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Series Guide
Blood and Steel Books in Order
By Helen Scheuerer · The Legends of Thezmarr · 4 main books · Complete series
Use this Blood and Steel books in order guide to start in the right place, follow The Legends of Thezmarr clearly, and choose the best first-time reading path through the main series and optional prequel stories. Helen Scheuerer’s official FAQ says there are three valid ways to enter the series: chronological order, publication order, and emotional-impact order.
For most first-time readers, the simplest path is to start with Blood & Steel and continue through the main series in order: Vows & Ruins, Fate & Furies, and Shadow & Storms. Optional prequel entries like An Alchemist’s Vow and Slaying the Shadow Prince can add background, but they are not required if you mainly want Thea and Wilder’s core story arc.
Start with: Blood & Steel
About This Series
Blood & Steel is the first book in Helen Scheuerer’s The Legends of Thezmarr, a complete epic fantasy romance series built around enemies-to-lovers tension, slow-burn spice, found family, and a larger world of magic and monsters.
If you are new to Thezmarr, the cleanest reading route is the main quartet first. Readers who want fuller background can add An Alchemist’s Vow, a free prequel novella about a younger Althea Zoltaire, and Slaying the Shadow Prince, a full-length prequel standalone set earlier in the same world.
Best first read: main series order, starting with Blood & Steel.
Blood and Steel Reading Order
Best first-time reading path
- 1
Blood & Steel
Main bookBook 1 in The Legends of Thezmarr
Start here. This is the clearest first-time entry point for the core series.
- 2
Vows & Ruins
Main bookBook 2 in the main series
Direct continuation of the main Thea and Wilder story arc.
- 3
Fate & Furies
Main bookBook 3 in the main series
Continue the core quartet here after Vows & Ruins.
- 4
Shadow & Storms
Main bookBook 4 in the main series
Conclusion to the complete four-book Legends of Thezmarr arc.
Optional fuller Thezmarr reading path
- An Alchemist’s Vow (free prequel novella)
- Blood & Steel
- Slaying the Shadow Prince (full-length prequel standalone)
- Vows & Ruins
- Fate & Furies
- Shadow & Storms
Official reading-order options from the author
- Chronological order: An Alchemist’s Vow → Slaying the Shadow Prince → Blood & Steel → Vows & Ruins → Fate & Furies → Shadow & Storms
- Publication order: An Alchemist’s Vow → Blood & Steel → Slaying the Shadow Prince → Vows & Ruins → Fate & Furies → Shadow & Storms
- Emotional impact order: An Alchemist’s Vow → Blood & Steel → Vows & Ruins → Slaying the Shadow Prince → Fate & Furies → Shadow & Storms
Reading Order Notes
What is the best Blood and Steel reading order for most readers?
For most first-time readers, starting with Blood & Steel is the easiest and safest choice. It is book one of the main series, and the prequel standalone is optional if you want to dive straight into Thea and Wilder’s story.
Do you need to read An Alchemist’s Vow?
No, but it can be a nice optional add-on. It works as a short prequel entry focused on a younger Althea in the fortress of Thezmarr.
Do you need to read Slaying the Shadow Prince?
No, not if your priority is the main series. It is a prequel option rather than required reading for the core quartet.
Is Blood and Steel a standalone?
No. Blood & Steel is the first book in a complete four-book series, not a standalone novel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct Blood and Steel reading order?
The simplest main-series order is Blood & Steel, Vows & Ruins, Fate & Furies, and Shadow & Storms. The author also offers chronological, publication, and emotional-impact routes that include the prequel works.
How many Blood and Steel books are there?
There are four main Legends of Thezmarr books. Optional prequel works also exist outside the core quartet.
Is Blood and Steel a standalone?
No. It is book one of the complete Legends of Thezmarr series.
Do I need to read Slaying the Shadow Prince first?
No. It is an optional prequel standalone and not required if you want to jump straight into Thea and Wilder’s main story.
Do I need to read An Alchemist’s Vow first?
No. It is a free prequel novella that adds background, but it is not necessary to understand the main series.
Is The Legends of Thezmarr complete?
Yes. The core quartet is complete, running from Blood & Steel through Shadow & Storms.