Sierra Simone Books in Order (Updated 2026-02-05)

Sierra Simone writes romance that ranges from high-heat contemporary to gothic, ritual-heavy dark romance, with several lines that are tightly interconnected and a few that are designed to stand alone.

You can absolutely read many of her books as one-offs. But if you want clean introductions and fewer “that couple already happened” moments, use the series-by-series orders below.

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Start here if you only want one book

• Priest: best-known entry point; works as a complete standalone.
• American Queen: start here if you want political power games and a continuous trilogy.
• A Lesson in Thorns: start here if you want the darkest, most atmospheric series.
• Salt Kiss: start here if you want the newest epic-romance direction (and don’t mind starting with book 1 rather than the prequel novella).

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The Priest Collection

These are connected, but they’re not one long single plot. You can read the main novels as standalones, though starting with Priest is the smoothest entry.

Recommended order (cleanest experience)

1. Priest: A conflicted priest and a woman with her own history collide, forcing faith and desire into the same room.
2. Midnight Mass (novella): A return to the first couple, focused on what happens after the most intense choices.
3. Sinner: A man with a reckless reputation meets a woman whose steadiness exposes what he’s been avoiding.
4. Saint: A brother’s story where devotion and self-denial turn into the central battlefield.

Also in this world (commonly listed; placement varies by edition)

• Gloria (short story/novella): A brief add-on that’s often placed between Sinner and Saint.
• Devil: Commonly listed as a later entry in the same line; if you’re collecting everything, confirm which edition/reading order list your copy follows.

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New Camelot

This is a continuous, spoiler-sensitive saga. Read in order.

1. American Queen: A modern Camelot setup where power, loyalty, and desire collide at the center of government.
2. American Prince: The same world deepens as hidden motives and private bargains surface.
3. American King: The trilogy’s payoff, where every earlier choice comes due at once.

Optional add-ons (best after the trilogy unless you’re reading strictly by internal numbering)

4. Dear Ash (bonus short): A short bridge that leans into character voice and aftermath.
5. Instructions (bonus short): A tight character-focused piece that fits after the main arc is established.
6. The Moon (novella): A standalone novella set in the same world; read after you understand the trilogy’s outcomes.

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Thornchapel

This is a single, escalating story with heavy atmosphere and ongoing mysteries. Read in order.

1. A Lesson in Thorns: Old friends return to a strange estate where desire, ritual, and secrets braid together.
2. Feast of Sparks: Rivalries sharpen as the house’s pull becomes harder to resist.
3. Harvest of Sighs: Long-buried feelings surface, and the cost of wanting becomes clearer.
4. Door of Bruises: The darkest consequences arrive, and the series pushes toward resolution.

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Lyonesse

This line has a numbered sequence and is best read straight through.

0.5. Salt in the Wound (novella): A prequel-style entry that sets emotional stakes and tone.

1. Salt Kiss: A dangerous pull between characters who can’t afford to be honest.
2. Honey Cut: The relationship web tightens, and “wanting” becomes more than a private problem.
3. Bitter Burn: The final entry, framed as the closing burn where truth and devotion stop being optional.

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What “chronological order” means for Sierra Simone

For her major lines, “chronological” is effectively the series numbering shown above. The main place readers get tripped up is bonus shorts and novellas, those are best treated as optional unless you’re doing a completionist read.

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A reading plan that stays clear without feeling rigid

• If you want one-and-done first: Priest, then decide whether you want Sinner and Saint.
• If you want a true trilogy with momentum: American Queen → American Prince → American King.
• If you want dark academia + gothic intensity: Thornchapel 1-4, no skipping.
• If you want the newest epic arc: Salt in the Wound → Salt Kiss → Honey Cut → Bitter Burn.

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FAQs

Can I read Sinner or Saint without Priest?
Yes. They’re built to stand alone, but you’ll catch more context if you’ve read Priest first.

Which series is least forgiving about order?
New Camelot and Thornchapel. Both rely on reveals and escalation.

Do I need the bonus shorts?
No. They add character texture, not missing plot.

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Best default answer

If you want the safest starting point that also works as a complete story: start with Priest. If you finish and want a bigger commitment, choose New Camelot for a tight trilogy or Thornchapel for the darkest long-form ride.