Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter books are the perfect paranormal blend of very tortured heroes (literally and figuratively), strong heroines, engaging plot, intricate mythology, heart touching moment, steamy love scenes, some of the funniest moments you will ever read in a book, and the absolute sweetest HEAs.
I really love how she also clearly had an overall story arc from page one. The Dark Hunter books have the best character development, world building, story arcs, and writing of any PNR series out there. Hands down.
Each book focuses on one Dark Hunter, Were Hunter or Dream Hunter as they find love while fighting evil of all kinds. But the characters from past books show up again in the next books ensuring that you will always get to see more of everyone.
The mythology is a little bit of a mix of vampire/Greek/werewolf. Its a very unique world – very fun, very complex (yet easy to follow) and honestly, just incomparable to any other PNR I’ve read.
VERY IMPORTANT —-> DON’T SKIP ANY OF THE BOOKS!!!
Kenyon has build a wonderful world that builds upon itself with each book, reading them out of order (except the prequel) will seriously mess with how much you will enjoy the series.
READING ORDER AND WHERE TO BUY:
Book 0: Fantasy Lover (Julian & Grace) 4.5 stars
- This is a prequel and though it takes place in the world of the series, it is not about a Dark Hunter. I recommend not starting with it, but instead going back and reading it after having read about 5-6 of the actual series. Its a really good book, just not quite as good as many of the other books, and when starting a new series, I recommend starting off with a strong book, which Book 1: Night Pleasures certainly is.
Book 1: Night Pleasures (Kyrian & Amanda) 5.5 stars <—– I highly recommend starting with this book
Book 2: Night Embrace (Talon & Sunshine) 5.5 stars
Book 3: Dance with the Devil (Zarek & Astrid) 5.5 stars
Book 4: Kiss of the Night (Wulf & Cassandra) 5.5 stars
Book 5: Night Play (Vane & Bride) 5.5 stars
Book 6: Seize the Night (Valerius & Tabitha) 5.5 stars
Book 7: Sins of the Night (Dangereus & Alexion) 4 stars
Book 8: Unleash the Night (Wren & Marguerite) 5.5 stars
Book 9: Dark Side of the Moon (Ravyn & Susan) 5.5 stars
Book 10: Dream-Hunter (Arik & Mageara) 4 stars
Book 11: Fear the Darkness. This is not actually a book, but rather a short story about Nick (no HEA or anything, just a short) that IMO is the weakest in the series and can easily be skipped… or you can find it online. I read it in about 30 mins. 3 stars.
Book 12: Devil May Cry (Katra & Sin) 6 stars
Book 13: Upon the Midnight Clear (Leta & Aidan) 4 stars
Book 14: Dream Chaser (Xypher & Simone) 5.5 stars
Book 15: Acheron (Ash & Tory) 6++ stars
- One of my FAVORITE books ever written!! It will break your heart into more pieces than possible and then put it back together better than it ever was to begin with. Ash’s story has been building in the background of the last 14 books, here his whole story is revealed defining him as the ultimate most tortured hero ever written!
- Buy on Kindle
- Buy on Paperback
Book 16: One Silent Night (Stryker & Zephyra) 4.5 stars
Book 17: Dream Warrior (Jericho/Cratus & Delphine) 5.5 stars
Book 18: Bad Moon Rising (Fang & Aimee) 5.5 stars
Book 19: No Mercy (Dev & Samia) 5 stars
Book 20: Retribution (Jess “Sundown” & Abigail) 4 stars
Book 21: The Guardian (Seth & Lydia) 5 stars
Book 22: Time Untime (Ren & Kateri) ~ still haven’t read it
Book 23: Styxx
Book 24: Son of No One
Book 25: Dragonbane
Book 26: Dragonmark
Book 27: Dragonsworn
Book 28: Stygian
Nicole says
No wonder I am so lost. I started to read Styxx I am loving it, however, I guess I need to stop and go back. However, whoa, too many books… 🙂
Lisa says
Oh Nicole – you started with the book that broke my heart! Throughout we all hated Styxx because we saw it all through Acheron’s eyes and belief. Then we read Styxx book and that book had me so sad and emotional. This is the book that hurt the most, I loved the most and I remember the most. One of the most heart-rending stories.
