Amy writes in many different worlds, so she has created this series page to help guide new readers and to give them a feel for what they are in for, including heat levels.
For an FAQ, please scroll to the bottom of the page.
FYI – Some of Amy’s titles used to be published under another company, so you might see different versions out in the wilds. The below versions are the ones she will actually get paid for if you read or purchase them. The audiobooks might differ in small ways from those too.
Here is a printable reading list for any reader who wants it!
The Magicians of Venice
Set in Venice, with an archaeologist heroine, a found family of magicians, and an epic romance arc woven through ancient mysteries, this is a mythic urban fantasy series for readers who’d rather chase relics than fight shifters.
Each book takes the reader deeper into a world where a handful of magicians survived the fall of Atlantis, Venetian canals hide ancient secrets, and the Mediterranean’s archaeological past is the key to magical power. This series is built on real historical research into ancient Mediterranean and Minoan civilizations, Venetian history, and classical Greek mythology.
Perfect for fans of: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, Labyrinth by Kate Mosse, anyone who grew up watching Tomb Raider, Indiana Jones, and The Mummy (1999) on repeat, Assassin’s Creed fans who want more romance, or anyone who likes smart heroines, heroes that are ancient and a bit dangerous, and plots involving codices, relics, and cities with layers.
Reading order: The Immortal City → The Sea of the Dead → The King’s Seal → The Dark Labyrinth (novella) →Immortals & Ink (novella that is the bridge between this series and ‘The Order of Anubis’)
The Order of Anubis
Based in the same world as ‘The Magicians of Venice.’ This spin-off series is about a secret society of immortal protectors, is steeped in Istanbul’s ancient histories and mythologies, and set in the hidden, magical underworld of the modern-day city. The Order of Anubis protects Ma’at, the cosmic balance between light and dark, and each standalone novel follows a different woman’s story in its dangerous, seductive world.
This is a romantic urban fantasy series where archaeologists, librarians, and book restorers chase ancient relics, fall in love with immortals, and learn that history has been lying to them. Higher spice level.
Perfect for fans of: Tomb Raider and The Mummy fans who want their archaeology in modern Istanbul instead of Cairo, and anyone who’d happily spend their time in a hidden bookshop while a 500-year-old warrior stands guard at the door.
Book 1: A City of Hearts and Feathers
Zoe returns to Istanbul decades after finding her father dead among his rare books. Hidden throughout the city are lost fragments of the Sais Codex, an ancient Egyptian manuscript that led to his death. Both the light and dark courts of Istanbul’s magical world are hunting her, and her only chance of surviving comes from Kahil, a protector from the ancient ‘Order of Anubis.’
Immortals & Ink (Check out this novella that is the bridge between this series and ‘The Magicians of Venice’)
The Tarot Kings
A romantasy series set in a future Venice where magic has returned to the world. Each book follows a different couple from a dazzling world of sorcerers, shifters, and magic — all set against the canals, palaces, and political intrigue of a magical Venetian Republic.
Unlike typical romantic urban fantasy or paranormal romance, this series is built on real Venetian history and culture, reimagined through an epic romantasy lens. The city’s layout is inspired by Tarot, and each book centers on a “King” of a different suit, corresponding to an area of Venice. These are character-driven romances with fated mates and political intrigue.
Series details: Four books, interconnected standalones (can be read in any order, but recommended in sequence for maximum enjoyment). Category-length romance (50–65k words). Higher heat level. Features shifters, djinn, and sorcerers. Protagonists aged mid-20s and up. Set in a fantasy future Venice.
Perfect for fans who want: fated-mates romantasy vibes with real-world cultural depth and worldbuilding that goes beyond standard romantic urban fantasy.
Reading order: King of Swords → King of Wands → King of Cups → King of Coins
Myth and Magic Universe
A mix of epic and urban fantasy series that spans multiple mythological traditions — Finnish Kalevala lore, Russian folklore (Baba Yaga, firebirds, Tuonela – the lands of the dead), and Arthurian legend. This is a multi-POV saga with fierce, flawed heroines, complex magic systems drawn from real mythology, and romance woven through high-stakes action.
The Myth and Magic Universe began with the ‘Firebird Faerie Tales trilogy’ and has expanded to include interconnected spin-off novels that explore different characters and mythological traditions within the same world. If you love the way Sarah J. Maas blends epic and urban fantasy across multiple storylines, but want deeper mythological roots, this is your series.
Series details: Five books (trilogy + two interconnected spin-offs). Epic and urban fantasy with romance. Multiple POVs. Strong female protagonists aged late 20s and up. Draws on Finnish Kalevala mythology, Russian folklore, Tuonela (Finnish underworld), Arthurian legend, and Celtic myth. Contains action, violence, and moderate romance.
Perfect for fans of: Sarah J. Maas’s mix of modern and epic fantasy in Crescent City, Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy, Naomi Novik’s Uprooted and Spinning Silver, and readers who love Slavic and Nordic mythology in fantasy.
Reading order: Cry of the Firebird → Ashes of the Firebird → Rise of the Firebird → The Exorcist and The Demon Hunter (spin-off) → Of Starlight and Midnight (spin-off). The spin-offs require the trilogy to be read first.
