Ilona Andrews Books in Order: Every Series, Spin-Off, and Novel
Ilona Andrews books are easy to get hooked on, but their interconnected worlds can make the reading order confusing. The Kate Daniels universe alone includes the original ten-book series, additional novels featuring other characters, the Iron Covenant spin-off, and the newer Wilmington Years and Aurelia Ryder stories. Meanwhile, Innkeeper Chronicles, Hidden Legacy, and The Edge offer different settings and characters.
This guide organizes the major series, spin-offs, companion novellas, and standalone works into clear reading sequences. The main novels come first within each series, with relevant shorter stories included where they fit. Because the authors continue to update their official bibliography, forthcoming releases are identified separately from books already available.
1. Kate Daniels Books in Order
The Kate Daniels series is one of Ilona Andrews’ best-known works. Set in a post-apocalyptic Atlanta where magic and technology rise and fall in unpredictable waves, it follows mercenary Kate Daniels as she deals with supernatural crimes, shapeshifters, necromancers, and increasingly dangerous enemies.
The original series has ten full-length novels. The story continues in the Wilmington Years novellas, while other books explore characters from the same world.
Original Kate Daniels Series
1. Magic Bites (2007)
Kate Daniels earns a living dealing with magical problems in a world where supernatural forces can make modern technology useless. When her guardian is murdered, her search for answers draws her into a conflict between Atlanta’s shapeshifters and necromancers.
2. Magic Burns (2008)
A powerful magical flare allows gods and goddesses to enter the world, making Atlanta more dangerous than usual. Kate investigates stolen maps and discovers that the theft is connected to a conflict with consequences far beyond an ordinary mercenary job.
3. Magic Strikes (2009)
When Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is found badly injured, she investigates the Midnight Games, a brutal supernatural fighting tournament. Her search exposes a dangerous plot involving the shapeshifter community.
4. Magic Bleeds (2010)
A new enemy appears in Atlanta, and the threat is tied to Kate’s own family history. As the danger grows, Kate and Curran must confront a powerful opponent with a connection to the past.
5. Magic Slays (2011)
After leaving the Order of Merciful Aid, Kate starts her own investigative business. A case involving a rogue vampire quickly develops into a larger threat that could endanger everyone she cares about.
5.5. Magic Gifts (2011, novella)
Kate and Curran attempt to enjoy a romantic evening, but a death at a nearby restaurant pulls them into another supernatural investigation. This novella is also included in Gunmetal Magic.
6. Magic Rises (2013)
Kate and Curran travel to Europe to obtain medicine that could save young shapeshifters who cannot control their animal forms. Their mission becomes entangled in political disputes and a dangerous trap.
7. Magic Breaks (2014)
Kate faces a threat connected to her father, Roland, as Atlanta’s supernatural factions gather for a major political meeting. A murder investigation threatens to ignite a war that could destroy everything Kate has built.
8. Magic Shifts (2015)
Kate and Curran leave their previous life behind and try to establish themselves outside the Pack. Their new work as mercenaries seems manageable until several seemingly unrelated jobs reveal a much larger threat.
9. Magic Binds (2016)
Kate and Curran prepare to marry while dealing with a crisis involving Roland and a prophecy that predicts disaster. Their personal future and the safety of Atlanta become increasingly difficult to separate.
10. Magic Triumphs (2018)
The original Kate Daniels storyline reaches its major conclusion. Kate must unite unlikely allies and face an ancient enemy while protecting her family and the world they inhabit.
Kate Daniels Companion Stories
These shorter works provide additional context and adventures. They are useful for readers who want more of Kate’s world, but they are not all required to understand the ten main novels.
- A Questionable Client: A prequel story about Kate’s early work as a mercenary.
- Magic Mourns: A novella featuring Andrea Nash and Raphael Medrano.
- Magic Dreams: A novella centered on Jim Shrapshire and Dali Harimau.
- Magic Steals: Another Jim and Dali novella.
- Magic Stars: A novella featuring Derek.
- Magic Tests: A short story included in the Small Magics collection.
- An Ill-Advised Rescue: A story associated with Magic Rises.
- Small Magics: A collection containing several short stories and additional character material from the Kate Daniels world.
The authors’ official list groups these works separately from the main novels. If you want a straightforward first read, complete the ten main books before returning for the shorter extras.
2. Wilmington Years Books in Order
The Wilmington Years continue Kate and Curran’s story after the events of Magic Triumphs. They have left Atlanta with their son, Conlan, but supernatural trouble follows them into their new home.
1. Magic Tides (2023)
Kate, Curran, and Conlan settle into life in Wilmington, hoping to keep a lower profile. When a young person is kidnapped, Kate takes on a rescue mission that quickly becomes much more dangerous than expected.