Nick says
Your lost?…i started on Infinity: Cronicles of Nick. l0l Im enjoying it, but lost doesnt even begin to cover it…
MO says
We’re the same but it ain’t all that bad to start from there except now I obvsly have to hate Acheron bcs Nick is my favourite character after finishing the CON series. Have finished No Mercy and then kinda stopped for like 3 months. Im gonna try to get back into it again.
Vickie Tamling says
I love paranormal shapeshifter novels. I love seris but not if you have to get the next book for the ending. Im fuxing to start this series. I cant wait. Thanjs
Felicia says
I have used this reading list as my personal reference and shopping guide as I’ve spent time catching up on this series. I’m finally up to Styxx (waiting for it to be delivered). Thanks so much for this!
Aestas Cross says
You’re welcome!! I’m so glad to hear it’s helpful 😀
kim says
I wish I seen this list earlier. My friend gave me Acheron to get me hooked on the series and then gave me Styxx. I loved them both and now I have to start from book 1. I hope I love them as much as I did Acheron and Styxx.
Katra says
My other favorite besides the two u named was “Dance with the Devil”
LeAndra says
Just finished Styxx I stareed this series two years ago and I still can’t get enough of it
Sheree says
I’ve recently discovered this series. I love it! I’m on Arik & Geary’s story now. I do have to say I really have liked all the characters except for Nick. I think I will skip the Chronicles of Nick. I can’t wait to get to Acheron’s story but since the books seem intertwined I will just keep going in order.
Great website.
tracy says
Even though you don’t like Nick, he is an important part of the story…the chroniclesof nick are actually very good and also gives you a glimpse on how stuff is going to turn out..
He’s is one of the main characters for the whole picture..hint hint;-)
Rachael J Daley-Otto says
Don’t!! Trust me! You will appreciate him so much more and fully understand his quirks and why knowing them is so important. There are a few things that weren’t lining up until Styxx…. but now… I can’t wait to see what’s next!
Rebecca says
Hi can someone please let me know what the order of books are without all the short stories. I am so confused. Please help me. The books look amazing, but I cant for the life of me understand. Thank u and sorry if its a silly question.
Rebecca.
Aestas says
None of the books I mentioned above are short stories. They are all full-length books in the series 🙂
Rhona says
Like Le Andra said. These books are epic. I was team Feehan before but i officially took my hat off for sherrilyn kenyon at styxx. I was prepared not to be swayed.i was like nothing styxx has to say through kenyon will change how I feel about him . Instead I got schooled again about the basic rules of being a human being. “Never judge if you haven’t walked a mile in one’s shoes. ” I was humbled. I actually apologised to styxx or the book. I know, crazy huh?
Aestas says
I cant wait to read it!
julianna says
Omg same hereeee i felt gutted and slapped in the face and actually hated acheron for a few chapters which i thought could never happen. Styxx by far to me is the most devastating story of all hats off to sherrilyn kenyon … Though half way through the book i was hating her too haha in the end i couod kiss her!
Tracy says
I know exactly how you guys feel about Styxx. My heart has never been broken into pieces like it was broken with Styxx’s pain. The couple of days I was reading it, it totally consumed me. I was so upset with Acheron’s character. Such pain was unbearable. Hats off to Sherrylin. Styxx is still my favorite of all the books she’s ever written.
Britt says
Ahhhhhhh. There are too many feelings in Styxx. I had to stop after he sent his woman away during the middle of the night. I can’t continue reading it because I know I will not stop. I agree with hating Acheron, I never thought that I would actually favor Styxx. The whole war hero aspect just made me feel even more. I will say that the dates didn’t match for the same events, but the dialogue did, and that was very important and we’ll done. We got to see what each character thought as they fought to placate their unfortunate lives. Also I absolutely hate Appollo in the series. I have started so many people on this series it’s not funny.
GirLie says
Thanks you so much for this!! I am so lost because I started reading Chronicles of Nick first and then I’m down to Illusion and planning to read the Dark Hunter’s series because I’m kinda lost!!! This is so helpful!!! Thanks so much!!
