Susanne Valenti Books in Order (Updated July 1, 2026)

Susanne Valenti writes romance, romantasy, paranormal romance, dystopian romance, dark contemporary romance, and reverse harem / why choose romance. Much of her current catalog is co-written with Caroline Peckham, her sister and frequent writing partner.

There is no single master continuity for every Susanne Valenti book. The important task is to separate the Solaria books, the United States of Anarchy books, the standalone dark romance worlds, and the earlier dystopian series.

For most new readers, the best starting point is Zodiac Academy: The Awakening. It gives the clearest introduction to Solaria, even though Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac takes place earlier in the timeline.

The Main Continuity Groups

Susanne Valenti’s books fall into these main lanes:

1. Solaria Universe: Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac, Zodiac Academy, Darkmore Penitentiary, and Sins of the Zodiac.
2. United States of Anarchy Universe: Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep, The Harlequin Crew, Dead Men Walking, Boys of Sinners Bay, and Forget-Me-Not Bombshell.
3. Other Caroline Peckham Co-Writes: Age of Vampires, Forbidden Fairytales, A Game of Malice and Greed, and Crown of Hearts and Chaos.
4. Susanne Valenti Earlier / Solo Dystopian Work: Cage of Lies and Tainted Earth.

Read inside each lane in order. Do not mix all series strictly by publication year unless you are doing a full backlist project.

Best Susanne Valenti Starting Point

1. Start with Zodiac Academy: The Awakening if you want the most popular entry point and the clearest introduction to Solaria.
2. Start with Dark Fae if you want the Solaria timeline in chronological order.
3. Start with Kings of Quarantine if you want dark contemporary bully romance rather than fantasy.
4. Start with Eternal Reign if you want vampire dystopian romance.
5. Start with Afflicted if you want Susanne Valenti’s earlier dystopian work.

Solaria Universe Books in Order

The Solaria books are the most important continuity group in Susanne Valenti’s catalog. The three core Solaria series are Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac, Zodiac Academy, and Darkmore Penitentiary.

Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac takes place before Zodiac Academy. Darkmore Penitentiary takes place after Zodiac Academy. Each series has its own main arc, but the world, characters, and background references connect.

Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Books in Order

1. Dark Fae (2019): Elise Callisto enters Aurora Academy while hunting the truth about her brother’s death, beginning the reverse harem mystery that anchors the series.
2. Savage Fae (2019): Elise’s search for the killer deepens as the kings of Aurora become harder to separate from both danger and desire.
3. Vicious Fae (2020): The murder investigation tightens around Elise and the four powerful men tied to her brother’s past.
4. Broken Fae (2020): The series moves toward its endgame as old secrets, loyalty, and grief push Elise’s group closer to breaking point.
5. Warrior Fae (2021): The Ruthless Boys arc concludes, resolving Elise’s vengeance quest and the main relationship thread.

Zodiac Academy Books in Order

This is the best-known Susanne Valenti and Caroline Peckham series. Publication order is the safest reading order for first-time readers.

1. Origins of an Academy Bully (2019): A prequel novella that gives early context for the Heirs before Tory and Darcy arrive at Zodiac Academy.
2. The Awakening (2019): Tory and Darcy Vega discover they are Fae heirs and enter Zodiac Academy, where power, politics, and the four Celestial Heirs shape the series.
3. Ruthless Fae (2019): The twins face harsher academy politics as their powers, enemies, and possible allies become harder to understand.
4. The Reckoning (2019): The first-year academy structure reaches a major trial point, forcing the twins to prove themselves in a world built to reject them.
5. Shadow Princess (2020): The conflict grows beyond ordinary school rivalry as throne claims, romance, and darker magic press in on the twins.
6. Cursed Fates (2020): The series turns more heavily into fate, bonds, and consequences that cannot be ignored.
7. The Big A.S.S. Party (2020): An optional novella best read after Cursed Fates, giving extra academy-world material before Fated Throne.
8. Fated Throne (2020): Tory and Darcy’s fight for survival and power escalates, with the larger Solaria conflict becoming more dangerous.
9. Heartless Sky (2021): The series reaches one of its heaviest turning points, pushing the twins and their allies through larger war-level stakes.
10. The Awakening as Told by the Boys (2021): A retelling of The Awakening from the boys’ point of view, best read after Fated Throne or later to avoid weakening early mystery.
11. Sorrow and Starlight (2022): The aftermath of earlier losses reshapes the characters’ alliances, grief, and next moves.
12. Beyond the Veil (2023): A companion volume that adds perspective from beyond the main battlefield and should be saved until after Sorrow and Starlight.
13. Live and Let Lionel (2024): A bonus collection centered on Lionel and related extra material, best treated as optional after the main late-series books.
14. Restless Stars (2024): The main Zodiac Academy saga reaches its final major novel, resolving the central Vega twins arc.
15. On the Cursed Day of Christmas (2026): A holiday return to Zodiac Academy, listed as a later illustrated Christmas book rather than a required entry before Restless Stars.

