Alison Morton writes alternate-history thrillers, historical fiction, contemporary international thrillers, short stories, and nonfiction.
Her bibliography has one unusual reading-order problem: the Roma Nova books were deliberately published out of internal chronological order.
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The first three novels follow Carina Mitela in the twenty-first century. Morton then went backward several decades to tell the story of Carina’s grandmother Aurelia. Later novellas filled gaps in both strands, and the Foundation stories moved all the way back to the late Roman Empire.
That means readers have a genuine choice.
For a first read, publication order is the safer route because it introduces Roma Nova as Morton originally revealed it.
For a reread, chronological order creates a continuous history stretching from AD 370 into the twenty-first century.
Outside Roma Nova, the Mélisende thrillers form a completely separate contemporary series.
The Short Answer
For a first Roma Nova read:
- Inceptio
- Perfiditas
- Successio
- Aurelia
- Insurrectio
- Retalio
- Carina
- Roma Nova Extra
- Nexus
- Julia Prima
- Exsilium
- Heroica
This broadly preserves publication order.
If you prefer to place the novellas inside their character strands immediately, use:
- Inceptio
- Carina
- Perfiditas
- Successio
- Aurelia
- Nexus
- Insurrectio
- Retalio
- Roma Nova Extra
- Julia Prima
- Exsilium
- Heroica
That is my recommended practical order for a new reader.
Why Roma Nova Has Two Different Orders
Morton’s original publication sequence introduced the country through Carina Mitela in the twenty-first century.
After three Carina novels, the series moved backward to the late 1960s and 1980s to follow Aurelia Mitela, Carina’s grandmother.
Later, Julia Prima and Exsilium went much further back to the fourth century and the origins of Roma Nova.
The internal chronology therefore looks completely different from publication order.
Publication order preserves discovery.
Chronological order creates a smoother historical timeline but reveals Roma Nova’s origins before the modern books originally intended readers to understand them.
For a first read, discovery matters more.
The Carina Mitela Strand
The Carina strand is:
- Inceptio (2013)
- Carina (2017), novella
- Perfiditas (2013)
- Successio (2014)
Included. Direct character sequence.
The publication dates look odd because Carina was written later as a novella set between the first and second novels.
For an integrated read, placing it after Inceptio works well.
Inceptio
Inceptio is the proper entrance to Roma Nova.
Karen Brown is living in New York when danger surrounding her family background forces her toward Roma Nova, the small European state connected to her dead mother.
Once there, she begins the transformation that eventually places her within the Mitela family and Roma Nova’s security establishment.
The book introduces the modern country, its political structure, its Roman inheritance, and the matriarchal traditions that distinguish it from surrounding Europe.
Do not begin with the historical prequels unless you specifically want chronological order.
Carina
Carina is a novella set after Inceptio and before Perfiditas.
It follows Carina on an early mission abroad and gives additional context for her development as a Praetorian officer.
Because it was published after the original Carina trilogy, readers using strict publication order can leave it until later.
For story continuity, however, this placement is cleaner:
- Inceptio
- Carina
- Perfiditas
Optional for a novels-only read, included for the full Carina arc.
Perfiditas
Perfiditas is the second full-length Carina novel.
It takes place several years after Inceptio and puts Carina inside a conspiracy threatening Roma Nova itself.
Her relationships, military career, and political standing all build on the first novel.
This is not a loose companion thriller.
Read Inceptio first.
Successio
Successio completes the original Carina trilogy.
A threat connected with Conrad’s past reaches into both Carina’s family and the imperial succession.
The book depends heavily on relationships established in the preceding novels.
For the core Carina novels:
- Inceptio
- Perfiditas
- Successio
For the expanded strand:
- Inceptio
- Carina
- Perfiditas
- Successio
The Carina Omnibus
The Carina Omnibus contains:
- Inceptio
- Carina
- Perfiditas
- Successio
It is not another Roma Nova installment.
Readers who own the omnibus already have the full Carina strand in its integrated reading order.