2. Magic Claims (2023)
Kate and Curran face a new supernatural threat near their home. A local community is in danger, and the couple must decide how much they are willing to risk to protect people who need their help.
These are long novellas rather than conventional full-length novels, but the authors count them as books 11 and 12 in the wider Kate Daniels sequence.
3. Iron Covenant Books in Order
Iron Covenant is a Kate Daniels World spin-off featuring Hugh d’Ambray, one of the original series’ most dangerous antagonists. The story gives him a central role and explores his uneasy partnership with Elara Harper.
1. Iron and Magic (2018)
Hugh loses his position under the powerful Roland and must find a way to protect his soldiers, the Iron Dogs. He forms an alliance with Elara Harper, a woman with extraordinary magical abilities, but neither trusts the other completely.
The authors have not listed a second full-length Iron Covenant novel in their current complete book list. Check their release schedule for any future continuation.
4. Aurelia Ryder Books in Order
Aurelia Ryder is another series set in the Kate Daniels world. It follows Julie Lennart-Olsen, Kate and Curran’s ward, who returns to Atlanta after years away with a new identity and a dangerous mission.
1. Blood Heir (2021)
Julie returns to Atlanta as Aurelia Ryder, determined to protect the family she left behind. Her investigation into a series of horrifying murders brings her face-to-face with an ancient enemy and the man she once loved.
The authors have not listed a second full-length Aurelia Ryder novel in their current complete book list. The series remains part of the broader Kate Daniels universe.
5. Innkeeper Chronicles Books in Order
Innkeeper Chronicles blends science fiction, fantasy, romance, and a touch of cozy mystery. Dina DeMille runs a magical bed-and-breakfast in Texas, but her guests come from other planets, and keeping them safe can involve anything from intergalactic politics to supernatural battles.
The main series switches between Dina’s story and a companion novel featuring her sister, Maud.
1. Clean Sweep (2013)
Dina’s bed-and-breakfast appears ordinary from the outside, but the inn is a living magical entity that accommodates visitors from across the galaxy. When a dangerous creature begins hunting nearby, Dina must protect her neighbors while dealing with unusual guests and a handsome new neighbor.
2. Sweep in Peace (2015)
Dina agrees to host a peace summit between three hostile alien groups. Managing the inn becomes a high-stakes challenge as the guests threaten to kill one another and Dina risks her life to keep the negotiations from collapsing.
3. One Fell Sweep (2016)
Dina must rescue her sister Maud and help a guest whose civilization faces disaster. As the inn comes under attack, she risks everything to protect her guests and discover what happened to her missing parents.
3.5. Sweep with Me (2020, novella)
During the Innkeepers’ Treaty Stay holiday, Dina and Sean must welcome a series of unusual guests. The traditional celebration quickly becomes another test of Dina’s ability to keep everyone safe.
4. Sweep of the Blade (2019)
This companion novel follows Maud DeMille, Dina’s sister, after her experiences on the harsh planet Karhari. Having sworn off vampire knights, Maud must reconsider her future when her story brings her into contact with the powerful vampire world again.
5. Sweep of the Heart (2022)
Dina and Sean’s life becomes more complicated when Sean’s werewolf mentor is kidnapped. To find him, Dina must host an intergalactic spouse-selection event for a powerful ruler while preventing political rivalries and personal conflicts from turning deadly.
The authors also provide short Innkeeper extras, including stories about Dina and Maud’s parents, Gerard and Helen. These are optional additions rather than numbered novels.
6. Hidden Legacy Books in Order
Hidden Legacy takes place in a modern world where inherited magical abilities have created powerful dynasties. The Baylor family runs an investigative agency in Houston, where magic, wealth, family politics, and dangerous secrets shape everyday life.
The series is divided into character arcs, so the most useful reading order follows the central character of each group.
Nevada Baylor Trilogy
1. Burn for Me (2014)
Nevada Baylor accepts a dangerous investigation involving a powerful Prime, one of the highest ranks of magic user. Her work brings her into contact with Connor “Mad” Rogan, a billionaire with extraordinary powers and a complicated personality.
2. White Hot (2017)
Nevada’s latest case brings her back into contact with Rogan and draws her toward powerful forces threatening Houston. As the danger grows, their relationship becomes more difficult to separate from the case.
3. Wildfire (2017)
Nevada and Rogan confront a threat connected to her own family while trying to build a future together. Their investigation forces them to face both the political consequences of Nevada’s growing power and the complications of their relationship.
Companion: Diamond Fire (2018, novella)
Nevada and Rogan’s wedding preparations go wrong when a priceless tiara disappears and a suspicious death threatens the celebration. Catalina Baylor must use her own abilities to uncover the truth.
