J.A. Andrews' official and undisputed (and long)
Guide to Reading Order
(Official, because it was written by J.A. Andrews herself.)
(Undisputed because it's so flexible no one could possibly dispute it.)
(Long because...it's long.)
What's a good reading order for my books?
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🤔
🙁
(Sigh.)
...
That's an excellent question.
And one I have a hard time answering.
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So, first, here's a little background:
Every book I've ever written is in the same world.
They all revolve around a group of mages called Keepers. There aren't many Keepers, one is born every 7-10 years. No one know why certain people become Keepers, we just know there aren't many of them.
I love writing in this world.
I have no desire to write in another world.
I have endless ideas for stories to tell here.
And, when I first realized this, I thought,
"THIS WILL BE SO EASY!
CONNECTED STAND-ALONE TRILOGIES!
PEOPLE CAN READ WHICHEVER THEY WANT!"
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Except...
It turns out people want to know where to start.
I have three complete trilogies.
So, technically, three places to start.
But that's not a satisfying answer, and people all want to know where I think they should start.
Is there a better place than others?
Well, yes.
But the problem is that there are TWO better places to start.
And if I could be more definitive than that, believe me I would be.
.
.
.
But I have 2 answers for where to start,
and after polling my readers, it is split 50/50 as to which of my two answers is the RIGHT ANSWER.
So, I'm afraid you have to make some decisions on your own.
There's one question that could simplify things for you:
Do you feel strongly about reading in PUBLICATION order or CHRONOLOGICAL order?
If you have strong feelings either way, here are two lists for you.
Choose whichever makes your heart happy. Either reading order works just fine.
BUT, if you don't feel strongly either way, I'm afraid you'll have to scroll down and read about the trilogies to see where you'd like to begin.
Publication Order
- Keeper Chronicles (published first)
- Keeper Origins (published second, but set 400 years in the past.)
- Aenigma Lights (published third, set 20 years after Keeper Chronicles.)
Chronological Order
- Keeper Origins
- Keeper Chronicles (400ish years later)
- Aenigma Lights (20 years after Chronicles)
You'll notice either Keeper Chronicles or Keeper Origins are good starting points.
Aenigma Lights isn't as good of a start. Just keep that trilogy for after Chronicles, and you'll be good!
Still undecided? Then here's your real decision:
Keeper Chronicles vs. Keeper Origins
Which should you start with?
Read the descriptions below
and follow your heart.
(I promise, there is no wrong answer.)
Keeper Chronicles
Magical Librarians Save the World
Publication order: First
Chronological order: Second
A trilogy where each books follows one of three Keepers embarking on their own adventures, but quickly becoming embroiled in an overarching, desperate attempt to save the world.
Tropes: Found family, traveling band of mismatched companions, elves vs. dwarves, enemies to friends, and dragons
Keeper Origins
Traveling Theater Troupe Saves the World
Publication order: Second
Chronological order: First
Set 400 years before Chronicles, a young woman whose magic allows her to fell when someone is lying or telling the truth, is trapped under a ruthless gang boss--until she escapes with a traveling theater troupe and ends up embroiled in a desperate attempt to save the world.
Tropes: Found family, traveling theater troupe, elves vs. dwarves. the slowest burn romance ever, everyone's favorite kobold, a phoenix, and a dragon.
When to read the short stories?
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🧐
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That is another excellent question.
With a complicated answer.
All my short stories are set in the same world, and relate more or less closely to at least one of the trilogies.
But this page has seen enough complication.
Click through to the Short Story page for a breakdown.
FIrst in publication order
The Keeper Chronicles
A great place to start.
But can be read at any time.
This is my first published trilogy which (unsurprisingly) chronicles the adventures of a group called the Keepers.
Recommended Reading Order: Either first or after Keeper Origins.
Who are the Keepers?
They're Historian/Storyteller/Mages
And these are a few of the times they save the World
This trilogy tells the story of three different Keepers as they go about their normal lives:
- telling stories
- reading books
- running from dragons
- writing books
- visiting dwarves
- keeping books
- befriending elves
- smelling books
- being betrayed by companions
- looking lovingly at books
- fighting frost goblins
- did I mention the books?
- oh, and saving the world, several times over.
Book 1: A Threat of Shadows
Book 2: Pursuit of Shadows
Book 3: Siege of Shadows
Related Short Stories/novels:
- The Black Horn: A story told by one of the Keepers
- The Candlelight Gifts: A Christmas story about 2 of the characters from book 3.
- Tomkin and the Dragon: A story told by all the Keepers.
- The Shadowed Blade: Story about an old Keeper
Second in publication order - but first chronologically
The Keeper Origins
A great place to start.
But can be read at any time.
This is my second published trilogy.
But as the name implies, it is chronologically first.
..being the Origin of the Keepers,
...and taking place 400 years before the Keeper Chronicles.
Why did I do this? No one knows.
Maybe just to create a confusing reading order.
Recommended Reading Order: Either first or after Keeper Chronicles.
Traveling Theater Troupe Saves the world.
The world met the Keepers of Queensland in The Keeper Chronicles.
Meanwhile, 400 years in the past, there are no Keepers yet. There’s not even the country of Queensland.
There is only a young woman named Sable who’s indebted to a ruthless gang boss and trapped in the slums.
She has nothing but her younger sister and a longing for freedom.
Oh, and the power to sense when people are telling the truth.
Which comes in handy, if you’re headed for bigger and better things…
Book 1: Dragon's Reach
Book 2: Raven's Ruin
Book 3: Phoenix Rising
Related Short Stories:
- Ghost of the White Wood. Closely related.
- The Deal is Struck: loosely related
The Aenigma Lights
Not the best place to start.
Could technically be read at any time, but probably should be read after Keeper Chronicles.
This is my third published trilogy.
Chronologically, it also comes third, taking place 20 years after Keeper Chronicles. We bump into several beloved characters from Keeper Chronicles.
Recommended Reading Order: After Keeper Chronicles.
Indiana Jones meets Lord of the Rings.
(If Indian Jones was a female Keeper and her best friend, an elf princess.)
Kate thought finding the puzzle box would give her all the answers.
But it only holds far more desperate questions.
A single mystery has evaded Keeper Kate all her life: What happened on the tragic day when two strangers stole not only the puzzle box that hummed with magic, but her younger brother, Evan?
Kate and her older brother Bo have searched for him for twenty years with no luck. Until Venn, a surly elf, shows up on the hidden doorstep of the Keepers’ Stronghold, with that same aenigma box—and a message that Bo has disappeared.
Kate needs a guide back to Venn’s homeland to search for him, and Venn needs to find him for reasons of her own. Reasons she refuses to explain.
Despite their mutual distrust, Kate and Venn form a grudging alliance.
Somewhere in the midst of infiltrating dwarven tunnels, discovering the secrets of the aenigma box, and stumbling onto shocking ancient relics, the alliance shifts to friendship.
But as the search for Bo grows increasingly dangerous, they uncover a complex plot woven through centuries, devastating not just individuals, but entire empires.
And even working together, the inexplicable forces standing against them may be too much.
Half treasure hunt and half rescue mission, this epic fantasy adventure is a tale of puzzles, mysteries, and the kinds of friendships—both old and new—that shape the soul.
Related Short Stories:
Short Stories
A decent places to start.
I have written a handful of short stories, all set in the world of the Keepers. They relate more or less closely to one or more of the trilogies.
But every story stands on its own as a complete, quick little tale that will give you a good introduction to my writing or flesh out a story/character that you learned of in one of the trilogies.
When should you read each story? That is an excellent question.
Visit the Short Story page for details.