The Blood Lake Chronicles
A gothic paranormal romance trilogy that reimagines Fae myth, Arthurian, and Celtic mythology through a dark, atmospheric lens. Set in the Myth and Magic Universe (following Merlin after the events of ‘Rise of the Firebird’), this series blends vampires, the fae, and Arthurian legend into a brooding, romantic story that can be enjoyed as a completely standalone series.
If you love the gothic atmosphere of Anne Rice, or the dark romance of Kathryn Ann Kingsley, this series combines all of those threads with Amy’s signature historical and mythological research.
Series details: Three books, read in order. Gothic paranormal romance. Features vampires, the fae, and Arthurian characters. Moderate spice level. Protagonists aged late 20s and up. Draws on Arthurian legend, Celtic mythology, and gothic literary tradition. Can be read standalone or as a companion to the Myth and Magic Universe.
Perfect for fans of: Mary Stewart, Juliet Marillier, Kathryn Ann Kingsley, and readers who love dark, atmospheric paranormal romance grounded in real mythology.
Reading order: Blood and Roses → Swords and Curses → Kings and Monsters
Please note these titles were originally published under the titles Wylt, Blaise and Kingdom. They have returned from the publishing void and received new edits, titles, and sexy new covers.
Wolf of the Sands
A standalone epic romantasy set in an original world inspired by three of history’s great mythological traditions: Norse, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian. This is a sweeping romantic portal fantasy with a richly built world, high-stakes action, and a love story at its core.
For readers who love the worldbuilding ambition of authors like Samantha Shannon or S.A. Chakraborty but want a self-contained, satisfying story rather than a ten-book commitment.
Series details: Complete standalone (with plans for a second standalone in the same world). Epic romantic fantasy. Higher heat level. Action-heavy. Protagonist aged late 20s. Draws on Norse, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian mythology and ancient history.
Perfect for fans of: S.A. Chakraborty (Daevabad Trilogy), Samantha Shannon, Amanda Bouchet, and readers who want epic fantasy romance with non-European mythological inspiration.
Sorcerers and Saints
A cozy paranormal romance set in Melbourne, Australia — one of the few fantasy novels set in this city. Features a cursed saint, a surly sorcerer, a sassy talking cat, and a large cast of ghosts and magical creatures. This is a warm, character-driven story for readers who want magic in their romance without the darkness of traditional urban fantasy.
Series details: Standalone novel. Cozy paranormal romance. Set in Melbourne, Australia. Lower heat level but open door. Lighthearted tone with magical creatures, ghosts, and a talking cat.
Perfect for fans of: Maggie Steifvater, Alice Hoffman, and readers who love cozy fantasy with warmth and wit.
The Eagle Key
A sweet, cozy portal fantasy romance for readers who grew up on The Princess Bride and Howl’s Moving Castle. A chance wish on the Evening Star sends the protagonist through a portal into Faerie, where adventure, redemption, and the peril of True Love await.
This is Amy’s gentlest book — a warm, whimsical romance with no spicy scenes, perfect for readers who want fairy-tale charm with smart, adult storytelling.
Series details: Standalone novel. Clean/sweet romance (no spicy scenes). Portal fantasy into Faerie. Lighthearted, fairy-tale tone. Available in Kindle Unlimited.
Perfect for fans of: Diana Wynne Jones (Howl’s Moving Castle), William Goldman (The Princess Bride), and readers who love whimsical portal fantasy with adult protagonists.
FAQ
What order should I read Amy Kuivalainen’s books in?
Amy writes in several different worlds, so there’s no single reading order across all series. The Magicians of Venice and The Myth and Magic Universe (Firebird books) should be read in order. The Blood Lake Chronicles can be read standalone or after Rise of the Firebird. The Tarot Kings are interconnected standalones, and The Wolf of the Sands, Sorcerers and Saints, and The Eagle Key are all stand alones.
Which Amy Kuivalainen series is the spiciest?
The Tarot Kings and The Order of Anubis have the highest heat levels. Wolf of the Sands also has higher spice. The Magicians of Venice and Blood Lake Chronicles have moderate spice. Sorcerers and Saints is lighter, and The Eagle Key is a clean/sweet romance with no spicy scenes.
Are Amy Kuivalainen’s books available in Kindle Unlimited?
Yes. All of Amy’s books are available to read for free in Kindle Unlimited.
Which series should I start with if I like contemporary fantasy but want romance in it?
Start with The Magicians of Venice. It’s the closest to Deborah Harkness’s A Discovery of Witches and Kate Mosse’s The Labyrinth — it is deeply researched fantasy set in a real city (Venice) with a strong romance arc, ancient mysteries and archaeology, and based in a world of hidden magic.
Does Amy Kuivalainen write YA or adult fantasy?
All of Amy’s books are adult romantic urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Her youngest protagonist is about 27 years old. Her target readership is smart women aged 35 and up who love history and mythology.
What mythologies does Amy Kuivalainen draw from?
Amy’s books draw on a wide range of mythological traditions including: Finnish Kalevala mythology, Russian folklore, ancient Egyptian mythology, Mesopotamian myth, Arthurian and Celtic legend, Greek and classical Mediterranean mythology, and Venetian history. Each series focuses on different traditions.
Is Amy Kuivalainen a neurodivergent author?
Yes. Amy is proudly AuDHD (autistic and ADHD) and dyslexic. Her neurodivergence fuels her deep research approach and her ability to find patterns and connections across different mythological traditions — it’s a core part of her identity as a storyteller.
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