Catalina Baylor Trilogy
4. Sapphire Flames (2019)
Catalina Baylor is now a powerful Prime and the head of her House. When a friend’s family is targeted by murder, Catalina investigates a case that brings her into contact with Alessandro Sagredo, a dangerous Italian Prime from her past.
5. Emerald Blaze (2020)
Catalina faces another case involving powerful magical families and a threat that could have serious consequences for Houston. Her growing responsibilities test both her abilities and her relationships.
6. Ruby Fever (2022)
Catalina’s story reaches its planned conclusion as she confronts a dangerous enemy and the complicated realities of her growing power. The novel brings the central Catalina storyline to a major turning point.
Hidden Legacy Companion Stories
The authors have also published short stories and alternative points of view, including:
- Rogan POV stories: Scenes told from Connor Rogan’s perspective.
- A Misunderstanding: A short story featuring Arabella Baylor.
- The Cool Aunt: Another Arabella-focused story.
- Regina: Additional short fiction from the Hidden Legacy world.
- Beast Business: A novella featuring Augustine Montgomery and Diana Harrison, with related material involving Arabella.
These extras add depth to the characters but are not necessary to follow the main Nevada and Catalina trilogies.
7. The Edge Books in Order
The Edge is a completed four-book fantasy romance series set between two worlds. The Broken resembles the ordinary modern world, while the Weird is ruled by powerful magical families. People who live in the Edge exist between both places, often struggling to find security and acceptance.
1. On the Edge (2009)
Rose Drayton lives in the Edge and struggles to support her family with limited resources. Her life changes when Declan Camarine, a powerful noble from the Weird, enters it, and the two must work together against a threat that endangers their world.
2. Bayou Moon (2010)
Cerise Mar’s parents disappear, and suspicion falls on a rival family. Her search for answers intersects with William, a changeling soldier who has returned to a dangerous political conflict in the Weird.
3. Fate’s Edge (2011)
Audrey Callahan tries to leave her family’s history of con artistry behind, but trouble involving her brother pulls her into one last job. She crosses paths with Kaldar Mar, a skilled gambler, lawyer, thief, and spy.
4. Steel’s Edge (2012)
Charlotte de Ney flees a broken marriage and tries to establish a new life in the Edge. When she is asked to treat Richard Mar, a swordsman fighting human traffickers, she becomes involved in a dangerous mission against a powerful criminal operation.
The Edge series is complete for now. Some characters later appear in Innkeeper Chronicles, creating a connection between the two worlds.
8. Maggie the Undying Books in Order
Maggie the Undying is a newer fantasy series with a premise that will appeal to readers who enjoy stories about characters transported into the worlds of books.
1. This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (2026)
Maggie wakes up in a dangerous fantasy world she knows from an unfinished book series she has read repeatedly. Her knowledge of its characters and political conflicts becomes her greatest advantage as she tries to prevent a catastrophic war.
The authors’ current release schedule lists a second Maggie the Undying novel for the second half of 2027, but its title and exact publication date have not been confirmed in the schedule.
9. The Breach Wars Books in Order
The Breach Wars is a science-fantasy series set in a world under threat from interdimensional invaders. The appearance of dangerous portals has also awakened unusual abilities in some humans, giving them a chance to fight back.
1. The Inheritance (2025)
Adaline is a government worker who enters dimensional breaches to find resources that can help humanity survive an interdimensional invasion. When a mission goes wrong, she becomes trapped in a strange labyrinth with only a frightened German Shepherd for company.
The authors list The Inheritance as the first book in Breach Wars. Check the official release schedule for any announced continuation.
10. Kinsmen Books in Order
Kinsmen is a science-fiction romance universe in which powerful families control vast financial empires and possess advanced genetic or technological abilities. Each story can be read independently, so there is no complicated continuous plot to follow.
1. Silent Blade (2009)
Meli Galdes trains as an assassin after a powerful man breaks their engagement and ruins her family’s prospects. When she receives one final assignment, she must confront the man who changed her life.
2. Silver Shark (2011)
Claire Shannon is a powerful psychic who escapes a devastating war and hides her abilities on another planet. Her new job brings her close to a wealthy and dangerous man, but keeping her identity secret becomes increasingly difficult.
3. Fated Blades (2021, novella)
Ramona Adler and Matias Baena belong to rival families whose long-standing conflict threatens their future. Forced into an uneasy alliance, they must decide whether their growing attraction can survive the danger surrounding them.
Related short story: A Mere Formality
This story follows a diplomatic crisis that turns into an arranged-marriage negotiation. It belongs to the wider Kinsmen universe and can be read as an additional story rather than a numbered full-length novel.
