters connected to the wider Rinaverse.

28. God of Pain — Legacy of Gods #2

God of Pain continues Legacy of Gods with the next relationship in the interconnected generation.

The series increasingly rewards readers who recognize family connections and recurring characters from earlier books.

29. God of Wrath — Legacy of Gods #3

God of Wrath is the third Legacy of Gods novel.

The book continues the series’ combination of dark college romance, obsession, morally gray characters, intense relationship dynamics, and interconnected families.

30. God of Ruin — Legacy of Gods #4

God of Ruin continues the Legacy of Gods generation.

The wider Rinaverse becomes increasingly visible here, making the earlier books more valuable for readers who want the full interconnected experience.

31. God of Fury — Legacy of Gods #5

God of Fury is the fifth Legacy of Gods novel.

It is especially notable for readers looking for MM dark romance within the Rina Kent universe.

Rina Kent’s official character listings identify Brandon King and Nikolai Sokolov as the central characters associated with this book.

32. God of War — Legacy of Gods #6

God of War completes the six-book Legacy of Gods sequence in the current official reading order.

The official character information associates the book with Eli King and Ava Nash, further demonstrating how the series uses interconnected families and generations.

Villain Series Books in Order

33. Kiss the Villain — Villain #1

Kiss the Villain is the first Villain book and a dark MM romance set in the world of Legacy of Gods.

The official description identifies it as a professor/student dark romance involving Kayden Lockwood and Gareth Carson. It can be read as a standalone, but Kent recommends Legacy of Gods for readers who want a deeper connection to the characters and world.

Best for: readers searching for MM dark romance, professor/student romance, morally gray characters, and Legacy of Gods connections.

34. Hunt the Villain — Villain #2

Hunt the Villain follows Kiss the Villain.

The official description identifies it as a dark MM mafia/college romance involving Yulian Dimitriev and Vaughn Morozov. Although it can be read independently, the author recommends reading Kiss the Villain first for a better understanding of the world.

35. Crave the Villain — Villain #3

Crave the Villain is the third Villain title in the current official reading order.

For readers following the complete Rinaverse, it belongs after Kiss the Villain and Hunt the Villain.

Vipers Series Books in Order

36. Beautiful Venom — Vipers #1

Beautiful Venom begins the Vipers series.

The series introduces another branch of the Rinaverse, expanding the world into a new setting while retaining Kent’s signature dark-romance style.

37. Sweet Venom — Vipers #2

Sweet Venom continues the Vipers storyline.

Rina Kent’s official character listings connect the Vipers books through recurring characters and relationships, reinforcing the interconnected nature of the broader universe.

38. Tempting Venom — Vipers #3

Tempting Venom is the third Vipers book and currently closes the official 38-book recommended reading order.

It is an MM college dark romance centered on hockey rivals Preston Armstrong and Marcus Osborn. The author specifically recommends reading Beautiful Venom and Sweet Venom first for a better understanding of the world.

What Is the Best Order to Read Rina Kent Books?

There are actually two sensible answers, depending on what kind of reader you are.

Option 1: Follow Rina Kent’s Official Reading Order

For the fullest Rinaverse reading experience, use the official order:

Royal Elite → Kingdom Duet → Royal Elite Epilogue → Lies & Truths → Throne → Thorns → Empire → Deception → Monster → Legacy of Gods → Villain → Vipers.

This is the order Rina Kent currently publishes on her official reading-order page.

My recommendation for first-time readers

I would choose this option if you’re planning to read most or all of the interconnected universe.

It gives you the most coherent progression through the generations and minimizes the possibility of encountering characters or relationships without their earlier context.

Option 2: Start With the Mafia Books

Rina Kent also provides an alternative reading order for readers who want to begin with the mafia world.

That order starts:

1. Throne of Power
2. Throne of Vengeance
3. Vow of Deception
4. Tempted by Deception
5. Consumed by Deception
6. Blood of My Monster
7. Lies of My Monster
8. Heart of My Monster

It then moves into Royal Elite and eventually Legacy of Gods, Villain, and Vipers.

Who should choose this route?

Choose the mafia-first order if your main interests are:

• Mafia romance
• Bratva-style romance
• Dangerous antiheroes
• Possessive heroes
• Arranged or forced relationships
• Dark romantic suspense
• Crime families
• High-stakes power struggles

For someone who specifically searched “Rina Kent mafia books in order,” this alternative route is arguably more useful than simply starting with Cruel King.

