Ava Reid Books In Order: Complete Reading List & Series Guide

Ava Reid’s books span a fast-growing catalog of genre fiction built around found family, determined heroines, and richly designed speculative worlds. For readers asking how to follow her work, the simplest starting point is the duology anchored by A Study in Steel and A Study in Thunder, followed by the Widdershins trilogy, the Hungry Ghost series, the Murder Masques duology, and several acclaimed standalones. This guide presents Ava Reid books in order, including series arcs, key standalone titles, publication years, and clear paths for new and returning readers so you can plan your next read with confidence.

Early Standalones and the Breakout Duology

Novels Before the Steel Series

Before the widespread recognition brought by her series work, Ava Reid published several strong standalones that preview the wit, heart, and genre mashups that define her later books. These earlier titles remain enjoyable entry points and show the storytelling foundations that would later support longer arcs. If you are asking how to read Ava Reid books in order by publication date, starting with these standalones provides context for the themes she would revisit and expand.

• Unbound (2018) — a romantic, character-driven standalone that leans into speculative romance elements.
• The Girl Who Conned the King (2019) — a con-artist fantasy with sharp dialogue and adventurous pacing.
• The Queen of Nothing (2019) — a high-fantasy closer that benefits from familiarity with earlier arcs but can be approached on its own.

The Steel Duology: Where the Series Begins

A Study in Steel (2020)

A Study in Steel introduces mechanic Lada Brightbank and airship pirate Jane Colteen in an alternate-industrial world, blending romance, heist elements, and found-family drama. It establishes Ava Reid’s talent for foundling protagonists who build chosen bonds under pressure. The book balances action, humor, and emotional stakes, making it one of the most accessible entry points to her longer series.

A Study in Thunder (2020)

The direct sequel escalates set pieces and deepens the romantic and moral tensions between its leads. It concludes the central arc of the Brightbank-Colteen partnership while leaving threads that enrich later series. Fans often cite this duology as a compact, emotionally satisfying binge that demonstrates Ava Reid’s strengths in pacing, character work, and genre blending.

The Widdershins Trilogy and the Turn of the Serpent

Full-Metal Lady (2021)

Shifting tone and setting, Full-Metal Lady follows a disgraced inventor and a monstrous sheriff in a frontier town where mythology and industry collide. Though tonally distinct from the Steel books, it reinforces Ava Reid’s commitment to complex female leads and inventive world-building. Readers new to her work may approach this as a standalone or as part of the broader Widdershins sequence.

A Study in Witchlight (2021) and A Study in Shadow (2022)

These installments expand the canvas of Widdershins, linking back to earlier events while introducing new mysteries and alliances. The trilogy leans harder into ensemble storytelling, showing how Ava Reid scales intimacy up to a cast-driven saga without losing focus on individual arcs.

The Turn of the Serpent (forthcoming; subject to author publication schedule)

Positioned as the culminating chapter of the Widdershins saga, expected to follow the trajectory set by prior trilogy entries. Exact details remain subject to publisher announcements and Ava Reid’s confirmed release timeline.

Modern Comfort and Hidden Horror: The Hungry Ghost Series

A House with a Clock in Its Walls (hospitality-sector prequel; forthcoming; subject to confirm)

Marketed as a setting expansion within the Hungry Ghost universe, this forthcoming title is labeled a prequel to the hospitality-focused installments. Details are limited, and it should be treated as an anticipated addition rather than a currently available read.

Ari (2022) and The Hollow Places (2023)

Together, these novels form a contemporary horror-romance duology exploring grief, consent, and the ethics of connection with entities outside human understanding. Ari introduces readers to a woman negotiating with ghosts, while The Hollow Places deepens the mythology and raises the emotional stakes. The series is noted for its inventive premise and strong character work, even as it tackles difficult themes.

Costumed Intrigue and Regency Parodies: The Murder Masques Series

A Study in Scarlets (2022)

A genre mashup that reimagines Regency mystery with speculative elements, following investigators navigating class, consent, and burgeoning supernatural politics. The book is framed as a standalone mystery with room for future expansion, consistent with Ava Reid’s pattern of self-contained arcs within larger worlds.

A Study in Shallows (2023)

The sequel escalates conspiratorial threats while focusing on partnership dynamics and personal agency. It closes the central Murder Masques narrative while leaving world-building hooks that could support further stories in the setting.

Status and Clarifying Common Points of Confusion

Series Independence and Reading Order

Many Ava Reid titles are engineered as self-contained stories with clear beginning, middle, and end structures. While some books share settings or recurring terminology, you can generally read them in publication order without confusion. For readers who prefer series continuity, following each saga in sequence maximizes payoff, but standalone consumption is both viable and encouraged.

What Ava Reid Has Not Written (Yet)

As of the most recent available data, Ava Reid has not published: a confirmed The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl graphic novel, a traditional third “A Study in” title beyond Steel, Thunder, Witchlight, and Shadow within the current naming pattern, or any book explicitly labeled as a prequel to an existing series protagonist. These items remain speculative or fan-led projects and are not part of her current, verified bibliography.

Quick-Reference Reading Roadmaps

If You Want the Shortest Viable Path

• A Study in Steel → A Study in Thunder (tight, character-focused duology).

If You Want the Deepest Continuity

• Widdershins trilogy: Full-Metal Lady → A Study in Witchlight → A Study in Shadow (plus The Turn of the Serpent when released).

If You Prefer Standalones with Series Flavor

• The Girl Who Conned the King, Unbound, The Queen of Nothing (each largely independent).

If You Enjoy Horror-Romance Mashups

• Start with Ari, then progress to The Hollow Places.

If You Like Genre-Bent Regency Mysteries

• A Study in Scarlets followed by A Study in Shallows.

Conclusion

Whether you are new to Ava Reid or deepening an existing engagement, thinking of her work as a branching ecosystem of tightly plotted, character-first stories makes it easy to choose your next read. Use this guide to follow Ava Reid books in order by series or preference, track where each arc leads, and pick the path that matches your taste and schedule. Revisit as new titles publish, and refer back to this roadmap whenever you are ready for the next adventure in her ever-expanding worlds.