Charlene Hartnady Books in Order (Updated April 22, 2026)

Charlene Hartnady writes paranormal romance across several distinct clusters rather than one giant continuity. The practical choice is not “publication order or chronological order?” but which lane you want first: vampire/fated-mate romance, long dragon runs, or wolf-and-demon romance.

For most readers, the two best starting points are Chosen by the Vampire Kings and Riding Through Fire. The first opens one of her best-known earlier paranormal lines, while the second begins the most active current dragon series on her official site.

Quick answer

• Start with Chosen by the Vampire Kings if you want the cleanest classic Charlene Hartnady entry point.
• Start with Riding Through Fire if you want the current dragon-heavy phase of her catalog.
• Start with A Drop of Blood if you want a newer fantasy-paranormal series that is still expanding.

The easiest way to use Charlene Hartnady’s catalog

There are three strong reading lanes:

1. The early vampire/fated-mate lane: The Chosen and The Program
2. The dragon lane: The Bride Hunt, Water Dragons, Earth Dragons, Air Dragons, The Dragon Tributes
3. The wolf/demon lane: Shifter Night, Demon Chaser, Exiled by the Pack, plus newer fantasy-paranormal work like The Lost Kings

That approach is more useful than a full all-books publication list, because the series are mostly separate and the dragon side in particular is large enough to overwhelm the page if everything is flattened into one stream.

Lane one: vampire and fated-mate books

The Chosen

This is one of the clearest places to begin, and Goodreads notes an author-suggested internal reading order that includes the novella and later related title.

1. Chosen by the Vampire Kings (2015): This opens the series with the strongest “captured by a dangerous supernatural court” setup in Hartnady’s early catalog.
2. Stolen by the Alpha Wolf (2015): The second book shifts the series into wolf territory while keeping the same fated-mate paranormal-romance energy.
3. Unlikely Mates (2015): This installment keeps the broader Chosen sequence moving and works best after the first two.
4. Awakened by the Vampire Prince (2016): Originally published as a serial, this is best treated as the next main stop in the Chosen line.
5. Mated to the Vampire Kings (2016): This returns to the vampire-king thread and functions like a major payoff book in the sequence.
6. Wolf Whisperer (2016, novella, optional): Goodreads places this as a side entry after the main vampire-king books, so it works best as bonus material rather than as a starting point.
7. Wanted by the Elven King (2017): This later Chosen entry broadens the supernatural range again and closes the currently listed sequence.

The Program

This is another strong early entry lane, especially if you want a more tightly branded mate-focused series. Fantastic Fiction and Goodreads both list seven main books, with a couple of smaller extras around the edges.

1. A Mate for York (2015): The series begins here and sets the tone for the entire Program line.
2. A Mate for Gideon (2015): Book two continues the same setup and should be read directly after York.
3. A Mate for Lazarus (2015): The third installment keeps the series in the same fated-mate mode without a reset.
4. A Mate for Griffin (2016): This is where the series starts feeling more fully established rather than introductory.
5. A Mate for Lance (2016): The fifth book extends the same pairing-driven structure.
6. A Mate for Kai (2016): Another direct continuation that is best read in sequence.
7. A Mate for Brynn (2016, optional extra): Goodreads lists this as a side piece rather than one of the main numbered novels.
8. A Mate for Titan (2017): This is the seventh core Program novel and the current endpoint of the main series.

Lane two: the dragon books

This is the biggest part of Charlene Hartnady’s bibliography and the section most worth reading by series rather than by overall publication date. Official site pages currently foreground The Dragon Tributes, The Lost Kings, The Chosen, The Beast King Brides, Earth Dragons, and The Bride Hunt, while Goodreads expands the broader dragon map to include Air Dragons and Water Dragons.

The Bride Hunt

A compact six-book dragon-romance run and one of the easiest dragon entry points.

1. Royal Dragon (2019): This opens the series and introduces the arranged-or-claimed-bride structure that defines the run.
2. Water Dragon (2019): The second book continues the same dragon-court style without changing lanes.
3. Dragon King (2019): This deepens the royal dragon setup and works best after the first two.
4. Lightning Dragon (2020): Book four keeps the same continuity and tone intact.
5. Forbidden Dragon (2020): The fifth book leans harder into forbidden-pairing energy, just as the title suggests.
6. Dragon Prince (2021): This closes the currently listed Bride Hunt sequence.