The Aurelia Mitela Strand
The Aurelia sequence is:
- Aurelia (2015)
- Nexus (2019), novella
- Insurrectio (2016)
- Retalio (2017)
Included. Direct earlier-generation sequence.
These books move back to the life of Aurelia Mitela before she becomes the formidable grandmother seen in the Carina novels.
They also explain historical events that Carina’s generation knows as part of Roma Nova’s recent past.
Aurelia
Aurelia takes place mainly in the late 1960s.
Aurelia is much younger than the woman readers meet in Inceptio.
The novel begins her own sequence involving intelligence work, political danger, family duty, and her long conflict with Caius Tellus.
It works as an entry point, but readers who start with Carina first will recognize the historical significance of characters and events more clearly.
Nexus
Nexus is an Aurelia novella set in the mid-1970s.
Story chronology places it between:
- Aurelia
- Insurrectio
Like Carina, it was published after the full-length trilogy it supplements.
For the cleanest Aurelia read:
- Aurelia
- Nexus
- Insurrectio
- Retalio
Insurrectio
Insurrectio moves the story into the mid-1980s.
Roma Nova faces an internal political seizure that radically changes the country.
The events are important not only to Aurelia’s personal story but also to the history remembered by Carina’s generation.
Read it after Aurelia, with Nexus inserted first if you are including the novella.
Retalio
Retalio concludes the main Aurelia arc.
It follows the struggle to recover Roma Nova and resolves the central conflict involving Aurelia and Caius Tellus.
The title is sometimes encountered independently, but it should not be read as a standalone war thriller.
It is the culmination of the Aurelia sequence.
The Aurelia Omnibus
The Aurelia Omnibus contains:
- Aurelia
- Nexus
- Insurrectio
- Retalio
As with the Carina Omnibus, this is a collected edition rather than an additional story.
The Foundation Stories
The earliest Roma Nova novels chronologically are:
- Julia Prima (2022)
- Exsilium (2024)
Included. Foundation duology.
These books take place in the late fourth century, long before the alternate European state seen in the modern thrillers.
They explain the people and circumstances from which Roma Nova eventually emerges.
Julia Prima
Julia Prima begins in AD 370.
Its world is still the historical Roman Empire rather than the established alternate state readers know from Inceptio.
Julia, a young woman from Noricum, becomes involved with Lucius Apulius during a period of growing political and religious tension.
Chronologically, this is the earliest full-length Roma Nova story.
That does not make it the best first book.
For newcomers, Inceptio remains the stronger introduction because the mystery of how Roma Nova survived is part of the original series experience.
Exsilium
Exsilium continues the Foundation story.
It spans AD 383 to 395 and follows characters introduced in Julia Prima as religious and political pressure forces them toward exile.
The book completes the principal account of Roma Nova’s origins.
Read:
- Julia Prima
- Exsilium
Do not reverse them.
Should You Read Julia Prima Before Inceptio?
Only if you strongly prefer historical chronology.
Starting with Julia Prima gives you the earliest events first and turns the whole series into a long alternate history running from antiquity to the modern era.
Starting with Inceptio gives you the world first and lets its ancient origins become a later revelation.
For a new reader:
- Start with Inceptio
For a chronological reread:
- Start with Julia Prima
Roma Nova Extra
Roma Nova Extra is a short-story collection published in 2018.
Optional, same continuity.
The stories fill gaps, revisit characters, and reveal pieces of Roma Nova history that do not require full novels.
Because the collection ranges across different points in the timeline, it does not have one simple chronological slot.
The safest placement for a first read is after the main Carina and Aurelia novels.
A practical sequence is:
- Finish Successio
- Finish Retalio
- Read Roma Nova Extra
That reduces the chance of encountering characters or background before their main stories.
Heroica
Heroica was published in May 2026.
Optional connected collection. Latest Roma Nova book.
The collection contains three substantial stories focused on three women of the Mitela family across three different centuries.
The central women are:
- Carina Mitela
- Honoria Mitela
- Statia Mitela
This is not Roma Nova Book 11 in the sense of another continuous novel.
