Brigid Kemmerer Books in Order (Updated March 7, 2026)

Brigid Kemmerer does not have one single reading path. She writes across YA fantasy, YA paranormal romance, YA contemporary romance, and now adult romantasy.

The key is to separate the catalog into lanes before deciding where to begin.

There are five main buckets that matter for reading order. Cursebreakers is one trilogy. Forging Silver is a connected follow-up set in that same world. Defy the Night is a separate trilogy. Elemental is an earlier paranormal sequence with novellas around the main novels. Her contemporary books form a looser lane, with Letters to the Lost and More Than We Can Tell connected, while Thicker Than Water and Call It What You Want stand alone. Her newest adult line, Braided Fate, is separate again.

The simple map before the order

If you want the cleanest route, choose one of these:

For fantasy romance with kingdoms and curses: start with A Curse So Dark and Lonely.
For a complete fantasy trilogy with a separate world: start with Defy the Night.
For paranormal romance: start with Storm.
For contemporary romance: start with Letters to the Lost.
For her newest adult fantasy line: start with Warrior Princess Assassin.

That is the real organizing principle. Brigid Kemmerer is easier to read by category and continuity than by one giant master list.

Full Brigid Kemmerer publication order

1. Elemental (2012): A prequel novella that introduces the paranormal world before the first full Elemental novel, but it is bonus setup rather than the best first stop.
2. Storm (2012): The Elemental series begins properly here, introducing the Merrick brothers and the water-based paranormal threat at the center of the early books.
3. Fearless (2012): A companion novella that adds extra character perspective within the Elemental sequence and works best once the first novel is already in place.
4. Spark (2012): Gabriel’s story pushes the Elemental world forward with a fire-centered arc that still builds on the same family and conflict.
5. Breathless (2013): Another short companion entry, this one slots into the Elemental continuity as bonus character material rather than a standalone jump-in point.
6. Spirit (2013): The third main Elemental novel continues the larger shared arc while shifting focus again within the Merrick family world.
7. Secret (2014): The fourth main Elemental novel keeps the same paranormal continuity moving and is best read after the earlier core books.
8. Sacrifice (2014): This closes the Elemental run, bringing the longer family-and-power storyline to its intended endpoint.
9. Thicker Than Water (2015): A standalone contemporary novel, this sits outside Kemmerer’s fantasy and series continuities.
10. Letters to the Lost (2017): This begins Kemmerer’s best-known contemporary pairing, centered on grief, connection, and anonymous correspondence.
11. More Than We Can Tell (2018): A connected follow-up to Letters to the Lost, this stays in the same contemporary lane and is strongest after the first book.
12. A Curse So Dark and Lonely (2019): The Cursebreakers world opens here with a Beauty and the Beast–inspired fantasy that remains one of Kemmerer’s clearest entry points.
13. Call It What You Want (2019): A standalone contemporary novel, this belongs outside both the Letters to the Lost pairing and the fantasy series.
14. A Heart So Fierce and Broken (2020): The second Cursebreakers book expands the political and geographic scope of the series rather than repeating the first novel’s setup.
15. A Vow So Bold and Deadly (2021): This completes the main Cursebreakers trilogy and should always be read after the first two books.
16. Defy the Night (2021): A separate fantasy trilogy begins here, built around sickness, scarcity, rebellion, and divided loyalties in Kandala.
17. Forging Silver into Stars (2022): This starts the Forging Silver trilogy, a later-in-world continuation connected to Cursebreakers rather than a separate unrelated fantasy.
18. Defend the Dawn (2022): The second Defy the Night book widens the kingdom-level stakes while carrying forward the same central conflict.
19. Destroy the Day (2024): The Defy the Night trilogy concludes here, so it belongs directly after the first two volumes.
20. Carving Shadows into Gold (2025): The second Forging Silver book continues the Cursebreakers-adjacent storyline and should be read after Forging Silver into Stars.
21. Warrior Princess Assassin (2025): This launches the adult Braided Fate trilogy, separate from Kemmerer’s YA worlds.
22. Sparking Fire Out of Fate (2026): The official site presents this as the finale to the Forging Silver trilogy, so it belongs after the first two books in that sequence.
23. Captive Traitor King (2026): This is the second announced Braided Fate novel and follows Warrior Princess Assassin within that adult romantasy line.

The reading orders that actually work

1. Cursebreakers world order

This is the best choice if you want the fantasy route with the most continuity payoff.