Commonly Listed Zodiac Academy Extras

1. The Tale of Geraldine and the Moon Madness (2020): A short optional Geraldine-centered extra that belongs after readers already know the academy cast.
2. Night (2021): A short optional extra commonly listed in publication-order catalogs, best treated as bonus material rather than a main novel.
3. Seth on the Moon (2021): A free short chapter / bonus piece for readers who already know Seth and the Solaria cast.

These extras are optional. They are not the right first stop for new readers.

Darkmore Penitentiary Books in Order

Read Darkmore after Zodiac Academy if you want the cleanest timeline. It is set later in Solaria and follows Rosalie Oscura inside a magical prison.

1. Caged Wolf (2020): Rosalie enters Darkmore Penitentiary with her own agenda, opening the prison-set reverse harem arc.
2. Alpha Wolf (2020): Rosalie’s power struggle inside the prison grows more dangerous as mate bonds, enemies, and prison politics collide.
3. Feral Wolf (2021): The Darkmore cast is pushed further into survival mode as the prison setting becomes more volatile.
4. Wild Wolf (2024): The Darkmore Penitentiary series concludes Rosalie’s prison arc and closes the long-running Solaria spin-off.

Sins of the Zodiac Books in Order

Sins of the Zodiac is set in the same world as Zodiac Academy, but it is its own darker romantasy arc. Do not use it as your first Solaria entry point unless you are deliberately skipping the main academy saga.

1. Never Keep (2024): A darker Solaria branch begins with enemies, secrets, and a brutal Fae setting that stands apart from Zodiac Academy’s school structure.
2. Echo Fort (2025): The second book expands the warlike and political stakes of the new Sins of the Zodiac arc.
3. Cinder Vale (2026): The third book continues the dangerous alliance and betrayal threads set up in Never Keep and Echo Fort.
4. Oracle Bay (2027): The fourth book is listed as the next Sins of the Zodiac installment and should be read after Cinder Vale.

Recommended Solaria Reading Order

For new readers, use this route:

1. The Awakening (2019): Start here because it teaches Solaria through Tory and Darcy’s discovery.
2. Ruthless Fae (2019): Continue the twins’ academy arc.
3. The Reckoning (2019): Read third because the first major academy trial structure lands here.
4. Shadow Princess (2020): Continue the main Zodiac Academy plot.
5. Cursed Fates (2020): Read before the optional party novella.
6. The Big A.S.S. Party (2020): Optional, but this is the best placement.
7. Fated Throne (2020): Continue the main sequence.
8. The Awakening as Told by the Boys (2021): Read here or later; it works better once book-one mystery has already done its job.
9. Heartless Sky (2021): Continue the main arc.
10. Sorrow and Starlight (2022): Read after Heartless Sky.
11. Beyond the Veil (2023): Place here as companion material.
12. Live and Let Lionel (2024): Optional late-series bonus.
13. Restless Stars (2024): Finish the main Zodiac Academy saga.
14. Dark Fae (2019): Move back to the Ruthless Boys prequel series if you did not start there.
15. Savage Fae (2019): Continue Elise’s story.
16. Vicious Fae (2020): Continue the murder mystery and relationship arc.
17. Broken Fae (2020): Read before the finale.
18. Warrior Fae (2021): Finish Ruthless Boys.
19. Caged Wolf (2020): Begin Darkmore Penitentiary.
20. Alpha Wolf (2020): Continue Rosalie’s prison arc.
21. Feral Wolf (2021): Read before the finale.
22. Wild Wolf (2024): Finish Darkmore.
23. Never Keep (2024): Begin Sins of the Zodiac.
24. Echo Fort (2025): Continue the Sins arc.
25. Cinder Vale (2026): Read third in Sins.
26. Oracle Bay (2027): Read fourth when available.