It is a collection that expands the history of the Mitela family across widely separated periods.
Because its stories depend on the established world, it is better read after the major novels rather than used as an introduction.
Where Does Heroica Fit?
There is no single chronological slot because the stories occur in different centuries.
Treat it like Roma Nova Extra:
Optional supplementary material after the principal novels.
For most readers:
- Read the Carina strand
- Read the Aurelia strand
- Read the Foundation stories
- Add Roma Nova Extra
- Add Heroica
Readers following strict publication order will naturally reach Heroica last because it is the newest Roma Nova book.
Complete Roma Nova Publication Order
The books were published broadly as follows:
- Inceptio (2013)
- Perfiditas (2013)
- Successio (2014)
- Aurelia (2015)
- Insurrectio (2016)
- Retalio (2017)
- Carina (2017)
- Roma Nova Extra (2018)
- Nexus (2019)
- Julia Prima (2022)
- Exsilium (2024)
- Heroica (2026)
This is the safest order if you want to reproduce the way Morton’s world expanded for original readers.
The disadvantage is that the two novellas appear well after the books surrounding them chronologically.
Complete Roma Nova Chronological Order
Morton has published an internal chronology for the series.
For the major book-length works, the timeline runs:
- Julia Prima, AD 370
- Exsilium, AD 383 to 395
- Aurelia, 1968 to 1969
- Nexus, mid-1970s
- Insurrectio, 1984 to 1985
- Retalio, 1986 to 1987
- Inceptio, around 2010
- Carina, 2013
- Perfiditas, 2016
- Successio, 2023 to 2024
Roma Nova Extra and Heroica contain stories from multiple periods, so neither belongs at one single point.
This order is excellent for a reread.
I would not use it for a first encounter unless you specifically want the historical foundation before the modern thriller story.
Recommended Roma Nova Order
The best balance between publication history and clean character continuity is:
Carina First
- Inceptio
- Carina
- Perfiditas
- Successio
Then Aurelia
- Aurelia
- Nexus
- Insurrectio
- Retalio
Then the Origins
- Julia Prima
- Exsilium
Then the Collections
- Roma Nova Extra
- Heroica
This is not strict publication order.
It keeps each principal character arc together while preserving Inceptio as the first introduction to Roma Nova.
Why Not Read Aurelia Before Carina?
Chronologically, Aurelia comes first.
Narratively, Carina was created first.
The early Carina novels introduce Aurelia as an experienced older woman whose history carries weight precisely because readers do not yet know every detail.
The Aurelia books then answer those questions.
Reading Aurelia first removes some of that retrospective effect.
That is why Carina before Aurelia remains the better first-reading choice.
Are Julia Prima and Exsilium Prequels?
Yes.
They are genuine historical prequels to the modern Roma Nova books.
Unlike a short explanatory prologue, however, they form their own substantial historical storyline.
Readers interested chiefly in late Roman historical fiction can begin with Julia Prima and read Exsilium without first completing the modern thrillers.
Readers interested in the full Roma Nova experience should still begin with Inceptio.
Are All Alison Morton Novels Set in Roma Nova?
No.
The Mélisende thrillers are completely separate contemporary crime and international thriller fiction.
There is no shared universe connecting Mélisende des Pittones with Carina Mitela or Aurelia Mitela.
Mélisende Thrillers in Order
The Mélisende series currently contains:
- Double Identity (2021)
- Double Pursuit (2021)
- Double Stakes (2025)
Included. Continuing contemporary thriller series. Separate continuity.
The books follow Mélisende des Pittones, usually called Mel, and British investigator Jeff McCracken.
Although each case has its own central investigation, their professional and personal relationship develops across the books.
Read them in order.
Double Identity
Double Identity begins the series.
Mel has recently left the French military and is preparing for a new life when her fiancé dies unexpectedly in London.
The investigation brings her into conflict with Metropolitan Police detective Jeff McCracken.
This book establishes both characters and the institutional framework that continues in the sequels.
