Kate Daniels reading order
Ilona Andrews’s Kate Daniels novels in publication order through Magic Triumphs, then the Wilmington Years — Magic Tides labeled so it is not book one.
Start here
Magic Bites
It is book one (2007). The later novels assume that first Atlanta job. The authors have joked that you could start at Magic Strikes. That is a note about their early books, not a house on-ramp. Do not start with Magic Tides.
Ten novels make Kate’s Atlanta run. They are a finished argument. Magic Tides and Magic Claims are a later-city continuation. They spend the tenth book’s ending.
Andrews’s Kate page lists the novels from her point of view and then the Wilmington Years. Their “start here” page is cheerful about skipping the first two. This house still starts at Magic Bites. You can take their joke after you have a sample. You cannot take it as book one.
The Atlanta novels
| # | Title | Year | Notes | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Magic Bites | 2007 | Start here. | Amazon |
| 2 |  Magic Burns | 2008 | Amazon | |
| 3 |  Magic Strikes | 2009 | The authors’ joked door. Still third. | Amazon |
| 4 |  Magic Bleeds | 2010 | Amazon | |
| 5 |  Magic Slays | 2011 | Amazon | |
| 6 |  Magic Rises | 2013 | Amazon | |
| 7 |  Magic Breaks | 2014 | Amazon | |
| 8 |  Magic Shifts | 2015 | Amazon | |
| 9 |  Magic Binds | 2016 | Amazon | |
| 10 |  Magic Triumphs | 2018 | Ends the Atlanta run. | Amazon |
Read them in this order.
Wilmington Years — after Magic Triumphs
| Title | Year | Notes | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
 Magic Tides | 2023 | Wilmington Years 1. After Magic Triumphs. | Amazon |
| Magic Claims | 2023 | Wilmington Years 2. | Amazon |
House rule: read the ten. If you want the later city, Magic Tides then Magic Claims. Do not open Magic Tides because it looks like a new series.
A later Wilmington book may exist after these two. It will not be Kate 0.
Spin-offs — neighboring, not on-ramps
Gunmetal Magic, Iron and Magic, and Blood Heir are other points of view in the same world. Andrews’s release list shows where they sit. They are not Kate 5.5 required homework, and they are a poor place to meet Kate for the first time.
Novellas (Magic Mourns, Magic Dreams, Magic Stars, and others) interleave. A first read can be the ten novels. Insert a short if you have it and the authors’ list puts it after a book you already read.
Hidden Legacy and Innkeeper are different Andrews shelves.
Common mistakes
- Starting at Magic Strikes because the start-here page said the first two are “meh.”
- Starting with Magic Tides because it is a new city.
- Starting with Blood Heir because Julie is on the new hardcover.
- Treating Gunmetal Magic as Kate 6.
What to read next
- Mercy Thompson (Patricia Briggs) — If you want another long mechanic-and-pack street with a spin-off that looks optional.
- The Dresden Files (Jim Butcher) — If you want the other long supernatural-case run, still unfinished.
- October Daye (Seanan McGuire) — If you want another series that accumulates fae politics on purpose.
- Fever (Karen Marie Moning) — If you want another Dublin-and-fae street whose later Dani book looks like a new series.
- Stop after Magic Triumphs. The ten are a complete visit.
FAQ
Should I skip the first two because the authors said to?
You can. This house does not. Magic Bites is still book one.
Do I need the Wilmington books?
No. Atlanta ends at Magic Triumphs.
Do I need the spin-offs?
No.
Is Hidden Legacy the same world?
No.
Sources
- Ilona Andrews, Kate Daniels books — author reading order for Kate’s point of view and the Wilmington Years. Opened 2026-09-13.
- Ilona Andrews, start here — authors’ joked Magic Strikes door. Opened 2026-09-13.
Same shelf