For strict in-world chronology, read Ruthless Boys first, then Zodiac Academy, then Darkmore Penitentiary. For most new readers, The Awakening is still the better doorway.

United States of Anarchy Books in Order

The United States of Anarchy books are dark contemporary romances with crossover characters. The series can be read independently, but publication order keeps the shared-world references cleaner.

Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep Books in Order

1. Kings of Quarantine (2020): Tatum is trapped at Everlake Prep during lockdown with the brutal boys who blame her for her father’s actions.
2. Kings of Lockdown (2020): Tatum’s revenge plan escalates as she learns how to use the boys’ own weaknesses against them.
3. Kings of Anarchy (2020): The power struggle at Everlake Prep becomes more dangerous as bonds, secrets, and violence intensify.
4. Queen of Quarantine (2021): The Everlake Prep arc concludes, resolving Tatum’s place among the Night Keepers and the series’ central conflict.

Boys of Sinners Bay / Dark Empire Books in Order

These are dark mafia romance standalones about the Romero brothers. They can be read alone, but order gives the cleaner family progression.

1. Beautiful Carnage (2020): A mafia revenge romance begins with a stolen bride, a family vendetta, and a dangerous forced-proximity setup.
2. Beautiful Savage (2020): The second Romero story continues the mafia-world structure with a new dark romance pairing.

The Harlequin Crew Books in Order

1. Devil’s Pass (2020): A prequel novella that gives early background for Rogue and the Harlequin boys before the main series begins.
2. Sinners’ Playground (2020): Rogue returns to Sunset Cove with old wounds and unfinished business involving Fox, JJ, Chase, and Maverick.
3. Dead Man’s Isle (2021): The second main book pushes the gang rivalry, buried history, and second-chance tension into deeper danger.
4. Carnival Hill (2021): The series widens the stakes around Rogue and the Harlequin Crew as past betrayals keep surfacing.
5. Paradise Lagoon (2021): The penultimate book moves the crew closer to the truth behind the violence and secrets shaping Sunset Cove.
6. Gallows Bridge (2022): The Harlequin Crew concludes its gang, revenge, and relationship arc.

Dead Men Walking Books in Order

1. The Death Club (2021): Brooklyn enters a deranged dark romance world of murder, chaos, and dangerously attached men.
2. Society of Psychos (2022): The Dead Men Walking duet concludes Brooklyn’s violent, darkly comic relationship and survival arc.

Mafia Wars

• Forget-Me-Not Bombshell (2022): Susanne Valenti and Caroline Peckham’s contribution to the multi-author Mafia Wars world, best treated as a separate dark mafia romance entry.

The other Mafia Wars books are by different authors. They are not required for a Susanne Valenti reading order unless you are reading the entire shared project.

Other Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti Series

These series are co-written by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti but sit outside the core Solaria and United States of Anarchy paths.

Age of Vampires Books in Order

This is a completed dystopian vampire romance series. Some titles have alternate names from later editions.

