Shantel Tessier Books in Order (Updated March 12, 2026)

Shantel Tessier’s catalog is easiest to read as eras, not as one giant master timeline. The early books are shorter contemporary and dark-romance series, Dark Kingdom is the big mafia phase, and L.O.R.D.S. is the most visible current branch. Goodreads also notes that L.O.R.D.S. can be read as standalones, but gives a specific timeline order, which is the safer route for new readers.

For most readers, the best starting point is The Ritual if you want the books people most associate with Shantel Tessier now. Start with Code of Silence if you want the mafia line first. Start with I Dare You if you want an earlier, shorter trilogy before the later universe-scale books.

The fastest way to choose your starting point

Read L.O.R.D.S. first if you are here for dark college romance, secret-society continuity, and the author’s current flagship world. Read Dark Kingdom first if you prefer mafia romance with a completed five-book run. Read Dare or Selfish first only if you want a shorter earlier-series entry and do not need to begin with the most talked-about books.

L.O.R.D.S. books in order

This is the branch most new readers are looking for. Goodreads explicitly says the books can work as standalones, but it also lists a timeline, and that timeline is the safest reading order. Tessier’s official site also confirms that Chaotic is a dark romance set within the Lords world.

1. The Ritual (2021): The true on-ramp to Barrington and the Lords world, introducing the secret-society structure and the vow language that defines the later books.
2. The Sinner (2022): A connected standalone that deepens the same world, best read second so the setting’s rules and power structure already make sense.
3. The Sacrifice (2023): Pushes the marriage-and-duty side of the Lords system to the front, so it lands better once the society itself is already familiar.
4. Sabotage (2022): Goodreads places this fourth in the timeline even though its publication year falls earlier than The Sacrifice, so timeline order matters more than release date here.
5. Carnage (2023): Expands the series through the Spade brothers and works best after the earlier Lords framework is in place.
6. Madness (2024): Continues the Lords world after Carnage and is the last fully established published entry before Chaotic.
7. Chaotic (2025): Officially described by Tessier’s site as a new dark romance within the Lords world, making it the current end of the main path.

Dark Kingdom books in order

Fantastic Fiction and Goodreads both show this as a five-book series, with Goodreads noting it was formerly listed as Dark Kings. Read it straight through in order.

1. Code of Silence (2020): A mafia-romance opener and the right place to begin this branch because it builds the family structure from the ground up.
2. Titan (2020): The second Dark Kingdom book, widening the same violent family world rather than restarting it.
3. Grave (2020): Keeps the same continuity moving, so it works best as the midpoint rather than a jump-in title.
4. Cross (2021): The fourth book, continuing the same mafia sequence and best read after the earlier internal loyalties are established.
5. Bones (2022): The fifth and current endpoint of Dark Kingdom as listed on both major series pages.

Dare books in order

This is one of the cleaner early entry points because it is compact and clearly numbered.

1. I Dare You (2018): Opens the trilogy and is the best place to start if you want earlier Tessier without committing to a long universe.
2. I Promise You (2019): Continues the same game-based setup and should be read second.
3. If You Dare (2019): Finishes the trilogy and is best saved for last because it follows the fallout of the first two books.

Selfish books in order

A short three-book run that is easy to slot in after the earlier series or read on its own.

1. Selfish (2016): The opener, built as the foundation for the trilogy’s central dynamic.
2. Myself (2017): The second book, which makes more sense after Selfish has set the emotional terms.
3. Selfless (2017): The close of the trilogy, best read third rather than alone.

Seven Deadly Sins books in order

Goodreads lists this as three primary works, though Fantastic Fiction currently shows two titles on the main page. Because Goodreads has the fuller current series page, the safest way to present it is as a trilogy with the third book noted as lightly documented compared with the first two.

1. Addiction (2015): The first standalone-style entry in the series and the correct place to begin this darker earlier branch.
2. Obsession (2016): The second book, staying in the same thematic line while shifting to the next story.
3. Confession: Goodreads lists this as book three, but current bibliography coverage is thinner than for the first two books, so it is safest to treat it as the intended third entry without overclaiming more detail.