Water Dragons

A shorter four-book branch for readers who want dragon romance without a very long commitment.

1. Dragon Hunt (2018): The series begins here with a hunt-and-capture flavored setup.
2. Captured Dragon (2018): Book two continues the same world and couple-centered structure.
3. Blood Dragon (2018): The third entry keeps the pressure building inside the same line.
4. Dragon Betrayal (2019): This serves as the payoff book and current endpoint of the series.

Earth Dragons

This is a six-book dragon line and one of Hartnady’s stronger mid-catalog runs.

1. Dragon Guard (2020): The opener establishes the Earth Dragons branch and its protective-warrior framing.
2. Savage Dragon (2020): Book two pushes the intensity higher while staying inside the same continuity.
3. Dragon Whelps (2020): This continues the series with a more family-and-dragonline emphasis.
4. Slave Dragon (2021): The fourth book keeps the series in darker territory.
5. Doctor Dragon (2021): This later entry extends the same world without serving as a reset.
6. Feral Dragon (2021): The sixth book is the current listed endpoint of Earth Dragons.

Air Dragons

Another six-book dragon sequence, and a good option if you already know the dragon side of Hartnady’s catalog works for you.

1. Dragon Heat (2021): The Air Dragons line begins here with a high-intensity dragon-romance setup.
2. Dragon Hunter (2021): Book two keeps the same airborne dragon world moving.
3. Dragon Avalanche (2021): The third book pushes the series deeper into established continuity.
4. Dragon Overlord (2022): This entry raises the scale and authority stakes of the series.
5. Dragon Cyclone (2022): Book five continues the same line without breaking the sequence.
6. Dragon Typhoon (2022): The sixth book is the current listed endpoint of Air Dragons.

The Beast King Brides

This six-book run blends beast-king fantasy romance with the same fast, pairing-driven structure found elsewhere in her catalog.

1. Thirst (2023): The series begins here and establishes the darker beast-king tone.
2. Ruin (2023): Book two continues the same dangerous-court energy.
3. Fire (2024): The third book keeps the sequence moving through another linked romantic arc.
4. Rage (2024): This installment pushes the emotional intensity higher.
5. Ice (2025): The fifth book broadens the elemental and courtly feel of the series.
6. Ashes (2025): This is the current listed endpoint of The Beast King Brides.

The Dragon Tributes

This is the dragon series Hartnady’s official site is currently pushing hardest, and it is also one of her main active lines. Goodreads lists ten published books through Dancing with Fire, while the author’s official site and Fantastic Fiction both show Bound by Fire as the next book on preorder, making this the most current major series in her catalog.

1. Riding Through Fire (2023): This is the best starting point for readers who want Hartnady’s current dragon phase rather than her earlier vampire books.
2. Taming The Fire (2023): Book two confirms the series’ rotating-couple dragon-rider structure.
3. Heart of the Fire (2023): The third book keeps the same Draig Island setup expanding.
4. Consumed by Fire (2024): The fourth book pushes the series into its more established middle phase.
5. Red Fire (2024): This starts the Mistveil Island stretch of the series.
6. Red Captive (2024): Book six continues the Mistveil branch and should be read in order.
7. Red King (2025): The seventh book deepens the same later-series dragon world.
8. Red Fury (2025): This continues the Mistveil phase and is not meant as a jumping-on point.
9. Burning in Fire (2025): The ninth book returns the series to another dragon-couple continuation.
10. Dancing with Fire (2025): This is the latest published Dragon Tributes novel currently visible in the checked sources.
11. Bound by Fire (2026, upcoming): Official and catalog pages list this as the next Dragon Tributes release.

Lane three: wolves, demons, and newer fantasy-paranormal books

Shifter Night

A shorter three-book wolf-shifter run and a clean alternative to the dragon-heavy series.

1. Untethered (2017): The series opens with a wolf-shifter setup and a more compact structure than the dragon books.
2. Unbound (2017): Book two continues the same relationship and pack dynamics.
3. Unchained (2018): The trilogy closes here.

Demon Chaser

A four-book paranormal line for readers who want demons rather than dragons or vampire courts.