1. Eternal Reign (2019): Twin sisters Montana and Callie are torn apart in a vampire-ruled world, beginning the seven-book rebellion and survival arc.
2. Eternal Shade / Immortal Prince (2019): The second book follows the sisters deeper into the divide between vampire royalty and human resistance.
3. Eternal Curse / Infernal Creatures (2019): The danger expands as vampire politics, slayer conflict, and the sisters’ separate paths grow more unstable.
4. Eternal Vow / Wrathful Mortals (2019): The series raises the cost of loyalty and survival as the central conflict becomes more personal.
5. Eternal Night / Forsaken Relic (2019): The fifth book pushes the vampire world toward its endgame and tightens the sisters’ opposing dangers.
6. Eternal Storm / Ravaged Souls (2019): The penultimate book accelerates the rebellion, romance, and supernatural stakes before the finale.
7. Eternal Love / Devious Gods (2019): The series concludes Montana and Callie’s vampire-world arc.

Forbidden Fairytales Books in Order

These are dark, twisted fantasy romance retellings. Read them in publication order.

1. Kingdom of Thieves (2019): A dark Aladdin-inspired fantasy romance opens the Forbidden Fairytales sequence with thieves, magic, and dangerous desire.
2. Kingdom of Wishes (2019): The second book continues the fairytale-retelling structure with another magic-driven romance.
3. Kingdom of Shadows (2019): The trilogy closes the Forbidden Fairytales arc with a darker fantasy-romance payoff.

A Game of Malice and Greed Books in Order

1. A Game of Malice and Greed (2023): A Hades-and-Persephone-inspired dark fantasy romance begins with gods, bargains, and a dangerous power imbalance.
2. A Kingdom of Gods and Ruin (2023): The duet concludes the god-world romance and the larger conflict opened in book one.

Crown of Hearts and Chaos Books in Order

This is a newer dark romantasy series by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. It is separate from Solaria.

1. Hollow (2025): Ferris Creed enters a deadly magical hunt and becomes trapped with a dangerous prince, opening the Crown of Hearts and Chaos series.
2. Lightwing (2026): The second book continues Ferris’s dark romantasy arc after Hollow; retailer listings place it in 2026, though exact release dates have shifted.
3. Moonsinger (2026): The third book is listed as the next Crown of Hearts and Chaos installment after Lightwing.

Susanne Valenti Earlier / Solo Dystopian Books

These books are separate from the later Caroline Peckham co-written romance worlds. Read them by series.

Cage of Lies Books in Order

Cage of Lies has a legacy publication history and a later re-release path. Current official pages describe the series as being revamped and re-released, with Rebel Rising used for the revised edition of Chained.

For readers tracking the older sequence, use this order:

1. Chained / Rebel Rising (2015 / 2020): Maya lives behind the Wall in a post-apocalyptic city and discovers that almost everything she has been told about the outside world is false.
2. Linked (2015): Maya adjusts to a world beyond the lies she was raised with, while danger and uncertainty keep closing in.
3. Cut Glass (2015): A novella that introduces additional Cage of Lies characters and gives earlier insight into the contaminated dystopian world.
4. Bound (2016): Maya’s fight for survival continues as captivity, revenge, and the city’s hidden truth drive the story forward.
5. Embers (2016): A novella-length Cage of Lies entry that expands the world and its emotional fallout around the main saga.
6. Broken (2016): Maya struggles with the collapse of her hopes and the consequences of everything uncovered beyond the Wall.
7. Free (2017): The Cage of Lies saga reaches its final movement as Maya’s fight against the city’s deception comes to its endpoint.

Because the current re-release status is not identical across catalog pages, readers should treat the older list as legacy order and the newer Rebel Rising edition as the active revised entry point.

Tainted Earth Books in Order

Tainted Earth is connected to the dystopian world of Cage of Lies and takes place earlier in that same broad setting.

1. Afflicted (2017): Kaitlyn faces the beginning of a world-changing contamination event that alters people, animals, and the rules of survival.
2. Altered (2018): Kaitlyn and her group must adapt as the evolving world becomes more violent, unstable, and difficult to escape.
3. Adapted (2018): The third book pushes the survival story further into the consequences of contamination and human transformation.
4. Advanced (2018): The Tainted Earth saga concludes the prequel-era dystopian arc before the later Cage of Lies setting.