Undescribable books in order

This is the messiest part of the bibliography because Fantastic Fiction and Goodreads display different levels of detail. Fantastic Fiction shows seven titles on the author page, while Goodreads’ main series page treats the core line as five books and also shows side material and box sets. The most stable approach is to separate the core run from the later add-ons.

Core run

1. Undescribable (2013): The series opener and the safest starting point for this early branch.
2. Unbearable (2013): Continues the same arc and belongs directly after Undescribable.
3. Uncontrollable (2014): The third main installment, best read once the earlier relationships are already in place.
4. Unforgettable (2014): The fourth main book, continuing the same sequence rather than resetting it.
5. Unchangeable (2015): Goodreads places this as book 4.5, so it reads more like an in-between or follow-on entry than a clean fifth main novel.

Later listed add-ons / uncertain placement

Unforeseen (2016): Fantastic Fiction lists this on the author page after Unchangeable, but Goodreads’ core series page does not present it as one of the five primary works, so its exact place is best treated cautiously.

Unpredictable (2015): Fantastic Fiction also lists this title in the Undescribable cluster, but Goodreads’ main primary-work count does not match that presentation, so this is another title best labeled as related rather than confidently slotted into the core order.

Dash books in order

Fantastic Fiction lists this as a two-book series. Goodreads confirms the series exists, but the result snippet is incomplete, so Fantastic Fiction is the cleaner source here.

1. Dash (2014): The first entry and the correct place to start this short early series.
2. Dash 2 (2014): The sequel, intended to be read after the first volume.

Standalones, novella, and anthology-related work

These should be treated as separate from the main numbered series unless you are reading everything.

Donut Overthink It (2018): A standalone and not part of the major Tessier series continuities.
Slaughter (2018): Another standalone, separate from the numbered series lines.
Make You Beg (2021): A standalone title, useful if you want a one-book sample outside the larger worlds.
Just A Kiss (2018): Listed as a novella or short story rather than a main novel.
Nightingale (2022): Not a solo Tessier novel, but an anthology containing a story by her, so it belongs in a separate bucket from her core catalog.

Recommended reading orders

Best starting path for most new readers

1. The Ritual (2021): The clearest modern entry point.
2. The Sinner (2022): Stay inside the Lords world.
3. The Sacrifice (2023): Continue in timeline order.
4. Sabotage (2022): Follow the series timeline, not the publication date.
5. Carnage (2023): Keep the connected world intact.
6. Madness (2024): Continue the main run.
7. Chaotic (2025): Finish the current Lords path.

Best order if you want the mafia books first

1. Code of Silence (2020): Start Dark Kingdom here.
2. Titan (2020): Continue in order.
3. Grave (2020): Continue in order.
4. Cross (2021): Continue in order.
5. Bones (2022): Finish the series.

Best order if you want earlier Tessier before the blockbuster-era books

1. I Dare You (2018): Start with a short trilogy.
2. I Promise You (2019): Continue in order.
3. If You Dare (2019): Finish the trilogy.
4. Selfish (2016): Then move to another compact earlier run.
5. Myself (2017): Continue in order.
6. Selfless (2017): Finish the trilogy.

Latest release status

As of March 12, 2026, the most recent clearly established release on the main bibliography sources is Chaotic (2025), and Tessier’s official site describes it as a book set in the Lords world. Fantastic Fiction also lists it under new and upcoming books on the author page.

FAQs

What is the best Shantel Tessier book to start with?
The Ritual is the safest default because it opens the most prominent current series.

Can you read L.O.R.D.S. as standalones?
Yes, Goodreads says you can, but it also provides a timeline order, and that timeline is the better choice if you want the cleanest continuity.

Should Dark Kingdom be read before L.O.R.D.S.?
Not necessarily. They are separate series, so your choice depends on whether you want mafia romance first or secret-society dark college romance first.

Is Chaotic a standalone or part of L.O.R.D.S.?
The safest wording is that it is a dark romance within the Lords world, which effectively makes it part of that reading path for most readers.