Penn Cassidy Books in Order (Updated April 28, 2026)

Penn Cassidy is an indie romance author from California who writes dark why-choose romance, fantasy romance, romantasy, urban fantasy romance, paranormal romance, and omegaverse romance.

Her books are best read by series. There is no reliable need to read the entire catalog as one shared universe, but the numbered series and duets should be read in order.

The easiest place to begin is Noc City, which opens her best-known connected sequence.

Quick Reading Order

For most new readers, start here:

1. Noc City
2. Blood Moon
3. Hybrid Theory
4. Sol City
5. Bitter End

This gives you the cleanest route through the Noc City / Darkverse material before moving into Penn Cassidy’s other series.

Darkverse / Noc City Books in Order

Some listings separate the first three books as the Noc City trilogy. Other listings place the later books under the wider Darkverse label.

For reading purposes, this is the safest order:

1. Noc City (2020): The series opener introduces Noc City, its supernatural danger, and the central relationship structure that carries the early arc.
2. Blood Moon (2021): The second book continues the Noc City storyline, raising the romantic and paranormal stakes after the first book’s setup.
3. Hybrid Theory (2021): The third Noc City book pushes the original trilogy arc toward its major payoff and should be read before the later Darkverse entries.
4. Sol City (2022): This book expands the setting beyond the original Noc City trilogy while still working best after the first three books.
5. Bitter End (2023): The fifth listed Darkverse book follows the earlier sequence and is best read after Sol City.

Noc City Collection

• Noc City: The Complete Trilogy: A collected edition of Noc City, Blood Moon, and Hybrid Theory, useful if you want the first three books in one volume.

Hell’s Apocalypse Books in Order

1. Feral Skies (2024): The first Hell’s Apocalypse book begins a dark survival romance arc in a zombie-apocalypse setting.
2. Dead Tides (2023): The second book continues the Hell’s Apocalypse storyline and should be read after Feral Skies, regardless of date inconsistencies across listings.
3. Hell’s Apocalypse Duet (2024): A collected edition containing the two Hell’s Apocalypse books.

Carnival of Bones Duet in Order

1. Carnival of Bones: The first half of the duet introduces the dark carnival setting, the central romance, and the supernatural atmosphere of the story.
2. Carousel of Souls (2023): The second half completes the duet’s main arc and should not be read before Carnival of Bones.
3. The Carnival of Bones Duet: Books 1-2 (2023): A collected edition containing both duet books.

Dearly Departed Duet in Order

1. Diabolic: The first Dearly Departed book opens a dark mafia romance arc built around danger, loyalty, and power.
2. Depraved: The second Dearly Departed book follows the first and completes the duet’s central progression.
3. The Dearly Departed Complete Duet: A collected edition containing Diabolic and Depraved.

Heat Duet Books in Order

1. Heat: The first Heat Duet book begins the omegaverse romance setup and establishes the main bond dynamics.
2. Hunt: The second Heat Duet book follows directly from Heat and should be read second.

The Undesirables Trilogy in Order

1. Shadow and Wrath (2024): The first Undesirables book introduces the romantasy world, the central conflict, and the main relationship structure.
2. Wrath and Ruin (2025): The second book continues the trilogy’s main arc and widens the consequences of the first book.
3. Ruin and Rot (2026): The third listed Undesirables book follows Wrath and Ruin and should be saved for last.

Legion of the Damned Books in Order

• Damned: The first listed Legion of the Damned book begins a separate urban fantasy romance setup and should be treated as its own starting point.

ShadowBane Books in Order

• Source: A co-authored ShadowBane book written with R. Spain, best treated as a separate continuity from Penn Cassidy’s solo series.

Evernight Gods Books in Order

• Folklore: The first Evernight Gods book opens a separate fantasy romance continuity and does not require the Darkverse books first.

Starless Duology Books in Order

• Starless (2026): The first book in the Starless Duology begins a new two-book arc and should be read before any later sequel.

The 13th Zodiac Books in Order

1. The 13th Zodiac (2026): The first book introduces the zodiac-based academy romance setup and begins the series arc.
2. The Torn Zodiac (2026): The second listed book continues the series and should be read after The 13th Zodiac.

Standalone Penn Cassidy Books

These books are best treated as separate reads unless a current edition places them into a series.

1. Dead End: A co-authored standalone with Madeline Fay, separate from Penn Cassidy’s major numbered series.
2. Throne of Crimson: A fantasy romance standalone that can be read without Darkverse or Noc City context.
3. The Lost & The Wicked: An earlier fae-focused story that matters mainly because of its connection to Caged Fae.
4. Ashes to Ashes: A separate standalone entry and not a required bridge between Penn Cassidy’s series.
5. House of Monsters: A monster-romance-style standalone with its own setup and no required series reading beforehand.
6. Boys of Summer: A standalone romance entry that can be read at any point.
7. Caged Fae: A fae romance listed as a rewritten and relaunched version of The Lost & The Wicked, making it the better current choice for most readers.
8. The Bones of Midnight: A separate standalone entry that does not need to be placed inside the Darkverse order.
9. The Old Gods: A fantasy romance standalone that can be read independently.
10. Midnight Hollow: A co-authored book with Madeline Fay and best handled as its own continuity.
11. The Fall: A standalone urban fantasy romance entry with some catalog variation around edition dating.
12. The Sword & The Stone: A fantasy romance standalone that can be read outside the main series.
13. Blood on the Styx: A Game of Gods: A mythology-themed standalone or separate-continuity book, best chosen by premise rather than series order.

