Jay Kristoff Reading Order: Where to Start

Jay Kristoff writes some of the sharpest, darkest, most stylish fantasy around — blood-soaked, funny, and emotionally brutal. Here is where to start.

The major works

• Empire of the Vampire — his epic gothic vampire saga, and the best entry point for new readers who want a standalone-feeling start to a series.
• The Nevernight Chronicle — a brutal assassin-school fantasy following Mia Corvere. Dark, witty, and beloved.
• The Lotus War — his earlier Japanese-inspired steampunk trilogy beginning with Stormdancer.
• The Illuminae Files (with Amie Kaufman) — a genre-bending YA sci-fi told through documents and chat logs.

Where to start

Start with Empire of the Vampire if you want grand gothic horror-fantasy, or Nevernight if you want a sharp, character-driven series. Both showcase Kristoff’s signature voice.

A warning (and a promise)

Kristoff does not pull punches — expect violence, grief, and morally grey everyone. In return you get some of the most propulsive prose in the genre.

More dark fantasy

See our roundup of the best grimdark fantasy series for more in this vein.