If you love fantasy worlds filled with romance, mystery, and magic, Amanda Hocking is a name you should know. With a fascinating career and a loyal fanbase, she has become one of the biggest success stories in modern publishing. Knowing how to read Amanda Hocking books in order can open the world to more than just a single story.
Clearly, she’s had success in the book world. If you’re writing novels, she’s someone to study—whether you like her genre or not.
In this post, we’ll dive into who Amanda Hocking is, why her books resonate with so many readers, and give you a detailed look at her books in order—with some fun facts sprinkled in!
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Who is Amanda Hocking?
Amanda Hocking is an American author best known for her fantasy and paranormal romance novels. Born in Austin, Minnesota, in 1984, she became famous almost overnight when she began self-publishing her work in 2010.
Frustrated by traditional publishing rejection, Hocking took matters into her own hands, uploading her novels to Amazon’s Kindle platform.
The results were astonishing: she sold over a million copies in less than a year, earning millions of dollars. By 2011, she had signed a traditional publishing deal with St. Martin’s Press reportedly worth over $2 million. It’s a good way to get traditionally published if you’re facing rejections.
No need to find an agent. Self-publish, build a fan base, and prove you’re sellable. More and more authors are finding success at publishing houses by fist self-publishing.
Today, Hocking is considered one of the pioneers of successful self-publishing in the digital age.
Fun Fact: Before becoming a full-time writer, Hocking worked as a home health aide and wrote 17 novels in her free time!
How many books does Amanda Hocking have?
Obviously, she has plenty, having written 17 books in her free time before even self-publishing.
Amanda Hocking has over 20 books, most of them in series. Here’s an overview of her books that we’ll cover in detail below.
| Series/Category | Number of Books |
|---|---|
| Trylle Trilogy | 3 |
| Kanin Chronicles | 3 |
| Watersong Series | 4 |
| My Blood Approves Series | 5 (+1 novella) |
| Hollows Series | 2 |
| Valkyrie Duology (Between the Blade and the Heart and From the Earth to the Shadows) | 2 |
| Standalone novels (e.g., Virtue) | 1+ |
Amanda Hocking has also written some bonus stories, short novellas, and extras connected to her series, especially My Blood Approves.
What makes her books so successful?
There seems to be a recipe to Amanda Hocking’s books that makes them so sellable. While many of us can chalk up her success to good timing and getting in the self-publishing game early, there’s more to take note of.
Even if the fantasy and paranormal genre isn’t your favorite, it’s clear she’s mastered more than just genre expectations and you’ll understand it more fully if you read the Amanda Hocking books in order.
Here’s what readers tend to love about her books:
Several key ingredients have helped Amanda Hocking’s books captivate readers:
- Relatable characters: Hocking’s heroines are often imperfect but courageous, making them easy to root for.
- Fast-paced plots: Her stories are addictive, packed with action, twists, and emotional highs and lows, which keep readers turning pages and consuming book after book.
- World-building: Whether it’s trolls in Trylle or sirens in Watersong, her magical worlds feel rich and immersive.
- Romance + fantasy: Hocking masterfully blends swoon-worthy romance with high-stakes fantasy adventure. She was well ahead of the romantasy boom.
- Accessibility: Her writing style is clear, engaging, and often feels like you’re being told a secret from a close friend.
If you want to gain the best understanding of why her books are so successful, then read the Amanda Hocking books in order. Here’s how.
20+ Amanda Hocking books in order
Amanda Hocking has written across several popular fantasy series and a few stand-alone titles. Here’s a full guide to the Amanda Hocking books in order, by series:
The Trylle Trilogy
Amanda Hocking’s breakout trilogy follows Wendy Everly, a teenage girl who has always felt out of place. When she discovers she’s actually a changeling—switched at birth and destined to be queen of a powerful troll society—her world turns upside down.
As Wendy struggles with royal duties, betrayal, and forbidden love, she must also confront powerful enemies who threaten the future of her people.
Trylle is a fast-paced coming-of-age story filled with magic, hidden kingdoms, and romantic tension.