Aestas says
You’re so welcome! 🙂
Sarah says
Love this page! I had discovered this series a few years ago and then forgot about it when I had caught up to where the last book was (at the time). I saw the Acheron book and it reminded me of the series and just started it again. Now I remember why I loved it! I went on the author’s website and it listed all kinds of books with this series. The extras were from something called the Dark Bites Compendium.” Do you know what that is? There are eight stories for it from what I’ve found.
Aestas says
Based on what I can see on Amazon, it seems that that is: her older anthology stories put together in 1 great package
House of the Rising Son – is the story of Aricles & Bathymaas (you can find more about them in Styxx’s book)
Phantom Lover – V’Aidan’s story that was first in “Midnight Pleasures”
Winter Born – Dante & Pandora (Were-Panthers) that was first in “Stroke of Midnight”
A Dark-Hunter Christmas – Gallagher (Dark-Hunter) originally posted online
Until Death Do We Part – originally published in “Love At First Bite” anthology
A Hard Day’s Night Searcher – originally published in “My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding” anthology
Shadow of the Moon – (Fury the wolf) originally published in “Dead After Dark”
Fear The Darkness – originally a digital download for her fans. It is a little piece of Nick after his mother died
Where Angels Fear to Tread – originally published in the “Blood Lite” anthology
Love Bytes – originally published in “Naughty or Nice”
Santa Wears Spurs – originally publised in “All I Want for Christmas” anthology. Written as Kinley MacGregor
Redemption – A bonus scene from the guardian
It can be purchased here: http://amzn.to/1rSCt2Z
Kristin says
I love this list and followed it as I read thought the books. I’m currently reading Styxx. We are on the same page when it comes to star ratings. Some of the books were really good and others I could have done with out. I loved loved loved Acherons book. Kyrian/Amanda and Seth/Lydia’s books are my too favorites. I wish she would have split up the series and made the Were hunters and Dream hunters books spin offs. While I loved some of their stories, it was aggravating everytime the series paused to switch to a different line of hunter. All in all one of my favorite series but it really should have been three (probably four) different series.
Zan-Mari says
I am so glad I found this. I am only on book 10 now but I was so afraid that I skipped one somewhere. Luckily I am still on track but thanks to you I now know the series does not end at book 13. I’ve been stuck on this series for months now. Every time I read a book I fall in love with the hero and then I think OMG this guy is the best… And then I read the next one and then I go falling for the next one…
keisha says
love all the books i read so far i gave myself 26 days too read the first 26 book however it took me 14 days. I could not stop reading these book love love.
Jacquie says
Does anyone know if there is anymore books after reading son of no one??
Aestas says
Most likely, but not yet available!
Jacquie says
I found and read one online called Dragonbane. I’m hoping there will soon be another coming out
Jacquie says
Also if not too much trouble if I can have the names of other series along with the books being in the correct reading order? I’m in love with Sherrilyn kenyon’s books!!!
Aestas says
Here you go: http://aestasbookblog.com/the-league-series-by-sherrilyn-kenyon/
Happy reading! 🙂
Jacquie says
Thank you
Brandon says
When do I read chronicles of nick? After I have read all these books, or does nick’s story lace through these?
Kittyns says
Nick’s is sorta a alternate timeline that is also tied into this timeline in these books. I would suggest reading them AFTER Nick has turned Dark Hunter. In the later books some of the chars start to notice that the timeline is being messed with.
Sara says
I absolutely loved ever single one of these books! Acheron and Styxx by far my favorite but I love all the others! I finished all of these in like two months. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Sergio says
For goodness sake, can someone help me understand the order of this books. are this just it? what about the other series? can someone arrange all (even the ones from the other series, since i believe they intertwine somehow) in order please. i mean the ones on this here page i get but i read somewhere else that the other series (dream hunter and were hunter) some how have books that go in between this ones.
Aestas says
Yes, this is all the books listed together. Here’s a better way to think of it: they’re ALL Dark Hunter books, but a few of them have subtitles of DrH or WH, but no matter what they all fit into the single linear Dark Hunter timeline. Like I’ve posted above.
Michelle Barker says
What is the book after Dragonbane?
Jessuca says
Dragonmark
Dragonsworn
Battleborn
Mal says
So just on a whim I picked up retribution from my moms collection of books bc it totally looked like something I would read I LOVED the book and had a feeling it was part of a series little did I know I was coming up on the tail end of an epic series how I started on book 19(!!!!!!!) I can’t believe I did that oh well I will just start from book one depending how long it takes me to catch up I might just have to read it again I don’t mind I liked the book that much plus I will probably understand it a lot more and get a lot more out of it the second time around well here we go…Night Pleasures!!!