11. Alphas Books in Order
1. Alphas: Origins (2016, novella)
Karina Tucker witnesses a hidden world of extraordinary powers after an unexpected stop on a road trip. She is pulled into a violent conflict between people with inhuman abilities and must find a way to protect herself and regain control of her future.
The authors have stated that they have no current plans to continue the Alphas series.
12. Other Ilona Andrews Short Stories
The authors have published additional short fiction that does not form part of a numbered novel sequence.
A Small Blue Key
A short story in the authors’ wider collection of fiction. It is best treated as an optional extra rather than a required starting point for any major series.
Of Swine and Roses
A fantasy short story included in the Small Magics collection. It offers a standalone taste of the authors’ imaginative storytelling.
Grace of Small Magics
Another short story available in Small Magics. Readers can enjoy it separately from the main Kate Daniels novels.
Retribution Clause
A short story about a relative of Saiman from the Kate Daniels world. It is not part of Kate’s central story arc and can be read as an independent extra.
What Is the Best Ilona Andrews Series to Start With?
The best starting point depends on the kind of fantasy you enjoy.
- For urban fantasy with a strong heroine: Start with Magic Bites, the first Kate Daniels novel.
- For a magical world with romance and family politics: Start with Burn for Me, the first Hidden Legacy book.
- For cozy science fantasy and unusual alien guests: Start with Clean Sweep, the first Innkeeper Chronicles novel.
- For fantasy romance with different couples: Try On the Edge, the opening book of The Edge.
- For a villain-centered romance: Read Iron and Magic after the main Kate Daniels novels introduce Hugh d’Ambray.
- For a book-lover transported into a fantasy world: Start with This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me.
- For science fantasy and dangerous interdimensional missions: Try The Inheritance.
If you want the largest connected reading experience, Kate Daniels is the natural starting point. If you prefer shorter commitments, Hidden Legacy offers a more compact sequence of connected character arcs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ilona Andrews one author or two?
Ilona Andrews is the shared pen name of Ilona and Gordon Andrews, a husband-and-wife writing team. They collaborate on the books published under that name.
What is the first Ilona Andrews book?
That depends on the series. Magic Bites is the first Kate Daniels novel, Clean Sweep begins Innkeeper Chronicles, Burn for Me starts the Nevada Baylor trilogy, and This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me begins Maggie the Undying.
How many Kate Daniels books are there?
The original Kate Daniels storyline contains ten full-length novels, beginning with Magic Bites and ending with Magic Triumphs. The wider series continues with Magic Tides and Magic Claims, which are part of the Wilmington Years, alongside spin-offs and companion stories.
Should I read Kate Daniels before Iron and Magic?
Yes, reading the main Kate Daniels novels first is recommended. Iron and Magic focuses on Hugh d’Ambray, a character whose history is established in the original series.
Is Hidden Legacy finished?
The authors currently label Hidden Legacy as “finished for now.” The main sequence consists of the Nevada Baylor trilogy, the Catalina Baylor trilogy, and related companion stories.
Is The Edge series complete?
Yes. The Edge is listed as complete for now, with four main books: On the Edge, Bayou Moon, Fate’s Edge, and Steel’s Edge.
Can I read Innkeeper Chronicles without reading Kate Daniels?
Absolutely. Innkeeper Chronicles has its own setting, main characters, and story arc. You can start with Clean Sweep without reading any Kate Daniels books first.
What is the newest Ilona Andrews book?
As of October 2026, This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me is the first novel in the new Maggie the Undying series, and The Inheritance is the first Breach Wars novel. The authors’ release schedule lists a second Maggie the Undying novel for the second half of 2027.
Are Ilona Andrews books romance or fantasy?
They combine both. Many series include romantic relationships, but the balance varies. Kate Daniels leans toward urban fantasy and supernatural action, Hidden Legacy emphasizes magical dynasties and romance, and Innkeeper Chronicles mixes science fantasy with relationships and found-family themes.
Where can I find the complete Ilona Andrews reading order?
The authors maintain a complete book list and separate series pages that identify novels, novellas, short stories, and related fiction. Those official lists are the best way to check for newly announced books and ensure that companion stories are placed correctly.
Final Note
Ilona Andrews has built several connected fictional worlds, each with its own characters, magic systems, and style. Whether you want Kate Daniels’ supernatural investigations, the Baylor family’s magical rivalries, Dina DeMille’s intergalactic guests, or Maggie’s dangerous journey through a fantasy novel, there is a series to match your interests.
For the simplest reading experience, choose one series and follow its numbered order. Once you have explored that world, the spin-offs and companion stories offer plenty of ways to return to the characters you enjoy.
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