K. M. Moronova Books in Order: Pine Hollow, Dark Forces, and Every Series
Moronova’s books explore different kinds of darkness, from supernatural worlds and dangerous powers to military settings and complicated relationships. Choosing a starting point depends on the atmosphere you prefer.
- For dark fantasy and supernatural romance: Begin with A God of Wrath & Lies, the first Pine Hollow novel.
- For a dark academy setting: Start with Of Deathless Shadows, which opens Alkrose Academy.
- For a military dark romance: Choose Your Knife, My Heart, the first Dark Forces book.
- For an arranged-marriage fantasy romance: Begin with Once Upon a Demon’s Heart, the opening of the Cruel Fates Duet.
- For a standalone emotional dark romance: Try The Fabric of Our Souls or Leave Me Behind.
You don’t need to read every K. M. Moronova book to enjoy one series. The best approach is to follow the individual series in order and treat the standalone novels as separate reading experiences.
1. Pine Hollow Books in Order
The Pine Hollow trilogy is a strong starting point for readers who want Moronova’s blend of dark fantasy, supernatural conflict, and romance. The three titles form a connected sequence, so reading them in order is the best way to follow the story.
1. A God of Wrath & Lies (2022)
This opening novel introduces the Pine Hollow world and the dark romantic fantasy that defines the trilogy. It establishes the characters, supernatural tensions, and dangerous relationships that carry into the later books.
Start here to understand the foundation of the series rather than jumping directly into its later conflicts.
2. A God of Death & Rest (2023)
The second book continues the Pine Hollow storyline, building on the world and character relationships introduced in the first installment. The stakes deepen as the series develops its darker supernatural themes.
Reading the first novel beforehand helps preserve the continuity of the trilogy.
3. A Goddess of Life & Dawn (2023)
The final Pine Hollow novel completes the three-book sequence. It brings the overarching story toward its conclusion, making it the natural stopping point for readers following the trilogy.
Pine Hollow reading order: A God of Wrath & Lies → A God of Death & Rest → A Goddess of Life & Dawn.
2. Alkrose Academy Books in Order
Alkrose Academy is a dark fantasy series set against a dangerous academy environment, with supernatural forces, violence, and intense interpersonal conflict. It is a different reading experience from the Pine Hollow trilogy, but it suits readers who enjoy dark settings and high stakes.
1. Of Deathless Shadows (2023)
This is the first Alkrose Academy novel. It introduces the series’ setting and establishes the dark atmosphere, dangerous forces, and conflicts that define the story.
Because the book lays the groundwork for the series, it is the correct place to begin.
2. Secrets of Alkrose (2024)
The second installment continues the Alkrose Academy storyline and builds on the world established in the first book. Read it after Of Deathless Shadows to follow the continuing conflicts and character development in sequence.
Alkrose Academy reading order: Of Deathless Shadows → Secrets of Alkrose.
3. Harlow Sanctum Books in Order
Harlow Sanctum brings together two books with a darker emotional atmosphere. These titles are often grouped together in Moronova’s bibliography, making it worth reading them in the listed sequence.
1. The Fabric of Our Souls (2023)
This dark romance explores emotionally difficult territory and features characters dealing with serious personal struggles. Its tone is more intimate and psychologically intense than a straightforward fantasy adventure.
The book is an option for readers who prefer emotionally heavy romance over a large supernatural world.
2. A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope (2024)
The second Harlow Sanctum title continues the darker emotional atmosphere associated with this part of Moronova’s bibliography. Reading The Fabric of Our Souls first is the best approach if you want to follow the books in their listed order.
Harlow Sanctum reading order: The Fabric of Our Souls → A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope.
4. Dark Forces Books in Order
Dark Forces is Moronova’s military dark romance series. The books feature dangerous circumstances, intense relationships, and the kind of morally complicated characters associated with her darker romantic fiction.
1. Your Knife, My Heart (2025)
This novel opens the Dark Forces series. It introduces the story’s central relationship and the dangerous environment surrounding the characters, establishing the foundation for the sequel.
Start here before reading the second book.
2. My Blade, Your Back (2025)
The sequel continues the Dark Forces storyline. It follows the first book in publication order and is best read after Your Knife, My Heart so the continuing story makes sense.
A note about Bulletproof
Bulletproof (2026) is also associated with the Dark Forces world, but it is cataloged as a standalone rather than a numbered third installment. It can be read separately from the two-book sequence, although readers familiar with the series may appreciate the shared setting.
Dark Forces reading order: Your Knife, My Heart → My Blade, Your Back. Read Bulletproof as a separate companion standalone.
5. Cruel Fates Duet in Order
Cruel Fates is a dark fantasy romance duet built around an arranged marriage, opposing kingdoms, and a relationship shaped by conflict. Its setting brings together demigods, demons, political obligations, and the possibility that love can emerge between sworn enemies.
1. Once Upon a Demon’s Heart (2025)
Alira, a demigod knight, is sent into a political marriage with Kalel Lornhelm, a feared demon commander known as the Blood Knight. The marriage is intended to help end a long-running conflict, but Alira’s new life in the demon kingdom challenges her assumptions about her husband and the world around them.
This first book establishes the central relationship and the political tensions that drive the duet.
2. Once Written in Gilded Blood (2026)
The second book continues Alira and Kalel’s story after their marriage. Although they have chosen one another, maintaining peace between their worlds proves difficult. Buried secrets, threats of renewed war, and uncertainty about the future challenge their relationship.