Khanyi says
I’m done!!!!
KerakuSen says
i just bought the dragon mark book today think it was either a stand alone book or the start of its own series and boy was i wrong now i get to spend the few paychecks buying all of these books fun XD
Aestas says
LMAO!! Welcome to the Dark Hunter world 😀
Jacki Castle says
I’ve read the entire list! I loved them all. Please tell me there will be more Dark Hunter & Dream Hunter books, that this will carry on.
GINA MATLOCK says
I STARTED READING THESE BOOKS A LITTLE WHILE BACK AND THEN LOST TRACK OF WHERE I WAS AT SO I AM GOING TO START OVER THEY ARE SO WORTH READING TWICE LOVE LOVE THEM ALL.
Aestas says
haha they are awesome like that 😀
Maggy says
I have read them all twice and I am ready to start them again.
Aedom says
Is there a book about Jaden (the demon)????
Aestas says
No but I wish there was!!!!!!!
Sabrina says
I heard that she’s coming out with a couple new books one telling Jaden story and another telling Savitar story too. I can’t wait.
Aedom says
Ok I’m confused on part 16 Jaden was owned by Zephyra and on part 17 he’s serving Noir….could someone please explain this?
Aedom says
Ooo I’m really confused I can’t tell the difference between Jaden and Jared…😯😯
Amanda Richardson says
Give been reading the Dark Hunter series for so long I feel like I personally know the characters. But I have a question about the Chronicals of Nick. Are they a part of the Dark Hunter series? I’m almost done with the series but need to know if I need to read them as well. Please let me know when have a chance. Thanks!
Amanda R
Aestas says
They’re of the same world. You’ll know Nick from the Dark Hunter series. So it’s a YA spinoff series about him!
Amanda R says
Awesome! Thanks for responding so quickly. I love your site. It’s my go to site for everything Dark Hunters!
Amanda Richardson says
Hello again! I just finished reading One Silent Night and I’m not sure if I need to read Dream Warrior before I move on to Bad Moon Rising. If you’d let me know I would really appreciate it! I hope your summer is going well so far!
Aestas says
Read them in the order I posted!! I recommend not skipping any 🙂
Poppy says
Aaaahhh!!! I’m so annoyed!!! I found Dragonbane a while back and finally got a round to reading it. I had literally no idea it was 1 in a massive series!! Only found out when I started looking for the sequel since the book finished rather open-ended… Ugh, I guess I’m going to start buying the rest of the series now. 😒 Oh well, honestly seems worth it. Dragonbane was honestly one of my favorites out of the many, many books I have read. 😊
Amanda Richardson says
I just started reading Dream Warrior and the character Noir is apparently a major character. I feel like I missed something about him in a previous book. Can you tell me if I have and if so which book it is please? Thanks!
Aestas says
If you read the books in the order I posted, then you’ll get all the details in the right order! 🙂
Aedom says
Hey can someone please tell me how Jo is related to the Morrigan Ivery read the book but I forgot that part.Thanks
Aedom says
*I’v read
Aedom says
*I’ve read
Sherry Angel says
I have read all of the Dark-Hunter series and like just a few more of The League series. I love reading them all. I hope Sherrilyn Kenyon writes a lot more series just as good or better than these.
Sean says
I actually cried in styxx the book when he was drawing Bethany in the desert wat a amazing Nuuk have to read the rest
Stephanie says
Do you necessarily have to read them in this order? I actually started with Dark Bites many years ago and moved on to Styxx then Acheron… I have read over half the series but not in any sort of order.
Aestas says
Yes, this is the correct order.
Rochelle Dunlap says
I just finished reading Dream Warrior ( I missed a few in order, going back and catching up).
Is there a book that explains how Madoc and Nick are related?
Shaina says
It’s explained in chronicles of nick. Don’t know about the DH series though since i still have yet to catch up on it.
Shaina says
It’s mentioned in Chronicles of Nick. Don’t know about DH series since i still have yet to catch up on it.