Start here.
Double Pursuit
Double Pursuit is the second Mélisende thriller.
Published October 19, 2021, it follows Mel and Jeff into another international investigation involving arms trafficking and European security.
The central case can be understood independently, but their developing relationship makes Book 1 worth reading first.
Double Stakes
Double Stakes was published May 20, 2025.
It is the third Mélisende thriller.
The plot brings Mel and Jeff into a politically charged investigation involving Germany, an election, extremist politics, kidnapping, and danger to Mel’s own family.
This is currently the latest full-length Alison Morton novel.
Read the three books as:
- Double Identity
- Double Pursuit
- Double Stakes
Is There a Fourth Mélisende Book?
No fourth Mélisende novel with a confirmed title and publication date could be verified as of August 9, 2026.
Morton’s current site presents Double Stakes as the third and latest adventure.
Do not add a speculative Book 4 to a reference list.
The Sand Beneath Her Feet
“The Sand Beneath Her Feet” is a prequel story to Double Identity.
Optional.
It provides additional background for Mélisende before the main novels.
For a first read, Double Identity remains the better opening because it introduces the central series conflict directly.
Readers who become interested in Mel’s earlier history can add the prequel afterward.
Alison Morton Short Fiction Outside the Main Collections
Morton has also contributed stories to multi-author anthologies.
Some use Roma Nova characters or historical figures from the Mitela family.
These should not automatically be counted as separate numbered Roma Nova books.
When those stories are later collected in volumes such as Roma Nova Extra or Heroica, the collection is usually the easiest way for a series reader to obtain them.
Alison Morton Nonfiction Books
Morton’s nonfiction belongs outside both thriller continuities.
Important titles include:
- The 500 Word Writing Buddy: 35 Inner Secrets for the New Writer
- Military or Civilians?
Separate nonfiction.
Neither belongs in the Roma Nova chronology.
The 500 Word Writing Buddy
This is a practical writing guide.
An updated edition expanded the book to 35 articles, including additional material on genre.
It can be read independently.
There is no reason to insert it between Morton’s novels according to publication date.
Military or Civilians?
This nonfiction work examines the unusual position of German women’s auxiliary services during the Second World War.
It reflects Morton’s interest in military and women’s history, but it is not background reading required for Roma Nova.
Treat it as a separate historical study.
Alison Morton Omnibuses
Two collections are especially useful for readers buying Roma Nova digitally.
Carina Omnibus
Contains:
- Inceptio
- Carina
- Perfiditas
- Successio
Aurelia Omnibus
Contains:
- Aurelia
- Nexus
- Insurrectio
- Retalio
These omnibuses already arrange each heroine’s strand in clean internal order.
They are not additional sequels.
A reader who owns both omnibuses has the eight core Carina and Aurelia works.
The Simplest Alison Morton Reading Plan
For someone discovering Morton now, I would not recommend jumping through her whole bibliography by publication date.
Use four stages.
Stage One: Meet Modern Roma Nova
- Inceptio
- Carina
- Perfiditas
- Successio
Stage Two: Discover Its Recent Past
- Aurelia
- Nexus
- Insurrectio
- Retalio
Stage Three: Discover Its Ancient Origins
- Julia Prima
- Exsilium
Stage Four: Fill the Gaps
- Roma Nova Extra
- Heroica
Then begin the completely separate Mélisende series:
- Double Identity
- Double Pursuit
- Double Stakes
This gives each continuity room to develop without switching between unrelated protagonists.
Which Alison Morton Book Should You Read First?
For most readers:
- Inceptio
It introduces Roma Nova through an outsider who has to discover the country along with the reader.
For late Roman historical fiction:
- Julia Prima
For contemporary international thrillers without alternate history:
- Double Identity
All three are valid entry points, but they lead into different experiences.
Publication Order or Chronological Order?
For Roma Nova, this choice matters.
Publication Order
Best for first-time readers.
It preserves the way the country, its families, and its history were gradually revealed.
Chronological Order
Best for a reread.