- Switched (2010)
- Torn (2010)
- Ascend (2011)
The Kanin Chronicles
A companion trilogy to the Trylle series, set in the icy, political world of the Kanin—one of the most powerful troll tribes.
The story centers on Bryn Aven, an outsider determined to rise in the ranks of the Kanin’s elite guard despite her mixed heritage. But when a traitor from her past reemerges, Bryn must decide where her loyalties truly lie.
Full of intrigue, secret missions, betrayals, and slow-burn romance, The Kanin Chronicles is perfect for readers who love gritty, character-driven fantasy.
If you’re someone trying to learn how to make a career writing fantasy, this and the Trylle connection is one to study.
- Frostfire (2015)
- Ice Kissed (2015)
- Crystal Kingdom (2015)
The Watersong Serie
Set in a coastal town steeped in myth and mystery, The Watersong Series tells the story of Gemma Fisher, a talented swimmer who unwittingly becomes entangled with a group of deadly sirens.
As Gemma undergoes a terrifying transformation, she and her sister Harper race against time to uncover the secrets behind the siren’s curse—and find a way to break it before it consumes her completely. This four-book series blends contemporary small-town drama with ancient mythology, suspense, and heart-pounding romance.
- Wake (2012)
- Lullaby (2012)
- Tidal (2013)
- Elegy (2013)
The Hollows Series
A gritty post-apocalyptic duology that follows Remy King, a teenager determined to survive after a zombie plague decimates the world.
Unlike traditional zombie stories, Hollows focuses heavily on survivalist grit, emotional resilience, and the struggle to retain humanity in the face of constant horror.
Packed with nonstop action, raw emotion, and glimpses of hope amid devastation, this series showcases Hocking’s versatility beyond fantasy.
- Hollowland (2010)
- Hollowmen (2011)
The Valkyrie Duolog
Rooted in Norse mythology, this duology introduces readers to Malin, a Valkyrie-in-training whose job is to dispatch immortals.
But when Malin discovers troubling truths about her mother’s past and the rules governing life and death, she finds herself questioning everything she’s been taught—and battling forces that threaten to upend her world.
This series offers a blend of fierce female warriors, brutal action scenes, slow-burn romance, and mythological intrigue.
- Between the Blade and the Heart (2018)
- From the Earth to the Shadows (2018)
The My Blood Approves Series
Before Trylle, there was My Blood Approves, Hocking’s indie vampire series that gained a cult following.
The story follows Alice Bonham, a typical teenager who meets Jack—an alluring, seemingly perfect boy. But Jack and his family are harboring a dangerous secret: they’re vampires.
As Alice becomes drawn deeper into their world—and into a complicated love triangle between Jack and his intense brother Peter—she faces difficult choices between love, loyalty, and her own humanity.
A must-read for fans of emotional paranormal romance with a dark twist.
- My Blood Approves (2010)
- Fate (2010)
- Flutter (2010)
- Wisdom (2010)
- Swear (2017) (Final book, released much later to conclude the series.)
Bonus:
- Letters to Elise: A Peter Townsend Novella (2010) (A prequel novella in the My Blood Approves world.)
Notably, this series was rewritten by the author after confronting some of her own internalized challenges—another perk of self-publishing. You can update and revise editions a lot easier than through a publishing house.
Standalone Novels
Cleary reading Amanda Hocking books in order means you’ll end up with a lot of series. But she does have two standalone novels that you can technically read whenever you want.
- Virtue (2011): A whimsical, fairytale-style fantasy about a girl named Ramona who dreams of escaping her sheltered life—only to find herself embroiled in a kingdom’s darkest secrets and a dangerous romance.
- Bestow the Darkness (2020): A gothic fantasy about forbidden love, political power struggles, and ancient magic. Brooding, atmospheric, and emotional, it’s one of Hocking’s darker works.
Overall, reading Amanda Hocking books in order isn’t all that difficult. You’ll be up for a lot of series and will gain a good understanding of the fantasy, paranormal romance world.