Short Stories, Novellas, and Collection Appearances

1. Chasing Valentine: A shorter optional Penn Cassidy read that is not required for any major series order.
2. A Midnight Hollow Christmas: A co-authored holiday novella with Madeline Fay, best read as optional companion material.
3. Shrouded Sanctum: A multi-author collection appearance and optional for completionists.

Recommended Penn Cassidy Reading Order

This is the best practical reading path for a new reader who wants series continuity without jumping around unnecessarily.

1. Noc City (2020): Start here for the cleanest introduction to Penn Cassidy’s most visible connected world.
2. Blood Moon (2021): Continue directly to preserve the early Noc City progression.
3. Hybrid Theory (2021): Read third to complete the original Noc City trilogy arc.
4. Sol City (2022): Move here once the first three books have established the setting.
5. Bitter End (2023): Finish the current Darkverse sequence here.
6. Feral Skies (2024): Begin Hell’s Apocalypse for a separate post-apocalyptic romance arc.
7. Dead Tides (2023): Continue Hell’s Apocalypse and complete the duet’s main sequence.
8. Carnival of Bones: Start the Carnival of Bones Duet for a dark carnival fantasy romance setting.
9. Carousel of Souls (2023): Finish the Carnival duet.
10. Diabolic: Begin the Dearly Departed Duet.
11. Depraved: Read second to complete the duet.
12. Heat: Start the Heat Duet.
13. Hunt: Continue the Heat Duet directly after Heat.
14. Shadow and Wrath (2024): Begin The Undesirables Trilogy.
15. Wrath and Ruin (2025): Continue the trilogy’s central conflict.
16. Ruin and Rot (2026): Read third in the trilogy.
17. The 13th Zodiac (2026): Start this newer zodiac-based series after the more established arcs.
18. The Torn Zodiac (2026): Continue only after The 13th Zodiac.
19. Starless (2026): Begin the Starless Duology.
20. Folklore: Read separately as the start of Evernight Gods.
21. Standalone books in any order: Choose these by premise, because they are not required to complete the main series paths.

Chronological Order

A full chronological order is not useful for Penn Cassidy’s catalog.

Use internal series order instead. The main continuity rule is simple: do not read book two before book one, and do not mix separate duets and trilogies as if they form one confirmed timeline.

The main internal sequences are:

1. Noc City
2. Blood Moon
3. Hybrid Theory
4. Sol City
5. Bitter End

Then, separately:

1. Feral Skies
2. Dead Tides

And:

1. Carnival of Bones
2. Carousel of Souls

And:

1. Diabolic
2. Depraved

And:

1. Heat
2. Hunt

And:

1. Shadow and Wrath
2. Wrath and Ruin
3. Ruin and Rot

Caged Fae and The Lost & The Wicked

Caged Fae is listed as a rewritten and relaunched version of The Lost & The Wicked.

For most readers, Caged Fae is the better current read. The Lost & The Wicked is mainly useful for readers who want to compare the earlier version or complete every Penn Cassidy listing.

Latest Release Status

At the time of writing such as April 28, 2026, Penn Cassidy’s current and newer listings include The Undesirables Trilogy, The 13th Zodiac, The Torn Zodiac, and Starless.

Because Penn Cassidy is an indie author, release dates and editions can shift. For upcoming books, treat retailer and author listings as the most current status.

FAQs

What is the best Penn Cassidy book to start with?

Start with Noc City. It gives new readers the clearest path into her most visible connected series.

Do Penn Cassidy books have to be read in publication order?

No. Read by series order instead. Publication order is less useful because Penn Cassidy has separate duets, standalones, co-authored books, and relaunches.

Are the Noc City books and Darkverse books the same?

They overlap. The first three books are often listed as the Noc City trilogy, while Sol City and Bitter End appear as later Darkverse entries. The safest order is Noc City, Blood Moon, Hybrid Theory, Sol City, and Bitter End.

Should I read Sol City before Hybrid Theory?

No. Read Hybrid Theory first, then Sol City.

Is Caged Fae a sequel to The Lost & The Wicked?

No. It is best understood as a rewritten and relaunched version, not a sequel that must be read afterward.

Are Penn Cassidy’s standalones connected?

Treat them as separate unless a current edition clearly says otherwise.

Which Penn Cassidy books are co-authored?

Known co-authored entries include Dead End and Midnight Hollow with Madeline Fay, and Source with R. Spain.

Are the boxed sets necessary?

No. Boxed sets are collected editions. They are convenient, but they usually contain books already listed individually.

Conclusion

The best Penn Cassidy reading order begins with Noc City, then continues through Blood Moon, Hybrid Theory, Sol City, and Bitter End.

After that, read Penn Cassidy by series lane. Keep duets together, read trilogies in order, use Caged Fae as the current fae version, and place the standalones wherever they fit your reading mood.