It creates a continuous timeline from the late Roman Empire through Aurelia’s twentieth century and into Carina’s twenty-first century.
Recommended Order
Use character strands:
- Carina
- Aurelia
- Foundation stories
- Collections
This gives the best compromise between revelation and narrative continuity.
Latest Alison Morton Book
As of August 9, 2026, Morton’s newest published book is:
- Heroica (May 14, 2026)
It is a collection of three Roma Nova stories featuring women of the Mitela family across three centuries.
Because it is short-fiction material, the latest full-length novel is different.
Latest Alison Morton Novel
The newest full-length novel is:
- Double Stakes (May 20, 2025)
It is Mélisende Thriller Book 3.
The newest Roma Nova full-length novel is:
- Exsilium (2024)
That book completes the two-part Foundation story begun with Julia Prima.
Is Another Alison Morton Book Coming?
No later novel with a firm title and publication date could be reliably confirmed as of August 9, 2026.
Morton continues to write about Roma Nova and her thriller worlds, but a reference reading order should stop at confirmed publications.
For current books:
- Heroica is the newest book overall
- Double Stakes is the newest novel
- No confirmed later novel should yet be numbered
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alison Morton’s first novel?
Inceptio, published in 2013.
It begins the Roma Nova series.
What order should I read Roma Nova?
For a new reader:
- Inceptio
- Carina
- Perfiditas
- Successio
- Aurelia
- Nexus
- Insurrectio
- Retalio
- Julia Prima
- Exsilium
- Roma Nova Extra
- Heroica
Is Carina a full novel?
No.
Carina is a novella placed between Inceptio and Perfiditas chronologically.
Is Nexus a full novel?
No.
Nexus is an Aurelia novella set between Aurelia and Insurrectio.
Should I read Aurelia before Inceptio?
Not on a first read.
Aurelia’s story takes place earlier, but Inceptio was designed as the introduction to Roma Nova.
What are the Roma Nova Foundation books?
- Julia Prima
- Exsilium
They tell the fourth-century origin story.
Can I start with Julia Prima?
Yes.
It is the earliest story chronologically and works particularly well for readers interested in late Roman historical fiction.
For the wider alternate-history series, Inceptio remains the preferred start.
What is Roma Nova Extra?
A collection of short stories from the Roma Nova world.
It is optional supplementary reading rather than another main novel.
What is Heroica?
A 2026 collection containing three Roma Nova stories focused on women of the Mitela family across three centuries.
What is the Carina Omnibus?
It contains:
- Inceptio
- Carina
- Perfiditas
- Successio
What is the Aurelia Omnibus?
It contains:
- Aurelia
- Nexus
- Insurrectio
- Retalio
Are the Mélisende books connected to Roma Nova?
No.
They are separate contemporary thrillers.
What order should I read the Mélisende thrillers?
- Double Identity
- Double Pursuit
- Double Stakes
What is Alison Morton’s latest book?
Heroica, published May 14, 2026.
What is her latest novel?
Double Stakes, published May 20, 2025.
Conclusion
Alison Morton’s bibliography has one central reading-order choice: whether to experience Roma Nova as it was revealed or as its fictional history occurred.
For a first read, begin with Carina’s strand: Inceptio, Carina, Perfiditas, and Successio. Then move backward to Aurelia’s strand with Aurelia, Nexus, Insurrectio, and Retalio.
After those eight books, go to the beginning of Roma Nova’s history with Julia Prima and Exsilium. Save Roma Nova Extra and Heroica for supplementary reading once the principal characters and historical periods are familiar.
If you later reread the series, chronological order offers a very different experience, beginning in AD 370 and moving through Aurelia’s twentieth century before reaching Carina in the modern era.
The Mélisende thrillers remain entirely separate. Read Double Identity, Double Pursuit, then Double Stakes.
For one safest starting point across Morton’s fiction, choose Inceptio.
Frank is the editor of BookSeries.blog, focusing on publication order, chronological timelines, and spoiler-free reading guides for book series and fictional universes.