Chris's advice on how to read The Books of History Chronicles

  1. The Circle Series (takes place in our world and in Other Earth)
    1. Green (Book Zero, sequel to Book 3 and prequel to Book 1. Best to read this last as it closes a lot of story loops.)
    2. Black (Book One) probably the best place to start with the BoHC world.
    3. Red (Book Two)
    4. White (Book Three)
  2. The Lost Books (written for young adults, but still worth the read. Occurs mostly in Other Earth.)

    1. Chosen (takes place between Black and Red)
    2. Infidel
    3. Renegade (things make more sense if you read Showdown first)
    4. Chaos
    5. Lunatic (between White and Green)
    6. Elyon
  3. Paradise Novels (completely in our world)

    1. Showdown (other point to enter the BoHC world if you do not start with Black. But Black is a better place to start.)
    2. Saint
    3. Sinner
  4. Here are spin-off novels that occur due to events in the other series.

    1. Skin (spins off of Showdown, but is an independent book. Does have one “hook” for the Lost Books.)
    2. House (spins off of Showdown, but is an independent book)
    3. Immanuel’s Veins (takes place in our world in the 11th or 12th century, but with ties to other books in the series)
  1. My recommendation is to read Black, Red, White from the Circle first (this was the original Circle Trilogy that started it all)
    1. Then read the Paradise Novels
    2. Then read the Lost Books
    3. Then read Green and the other independent spin-offs.
      2. Based on the plot points that intertwine, I think things will mean the most if you read them that way.

8 thoughts on “Chris's advice on how to read The Books of History Chronicles”

  1. I’ve read all but books of history and was currently going through them trying to recall plot points from Paradise and Circle series as a whole. I chose an order that I hadn’t seen anyone else post online yet that seems to make sense.
    Black
    Chosen
    Infidel
    Renegade (will probably reread Paradise novels after and maybe skin and house at this time too before Red)
    Red
    White
    Lunatic
    Elyon (placed lunatic and Elyon based on your article haven’t finished them)
    Green
    I feel like Chosen through Renegade at least can be done after black and before red..
    Just thought I’d share..haven’t finished my full re reading but this is the order I’m gonna try

    Reply

  2. Hi,
    I’m getting ready to start the books, and am searching high and low to find a good order. Chris, how was your experience with the order referenced above?
    I know there’s “no wrong order,” but I don’t by that. If there’s a reference in a book to a previous book, I want to have already read the previous book.
    I found a guy that lists a “chronological,” order as he has compiled it. What do you think of that?
    https://www.facebook.com/notes/10150153031036128/
    Sticking to his chronology, would be all over the place, and Dekker himself says to stick within each mini-series, but read each mini in any order?
    I’m confused! And I want a good method…
    Any help is appreciated.

    Reply

  3. Hey Matt. I did them all as audiobooks (highly recommend) and in the end this is the order I had done, decided upon based on the interlocking plots and references in other books related.
    CIRCLE SERIES READ ORDER
    Black
    Chosen
    Infidel –> Red
    Renegade—> Showdown—-> Skin
    Chaos | |
    White Saint. House
    Lunatic | |
    Elyon Sinner Im.veins(after sinner)
    Green
    So:
    Black
    Chosen
    Infidel
    Red
    Renegade is the best order for those
    Then your choice jump over to the paradise chronicles and skin and Immanuel’s veins to get some side story, or,
    Continue from Renegade straight into
    Chaos
    White
    Lunatic
    Elyon
    Green. And hit the paradise later to reminisce and catch references.
    I think the lost books and circle should be divided up as I have them for sure as it keeps the story consistent
    The paradise (showdown, sinnwr, saint-and skin/house to a lesser degree) interact well after Renegade.
    I read Immanuel veins after them all in reality and it had some good background info and references to the circle and lost books series.
    Hope this helps, I enjoyed them thoroughly in the above order

    Reply

  4. Hey Matt. I did them all as audiobooks (highly recommend) and in the end this is the order I had done, decided upon based on the interlocking plots and references in other books related.
    CIRCLE SERIES READ ORDER
    Black
    Chosen
    Infidel –> Red
    Renegade—> Showdown—-> Skin
    Chaos | |
    White Saint. House
    Lunatic | |
    Elyon Sinner Im.veins(after sinner)
    Green
    So:
    Black
    Chosen
    Infidel
    Red
    Renegade is the best order for those
    Then your choice jump over to the paradise chronicles and skin and Immanuel’s veins to get some side story, or,
    Continue from Renegade straight into
    Chaos
    White
    Lunatic
    Elyon
    Green. And hit the paradise later to reminisce and catch references.
    I think the lost books and circle should be divided up as I have them for sure as it keeps the story consistent
    The paradise (showdown, sinnwr, saint-and skin/house to a lesser degree) interact well after Renegade.
    I read Immanuel veins after them all in reality and it had some good background info and references to the circle and lost books series.
    Hope this helps, I enjoyed them thoroughly in the above order
    *just read that facebook link you posted and I really like how it’s laid out. I wanted to do something like that while I was reading that nailed it head on.
    I’d go similar to mine or based on the facebook post and you’ll be in good shape

    Reply

  5. Thanks so much for replying Chris! It’s been a minute since this thread had activity, so I wasn’t sure if I’d hear anything…at least not very quickly. Very thoughtful…
    I’m going to go with yours. The chronological, from the perspective of a newbie, is just a bit much, and it’s so all over the place. He inserts them, at some places, but references them elsewhere. I’m sure you get what he means, but to me it just makes it…intimidating?
    Thanks again, I’ll update as I progress.

    Reply

  6. Matt,
    That seems best I think. After you read them all again, I’d visit his timeline to reminisce a bit, as it is interesting to me having read them all again now (listened to I should say). Audiobook form was really great and the narrators brought the characters a lot of life. Just checked them out from local libraries over the span of 6 months or so.
    ENJOY!

    Reply

  7. Hi Chris,
    I’m converting audiobooks now…
    What about these? I’ve read that they are all part of BOH series too.
    House
    The Keeper
    Forbidden
    Mortal
    Sovereign
    Blood Book
    Are these involved?

    Reply
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