Collections, Anthologies, and Limited Extras

1. Foxy Tales (2022): A limited short-story collection by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, best treated as bonus material rather than a required series entry.
2. Nightingale (2022): A multi-author anthology for Ukraine that contains work by Susanne Valenti, separate from the main series continuities.

Collections and anthologies do not change the reading order. They are for completists.

Chronological Order

There is no single chronological order for every Susanne Valenti book.

For Solaria chronology, use:

1. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac
2. Zodiac Academy
3. Darkmore Penitentiary
4. Sins of the Zodiac as a separate same-world branch

For the dystopian books, use:

1. Tainted Earth
2. Cage of Lies

For United States of Anarchy, use each series in order. Crossovers exist, but the authors state those series can be read independently.

Latest Susanne Valenti Book

At the time of writing, such as July 1, 2026, the latest confirmed released Susanne Valenti novel is Cinder Vale, Sins of the Zodiac Book 3, published in March 2026.

The next listed releases are Lightwing, On the Cursed Day of Christmas, Moonsinger, and Oracle Bay. Some listings for Lightwing show shifting 2026 dates, so treat its exact date as retailer-dependent until it is fully settled.

Upcoming Susanne Valenti Books

1. Lightwing (2026): Crown of Hearts and Chaos Book 2, listed as the sequel to Hollow.
2. On the Cursed Day of Christmas (2026): Zodiac Academy Book 10, listed for October 13, 2026.
3. Moonsinger (2026): Crown of Hearts and Chaos Book 3, listed for November 2026.
4. Oracle Bay (2027): Sins of the Zodiac Book 4, listed for March 16, 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first Susanne Valenti book to read?

Start with Zodiac Academy: The Awakening if you want the clearest modern entry point. It introduces Solaria through Tory and Darcy Vega.

Should I read Ruthless Boys before Zodiac Academy?

Chronologically, yes. For first-time readers, no. The Awakening is usually the better first read because it introduces the world more naturally.

What is the correct Solaria reading order?

For chronology, read Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac, then Zodiac Academy, then Darkmore Penitentiary. For a new reader, start with Zodiac Academy and come back to Ruthless Boys afterward.

Are Zodiac Academy and Darkmore Penitentiary connected?

Yes. They are both set in Solaria, and Darkmore Penitentiary takes place later in the same world.

Is Sins of the Zodiac part of Solaria?

Yes, it is set in the same world as Zodiac Academy, but it follows its own darker romantasy arc.

Are the United States of Anarchy books connected?

Yes, they share a wider world and have character crossovers. However, each series can be read independently.

Do I need to read Brutal Boys before The Harlequin Crew?

No, but it helps if you want the United States of Anarchy references in a cleaner order.

Are Age of Vampires and Zodiac Academy connected?

No. Age of Vampires is a separate dystopian vampire romance series.

Is Crown of Hearts and Chaos connected to Zodiac Academy?

No confirmed direct continuity places it inside Solaria. Treat Hollow, Lightwing, and Moonsinger as a separate dark romantasy series.

What happened to Cage of Lies?

Cage of Lies has older editions and a later re-release plan. Chained was later revised / re-released as Rebel Rising, while catalog pages differ on how much of the older series remains actively available.

What is the newest Susanne Valenti book?

The newest confirmed released novel as of this update is Cinder Vale (2026).

What is the next Susanne Valenti book?

The next listed title is Lightwing (2026), though exact retailer dates vary. The next firmly dated Zodiac Academy title is On the Cursed Day of Christmas, listed for October 13, 2026.

Conclusion

The best Susanne Valenti reading order depends on the world you want.

For the main romantasy gateway, start with Zodiac Academy: The Awakening. For strict Solaria chronology, start with Dark Fae. For dark contemporary romance, start with Kings of Quarantine. For the earlier dystopian books, start with Afflicted or Chained / Rebel Rising.

Once you choose a continuity, stay inside that series order. That keeps character introductions, crossovers, and major reveals in the clearest sequence.