1. Omega (2020): This opens the series and sets the darker demon-focused tone.
2. Alpha (2020): Book two continues the same main arc and pairing logic.
3. Hybrid (2021): The third installment pushes the supernatural conflict further.
4. Skin (2021): This closes the currently listed Demon Chaser run.

Exiled by the Pack

This co-authored wolf series with B.E. Brouillard is separate from Hartnady’s solo series and best treated as its own lane.

1. Scarred Wolf (2021): The series begins here with exile-and-pack conflict at the center.
2. Wild Wolf (2021): Book two builds directly on the first novel’s pack setup.
3. Lone Wolf (2022): The third entry keeps the exile thread alive and deepens the emotional stakes.
4. Wolf Rivals (2022): This is the fourth and current listed endpoint of the series.

The Lost Kings

This is Hartnady’s newer fantasy-paranormal line and one of the easiest current series to recommend after Dragon Tributes. Her official site lists the first four books on the main books page, Fantastic Fiction and Amazon show A Slice of Shadow as book five in 2026, and the official Coming Soon page lists A Slash of Claw as book six on preorder.

1. A Drop of Blood (2023): This opens the series and is the best entry point if you want a newer Hartnady world rather than an older one.
2. A Lick of Flame (2024): Book two expands the quest-and-curse structure introduced in the opener.
3. A Shard of Ice (2024): The third installment continues the same fantasy-paranormal arc.
4. A Bolt of Magic (2025): By this stage the series is in full continuity mode and should be read in order.
5. A Slice of Shadow (2026): This is the most recently released Charlene Hartnady novel in the sources checked here.
6. A Slash of Claw (2026, upcoming): The next Lost Kings novel is already listed on the official Coming Soon page.

Recommended reading order

For most readers, this is the smoothest path:

1. Chosen by the Vampire Kings: Best all-around starting point.
2. Stolen by the Alpha Wolf: Continue the Chosen lane in order.
3. Unlikely Mates: Keep the early paranormal thread intact.
4. Awakened by the Vampire Prince: Read before returning to the vampire-king line.
5. Mated to the Vampire Kings: This works best with the full buildup behind it.
6. Wanted by the Elven King: Finish the main Chosen run.
7. Riding Through Fire: Then move into the current dragon flagship.
8. Taming The Fire: Continue Dragon Tributes in order.
9. Heart of the Fire: Read third.
10. Consumed by Fire: Keep going without interruption.
11. Red Fire: Start the Mistveil stretch.
12. Red Captive: Continue directly.
13. Red King: Read seventh.
14. Red Fury: Read eighth.
15. Burning in Fire: Read ninth.
16. Dancing with Fire: This is the current published endpoint.
17. A Drop of Blood: Then move to the newer fantasy-paranormal lane.
18. A Lick of Flame: Continue The Lost Kings in order.
19. A Shard of Ice: Read third.
20. A Bolt of Magic: Read fourth.
21. A Slice of Shadow: Current latest published Lost Kings book.

Publication order or series order?

For Charlene Hartnady, series order matters far more than full publication order.

Her series are mostly built around recurring world logic, linked romantic setups, and cumulative supernatural context. Reading straight by publication date would throw wolves, dragons, vampire courts, and unrelated kingdoms together in a way that does not help a new reader.

Latest release status

The newest Charlene Hartnady novel currently listed is A Slice of Shadow, released in March 2026. The official author site also lists Bound by Fire as the next Dragon Tributes book and A Slash of Claw as the next Lost Kings book on preorder, so those are the two main upcoming releases to watch.

FAQs

What is the first Charlene Hartnady book to read?

Chosen by the Vampire Kings is the safest first book for most readers because it opens one of her best-known early series and gives a clear sense of her style.

What is the best dragon starting point?

Riding Through Fire is the best dragon entry point because it begins the currently active Dragon Tributes series.

Which Charlene Hartnady series is newest?

Among the currently active major lines, The Lost Kings and The Dragon Tributes are the most current, with 2026 activity on both series.

Do I need to read every dragon series in order?

No. Read within each dragon series in order, but you do not need to alternate between The Bride Hunt, Water Dragons, Earth Dragons, Air Dragons, and The Dragon Tributes.

Final recommendation

Start with Chosen by the Vampire Kings if you want the clearest overall introduction to Charlene Hartnady.

Start with Riding Through Fire if you already know you want dragons first and want to begin with the series she is actively extending right now.