Can You Read Rina Kent Books Out of Order?

Yes, but there is a difference between reading individual series out of order and jumping randomly through the entire Rinaverse.

Rina Kent states that every series, duet, and standalone can be read independently. However, she recommends reading the books in order to avoid minor spoilers and get the best understanding of the interconnected world.

So if you only want to read Legacy of Gods, you don’t have to read every Rina Kent book ever published first.

Likewise, you can read a particular duet without completing the entire Rinaverse.

However, if your goal is to understand recurring characters, families, previous relationships, and connections between generations, following the recommended order is the better experience.

Do You Need to Read Royal Elite Before Legacy of Gods?

No, but I recommend it if you want the fullest Rinaverse experience.

Legacy of Gods can be approached as its own series, and Rina Kent specifically lists it as one of her recommended starting points for new-adult readers.

However, Royal Elite introduces the earlier generation and establishes characters and families that become relevant to the wider universe.

So my recommendation is:

For the complete Rinaverse:
Royal Elite → continue through the official order → Legacy of Gods.

For a quicker entry into newer dark college romance:
Start with God of Malice.

Where Should You Start With Rina Kent?

Your ideal starting point depends on what you’re looking for.

Start with Cruel King if:

You want to follow Rina Kent’s official reading order from the beginning.

Start with God of Malice if:

You want dark college romance, morally gray characters, obsession, and the newer Legacy of Gods generation.

Start with Vow of Deception if:

You’re primarily interested in mafia dark romance and want to enter through the Deception Trilogy.

Start with Throne of Power if:

You want to follow Rina Kent’s mafia-first alternative reading order.

Start with Kiss the Villain if:

You’re specifically looking for MM dark romance. The book is designed to work as a standalone, although Legacy of Gods provides additional world context.

What Is the Rinaverse?

The Rinaverse is the interconnected fictional world shared by many of Rina Kent’s books.

Instead of treating every series as an isolated universe, Kent’s stories use recurring characters, families, relationships, and generations to create a much larger connected world.

That is why someone searching for “Rina Kent books in chronological order” can become confused: there isn’t simply one straightforward timeline where every novel follows the previous novel’s events.

The official reading order is therefore better understood as a recommended reader pathway through the interconnected universe, rather than a simple chronological list of every event. Kent herself notes that the books take place in the same world but on slightly different timelines because stories overlap.

Rina Kent Books by Genre and Tropes

One of the easiest ways to choose a Rina Kent book is by the type of romance you’re craving.

The official site identifies Kiss the Villain as a dark MM professor/student romance and Hunt the Villain as a dark MM mafia/college romance, while Tempting Venom is described as an MM college romance involving hockey rivals.

Are Rina Kent Books Dark Romance?

Yes. Rina Kent is primarily associated with dark romance, and readers should expect themes and relationship dynamics that can be significantly darker than those found in conventional contemporary romance.

Her books frequently feature:

• Obsession
• Possessiveness
• Enemies-to-lovers
• Bully romance
• Morally gray characters
• Power imbalances
• Revenge
• Mafia/crime elements
• Forbidden relationships
• Dark college romance
• Forced proximity
• Dangerous antiheroes
• MM romance in selected series

Because these themes can involve potentially disturbing material, readers should check the individual book’s content warnings before beginning it. Rina Kent’s official pages explicitly direct readers to content warnings for books such as Kiss the Villain.

Are All Rina Kent Books Connected?

Many of them are, but you do not have to read everything to understand one individual series.

This is one of the most important things to understand about the Rina Kent reading order.

The books share the same broader world, but the author deliberately allows individual series, duets, and standalones to function independently.

Think of the Rinaverse as a network rather than a single linear story.

You can enter through one branch, follow that story, and later return to another branch when you’re ready.

What About Rule of a Kingdom and Dark Deception?

This is where many Rina Kent reading lists become confusing.

Rina Kent’s official recommended reading order does not include Rule of a Kingdom or Dark Deception in the main sequence because, according to the official reading-order page, they contain only a single prequel chapter connected to the Kingdom Duet and Deception Trilogy respectively.

So if you’re following the official 38-book Rina Kent reading order, you do not need to insert either title into the main sequence.

