Lady of Darkness reading order
Melissa K. Roehrich’s Lady of Darkness novels in her suggested order — Lady of Darkness through Lady of Starfire — The Reaper and Winds of Darkness labeled so they do not become book one.
Start here
Lady of Darkness
It is book one. The later novels assume that first court. Do not start with Lady of Starfire. Do not start with The Reaper. Do not start with Winds of Darkness.
The author’s current books page calls this a completed five-book series plus one novella. Her older suggested-order page lists the same five novels and puts The Reaper after Lady of Embers. Publication of those five is the first-read path.
Retailer “book 6” labels on Winds of Darkness are later. They are not a new on-ramp.
The five novels
| # | Title | Year | Notes | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Lady of Darkness | 2021 | Start here. | Amazon |
| 2 | Lady of Shadows | 2021 | Amazon | |
| 3 | Lady of Ashes | 2022 | Amazon | |
| 4 | Lady of Embers | 2022 | Amazon | |
| 5 | Lady of Starfire | 2023 | Closes the five-novel run on her completed-series page. | Amazon |
Read them in this order. Lady of Shadows is book two of this series. It is not a later Roehrich shelf with a similar name.
Extra — after book four, or later
| Title | Year | Notes | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Reaper | 2022 | Novella. After Lady of Embers on her suggested-order page. Not book 0. | Amazon |
| Winds of Darkness | 2025 | Later Darkness book. After Lady of Starfire. Not Lady of Darkness 1. | Amazon |
House rule: read the five. Insert The Reaper after Lady of Embers if you want Rayner’s extra. Winds of Darkness after Lady of Starfire if you want the later visit. Do not open either because a shop window numbered them first.
Bonus chapters on her extras page (Cyrus, The Fire General, The First Meeting) are shorts. Not novels.
Neighboring series
The Legacy (beginning Rain of Shadows and Endings) and Avonleya sit in the wider Chaosverse. The author has said the series can be read on their own. They are still a poor place to meet Scarlett for the first time.
House rule: finish these five before you go hunting a later continent.
Common mistakes
- Starting with The Reaper because it is “earlier” for Rayner.
- Starting with Winds of Darkness because a retailer called it book 6 and it is the new hardcover.
- Starting with Rain of Shadows and Endings because Legacy looks like a cleaner door.
- Treating Lady of Shadows as a different series because the title sounds like a later brand.
What to read next
- From Blood and Ash (Jennifer L. Armentrout) — If you want another long romantasy run with a prequel that pretends to be book one.
- Zodiac Academy (Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti) — If you want another long dark-academy shelf whose neighboring series looks like book one.
- The Bridge Kingdom (Danielle L. Jensen) — If you want a finished-feeling war in couple-sized pieces, with a correct first book.
- The Empyrean (Rebecca Yarros) — If you want another unfinished-feeling romantasy with a strict door.
- Stop after Lady of Starfire. The five are a complete visit. The later extras are optional aftercare.
FAQ
Do I need The Reaper?
No. Her suggested-order page puts it after book four. It is not required to reach Lady of Starfire.
Is Winds of Darkness book six?
Some lists number it that way. Her current books page still describes a five-book series plus a novella. Either way it is not an on-ramp.
Do I need Legacy first?
No.
Sources
- Melissa K. Roehrich, official books — current series hub; five novels plus one novella. Opened 2026-09-13.
- Melissa K. Roehrich, suggested Lady of Darkness order — five novels with The Reaper after Lady of Embers. Opened 2026-09-13.
Same shelf