Once Written in Gilded Blood concludes the Cruel Fates Duet. Read it only after Once Upon a Demon’s Heart for the intended progression of the romance and fantasy conflict.
Cruel Fates reading order: Once Upon a Demon’s Heart → Once Written in Gilded Blood.
6. Standalone K. M. Moronova Books
Moronova’s standalone novels offer a way to explore her writing without committing to another multi-book sequence. These titles are separate from the numbered series above, although some share elements of her darker romantic style.
Leave Me Behind (2024)
Leave Me Behind is a standalone dark romance with an intense emotional tone. It is a good choice for readers who want a self-contained story rather than a supernatural trilogy or military-romance sequel.
Some later print editions appeared in 2025, so the publication year may differ across retailer listings.
Bulletproof (2026)
Bulletproof is a standalone military dark romance associated with the wider Dark Forces world. Its relationship and setting give readers another way into Moronova’s military-romance fiction without making it a numbered sequel to My Blade, Your Back.
How to choose between the standalones
Choose Leave Me Behind if you want a self-contained, emotionally intense romance. Choose Bulletproof if the military setting and the wider Dark Forces world appeal to you.
7. What’s Coming Next? Covington Graves
Moronova’s next announced series is Covington Graves, which begins with a new dark romance.
Become the Dark (expected February 2027)
Become the Dark is listed as the first book in Covington Graves. Its premise involves former lovers who are forced to hunt a killer while keeping a buried secret hidden.
The book is scheduled for February 2027. As of October 2026, it is forthcoming, so it should not be counted among the already published novels.
If you want to read the series from the beginning, place Become the Dark first once it is released.
K. M. Moronova Books at a Glance
| Series or category | Reading order |
| Pine Hollow | A God of Wrath & Lies → A God of Death & Rest → A Goddess of Life & Dawn |
| Alkrose Academy | Of Deathless Shadows → Secrets of Alkrose |
| Harlow Sanctum | The Fabric of Our Souls → A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope |
| Dark Forces | Your Knife, My Heart → My Blade, Your Back |
| Cruel Fates Duet | Once Upon a Demon’s Heart → Once Written in Gilded Blood |
| Standalones | Leave Me Behind, Bulletproof |
| Upcoming Covington Graves | Become the Dark (expected 2027) |
Publication years may differ between original releases, later editions, and publisher reprints. The order within each series is the more important guide for readers.
Before You Start: Content Notes for Readers
K. M. Moronova writes for adult readers, and her books can include material that some people may find disturbing. The author specifically warns readers about themes including violence, gore, death, mental illness, emotional distress, and explicit sexual content.
The intensity varies by book. Her official trigger-warning page gives series-specific details, including a particularly strong warning for Alkrose Academy because of its depictions of war and violence. The Fabric of Our Souls also includes serious mental-health themes, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.
If any of these subjects are difficult for you, check the author’s individual content warnings before starting. Dark romance can explore difficult topics as part of its fiction, and knowing what to expect can help you choose a book that suits your preferences.
About K. M. Moronova
K. M. Moronova is a dark fantasy and romance author known for stories featuring misunderstood characters, morally complicated relationships, supernatural settings, and emotionally intense conflicts. Her bibliography ranges from the fantasy world of Pine Hollow to the military romance of Dark Forces and the arranged-marriage fantasy of Cruel Fates.
Her books are written for adult audiences, and their tone can be considerably darker than conventional contemporary romance. Readers interested in her work can choose between connected series with continuing storylines and standalone novels that offer a self-contained experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first K. M. Moronova book?
A God of Wrath & Lies (2022) is the first Pine Hollow novel and an early entry in her bibliography. It is a good starting point if you want to explore her dark fantasy romance.
How many books are in the Pine Hollow series?
Pine Hollow is a trilogy: A God of Wrath & Lies, A God of Death & Rest, and A Goddess of Life & Dawn. Read the three books in that order.
What is the correct order of the Dark Forces books?
Read Your Knife, My Heart (2025) first, followed by My Blade, Your Back (2025). Bulletproof (2026) is cataloged separately as a standalone associated with the wider Dark Forces world.
Is The Fabric of Our Souls part of a series?
It is listed as the first Harlow Sanctum title in some series bibliographies, followed by A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope. If you are following that series listing, read those two books in order.
Is Cruel Fates a completed series?
Yes. The Cruel Fates Duet consists of Once Upon a Demon’s Heart and Once Written in Gilded Blood. The second book was published in 2026 and concludes Alira and Kalel’s story.
Can I read K. M. Moronova’s books out of order?
You can choose any standalone novel independently. For the connected series, publication order is recommended because later books continue the characters and conflicts established earlier.
What is K. M. Moronova’s next book?
Become the Dark, the first Covington Graves novel, is scheduled for February 2027. Release dates can change, so check the author’s official announcements for the latest information.
Are K. M. Moronova’s books suitable for young readers?
Her books are intended for adults and can contain explicit sexual content, violence, gore, and difficult mental-health themes. Review the author’s content warnings before reading, especially if you have specific topics you prefer to avoid.
Final Note
The best way to read K. M. Moronova is to choose the world that appeals to you and follow its books in order. Start with Pine Hollow for dark fantasy romance, Alkrose Academy for a more intense academy setting, Dark Forces for military romance, or Cruel Fates for an arranged-marriage fantasy. Once you’ve explored a series, her standalone novels offer another route into her darker, character-driven stories.
Leave a Reply