This distinction is important because third-party lists can sometimes produce a much longer “complete” bibliography by including additional titles outside the author’s current recommended Rinaverse route.

Rina Kent Reading Order vs. Publication Order

These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they aren’t exactly the same thing.

Publication order asks:

When was each book originally released?

Recommended reading order asks:

In what sequence does the author recommend readers experience the interconnected universe?

For Rina Kent, the second question is particularly useful because the books overlap across series, generations, and characters.

For someone searching “Rina Kent books in publication order,” a conventional bibliography may therefore produce a different list from the author’s current official reading order.

For someone searching “Rina Kent books in order,” I recommend following the author’s official reading order unless you have a specific reason to use publication chronology.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rina Kent Books

What is the correct order to read Rina Kent books?

The best default is Rina Kent’s official recommended order, beginning with Cruel King and continuing through Royal Elite, Kingdom Duet, Lies & Truths, Throne, Thorns, Empire, Deception, Monster, Legacy of Gods, Villain, and Vipers.

What Rina Kent book should I read first?

For the complete Rinaverse, start with Cruel King. If you’re specifically looking for new-adult dark romance, Rina Kent recommends Royal Elite or Legacy of Gods as entry points.

Can I start with God of Malice?

Yes. God of Malice is the first Legacy of Gods book, and Legacy of Gods is one of Rina Kent’s recommended starting points for new-adult readers.

How many Rina Kent books are in the official reading order?

Rina Kent’s current official recommended reading order contains 38 books, ending with Tempting Venom.

Do I have to read all 38 Rina Kent books?

No. Rina Kent states that each series, duet, and standalone can be read independently. You only need the full 38-book order if you want to experience the interconnected Rinaverse as completely as possible.

Should I read Royal Elite before Legacy of Gods?

It is recommended for the fullest connected-world experience, but it isn’t mandatory. Legacy of Gods can be read independently, and Rina Kent lists it as a possible starting point for new-adult readers.

What is the Rina Kent mafia reading order?

For a mafia-first experience, Rina Kent’s alternative order begins with Throne of Power, Throne of Vengeance, the Deception Trilogy, and the Monster Trilogy before moving into Royal Elite and the rest of the Rinaverse.

What are the Rina Kent books with MM romance?

Important MM titles in the current official reading path include God of Fury, the Villain books, and the Vipers books. For example, Kiss the Villain is a dark MM professor/student romance, Hunt the Villain is a dark MM mafia/college romance, and Tempting Venom is an MM college romance involving hockey rivals.

Is Kiss the Villain part of Legacy of Gods?

Kiss the Villain is officially classified as Villain #1 and is set in the world of Legacy of Gods. It can be read as a standalone, although the author recommends Legacy of Gods for deeper character/world context.

Is Tempting Venom the last Rina Kent book?

It is currently the final title in the official 38-book recommended reading order, where it appears as Vipers #3.

Final Verdict: What Is the Best Rina Kent Reading Order?

If you’re completely new to Rina Kent, my recommendation is simple:

Start with Cruel King and follow the official reading order.

That gives you the broadest introduction to the Rinaverse and lets you experience the interconnected characters and families in the sequence Rina Kent herself recommends.

If you don’t want to read 38 books, don’t feel obligated to.

For new-adult dark romance, start with God of Malice.

For mafia romance, start with Throne of Power or Vow of Deception.

For MM dark romance, try God of Fury, Kiss the Villain, or the Vipers series.

The real appeal of Rina Kent’s bibliography is that you don’t have to commit to the entire universe at once. You can find the branch that matches your favorite romance tropes, read that series, and then explore outward into the rest of the Rinaverse.

And if you become completely obsessed with the interconnected characters and families?

That’s when the full Rina Kent reading order becomes especially rewarding.

Written by

Emon Anam

Hi, I’m Emon. I’m the voice and heart behind Whimsy Read. After nine years in the world of banking, I followed my passion for storytelling into the world of SEO and content strategy. Now, I blend that analytical eye with a deep love for literature to bring you book reviews that are thoughtful, honest, and always focused on the stories that stay with you. When I’m not reading or writing, you’ll find me enjoying joyful chaos with my wife and three kids, getting lost in a new series, or revisiting my old loves: theater, music, and gaming. At the end of the day, I believe great books are meant to be shared, and I’m so glad you’re here to share them with me.