1. A Curse So Dark and Lonely (2019): Start here because it introduces Emberfall, the curse, and the political tensions that matter later.
2. A Heart So Fierce and Broken (2020): The second book broadens the world and shifts the balance of sympathy and power.
3. A Vow So Bold and Deadly (2021): The original Cursebreakers trilogy ends here, so this finishes the main arc before the spinoff line.
4. Forging Silver into Stars (2022): This begins the next connected trilogy in the same world, so it belongs after Cursebreakers, not before it.
5. Carving Shadows into Gold (2025): The middle Forging Silver book deepens the fallout and alliances introduced in book one.
6. Sparking Fire Out of Fate (2026): The official site identifies this as the finale to the Forging Silver trilogy, making it the current last stop in this continuity.

This is the strongest long fantasy path in her catalog because it preserves the original trilogy first, then moves into the later connected story.

2. Defy the Night order

This is the cleanest self-contained trilogy if you want one completed series with no spinoff complications.

1. Defy the Night (2021): A kingdom in crisis, a sickness, and a rebellion setup make this the necessary foundation.
2. Defend the Dawn (2022): The story shifts outward and tests trust, politics, and survival on a wider scale.
3. Destroy the Day (2024): The trilogy reaches its intended conclusion here, so there is no reason to break this sequence.

For readers who want one finished fantasy trilogy and then out, this is probably the easiest recommendation.

3. Elemental order

This is the early paranormal lane, and it works best if you separate main novels from extras.

Main novels first

1. Storm (2012): The best actual entry point into the Elemental world.
2. Spark (2012): Continues the shared family-centered paranormal story.
3. Spirit (2013): Builds the same continuity through another lead and conflict angle.
4. Secret (2014): Keeps the larger arc moving toward resolution.
5. Sacrifice (2014): Finishes the Elemental sequence.

Optional companions
6. Elemental (2012): A prequel novella best read after you know the world.
7. Fearless (2012): Extra character material within the same continuity.
8. Breathless (2013): Another optional side installment for readers who want the fuller version.

If you want the least interrupted first read, keep the novellas optional and focus on the five main books first.

4. Contemporary order

This lane is simpler than it looks.

1. Letters to the Lost (2017): The best starting point for Kemmerer’s contemporary work and the first half of her best-known connected realistic pairing.
2. More Than We Can Tell (2018): A related follow-up that belongs after Letters to the Lost.
3. Thicker Than Water (2015): A separate standalone that can be read anytime, though many readers will meet her contemporary style more easily through Letters to the Lost.
4. Call It What You Want (2019): Another standalone contemporary novel, separate from the other two paths.

The only fixed rule here is to keep Letters to the Lost before More Than We Can Tell.

5. Braided Fate order

This is the newest lane and the adult one.

1. Warrior Princess Assassin (2025): The trilogy begins here with a princess, a king, and an assassin bound together by politics, desire, and danger.
2. Captive Traitor King (2026): The second book continues that same arc and should follow immediately after book one.

Because this series is still in progress, it is a starting point for readers who do not mind waiting on future installments.

Best Brigid Kemmerer reading order for most readers

If the goal is not completeness but the best overall path through her work, use this:

1. A Curse So Dark and Lonely: Her most widely recommended fantasy entry point, with a clear trilogy behind it.
2. A Heart So Fierce and Broken: Continue the main Cursebreakers arc.
3. A Vow So Bold and Deadly: Finish the core trilogy.
4. Forging Silver into Stars: Stay in the same world for the connected follow-up.
5. Carving Shadows into Gold: Continue the spinoff trilogy.
6. Sparking Fire Out of Fate: Finish the currently announced Forging Silver arc.
7. Defy the Night: Move to a separate fantasy world and a complete trilogy.
8. Defend the Dawn: Continue that trilogy.
9. Destroy the Day: Finish it.
10. Letters to the Lost: Shift to her strongest contemporary starting point.
11. More Than We Can Tell: Read the connected follow-up.
12. Storm: Then go back to the earlier paranormal lane if you want more Kemmerer.

That order avoids the oldest material first, keeps connected fantasy arcs intact, and leaves the optional or more niche corners for later.

Latest release status

The most recent published Brigid Kemmerer novel is Warrior Princess Assassin, which HarperCollins lists with an August 12, 2025 on-sale date. The next officially highlighted releases are Sparking Fire Out of Fate on January 27, 2026 as the Forging Silver finale, and Captive Traitor King as the second Braided Fate book.

Quick answers

Do I need to read Cursebreakers before Forging Silver?
Yes. Forging Silver is connected to that world, so it lands better after the full Cursebreakers trilogy.

Is Defy the Night connected to Cursebreakers?
No. It is a separate fantasy trilogy.

What is the best Brigid Kemmerer book to start with?
For fantasy readers, A Curse So Dark and Lonely. For contemporary readers, Letters to the Lost.

Can I skip the Elemental novellas?
Yes. The main five-book sequence gives you the core story.

Is Warrior Princess Assassin YA?
No. Brigid Kemmerer’s official books page places Braided Fate in her adult romantasy line.