Diane says
I so love this series. I it’s my 2nd read through and I know there’ll be more. I I can’t figure though where “in other worlds” and fits in to reading order. I am can anyone help?
ZaidaZassin says
Im a guy…..But i love Styxx’s book so much! I know this would sound really dumb, but i would love to know more about the 6 primal gods, and who knows, maybe a book about the egyptian god Set.
Danielle Howell says
I’m looking at starting this series and ur list is very helpful but the are 2 books that I want for sure what number they wher. Dragonsworn and stygian. I seen these two on her website and was not for sure
Betsy says
I have seen a few “Dragon” books, but none called Dragonswarn so I can’t say about that. Stygain though does not get released until sometime in August of this year (2018). Hope that helps.
Jennifer Pruitt says
You can get Dragonswarn on Amazon kindle. If I’m correct that is the very first short story
Bazhan farrah says
I have a bone to pick with sherrilyn why the hell is she downplaying my character(acheron)?Acheron can’t take on those atlantean bastards that is absurd,acheron needing help from styxx to save tory unbelievable and the son of ares deflecting acheron godsbolt? if sherilyn is tired with this character she should tell us since she is more taken with the malachai
Patricia says
Love this series,only need 9 more books and i will have the whole series.I really love simi and Acheron
Pamela Mallory-Ricker says
If you think the Ash’s story was heartbreaking, wait til you get to Styxx. He went through as much hell as Acheron for far longer.
Melissa says
This list only seems to cover the “big” books but doesn’t include the shorter stories.. Do you have those anywhere?
Titcombe Marvel says
i love the dark hunter series so adventurous with a hint of romance
Esther says
Whatever happened to Artemis? Did she find love with Nick?
Tina says
I’m new to this series even though it started a long time ago.. I noticed you don’t mention these books:
The Dark Hunter
Companion
Dark Bites
Are these short stories?
Aestas says
Right – they’re not actual books or required reading.
Tammy says
I have read all of the DH books, and found myself lost in a few of the later ones. I would frantically search for the information I was missing. When everything was shut down and I was locked in at home I decided to take a look at a few of the other series that SK writes. I knew that Chronicles of Nick and Hellchasers were part of the DH World but imagine my surprise to find out that Deadmens Cross and even some Kinley McGregor books where also tied into the DH world. I have been searching for a reading order that includes all of of the tie-ins. And cannot find anything, do you have any idea of the complete SK reading order? My next step is to look chronologically at the release dates.
Aestas says
Yeah – she writes in lots of connections. I would go by release date – that’s always been my go-to for the most likely best order.
James says
I feel like The Dream Hunter should come before Dance with the Devil? At the end it talks about a dream hunter going to help Zarek in Alaska and if we are going in order Zarek hasn’t been in Alaska for some time.
Aestas says
DWTD was originally published several years before TDH so the story does come first but it’s a pretty complex world. My preference is always to read books in release order where possible.
Michelle says
Ok so I just purchased fantasy lover thinking it was book 1 now I see this and I’m seeing it’s not, help I want to really enjoy this series.
Aestas says
Fantasy Lover is book “#0” – I recommend starting with Night Pleasures (#1) instead just because it’s a stronger book, and the true beginning of the series. It’s not the end of the world either way, just don’t judge the whole series on FL if you read it first.
Ruth says
I’m confused. At what point am I supposed to read the chronicles of nick?
Roxanne says
I think the Chronicles of Nick is a prequel series for the Dark-Hunter Series because I think the main character Nick is in the Dark-Hunter series, it is just that the Chronicles of Nick series came out way later than the Dark-Hunter series, it is Nick’s backstory.
Aestas says
Yes, I recommend reading it after a few DHs though as just because it takes place first doesn’t mean it should necessarily be read first. I think the reading experience is better to read CoN midway through DH.
Roxanne says
I am confused I went to the author’s website and she has Dark Bites has Book 00 for reading order and then I looked elsewhere for Book 1 and it says that Dark-Hunters is book 1 and that it is formerly know as Fantasy Lover so now I am confused on where to start the Dark-Hunters series at.
Aestas says
I explain this in my post above under Fantasy Lover 🙂
Tammy says
I’m waiting for the next dark hunter book. I have read all of the books in the dark hunter series, when will the next boot come out? I can hardly wait!