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Bright Falls Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Ashley Herring Blake
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Quick Answer

Start Bright Falls by Ashley Herring Blake with "Delilah Green Doesn't Care", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

The complete reading order for the Bright Falls series by Ashley Herring Blake. Below you'll find the authoritative guide on how to read the books in order, including publication dates and chronological timeline placements.

Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "Delilah Green Doesn't Care"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

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Community Consensus

High Debate

"The series starts strong with Book 1 (The Way of Kings) and peaks at Book 2 (Words of Radiance), which is frequently cited as the best entry. However, Books 3 (Oathbringer) and 4 (Rhythm of War) suffer from severe bloat, repetitive character arcs (especially Kaladin and Shallan revisiting the same struggles without progress), and uneven pacing where 85% of the book is a 'slog' before an exciting finale (the 'Sanderlanche'). There is also a strong secondary consensus that the works of Guy Gavriel Kay (GGK) are superior in terms of prose and execution, with *Lions of Al-Rassan* being highly lauded."

Key Reddit Advice

The mandatory reading order for the main epic is chronological: start with Book 1 (The Way of Kings), followed by Book 2 (Words of Radiance). Readers are warned that the books become excessively long and repetitive starting with Book 3 (Oathbringer), and many readers dropped the series at Book 3 or 4. If seeking a tight, highly-regarded masterpiece of adult fantasy without the pacing issues, *Lions of Al-Rassan* (by the secondary author discussed) is the overwhelming top recommendation.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Bright Falls conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for Bright Falls. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "Delilah Green Doesn't Care" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "Bright Falls" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Start with "Delilah Green Doesn't Care"Explore all by Ashley Herring Blake

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended. Compare →

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for fans. Compare →

Publication Reading Order1 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
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1

Delilah Green Doesn't Care

Pub: 2022★ 4.05

A clever and steamy queer romantic comedy about taking chances and accepting love—with all its complications—from the author of Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail. Delilah Green swore she would never go back to Bright Falls—nothing is there for her but memories of a lonely childhood where she was little more than a burden to her cold and distant stepfamily. Her life is in New York, with her photography career finally gaining steam and her bed never empty. Sure, it’s a different woman every night, but that’s just fine with her.   When Delilah’s estranged stepsister, Astrid, pressures her into photographing her wedding with a guilt trip and a five-figure check, Delilah finds herself back in the godforsaken town that she used to call home. She plans to breeze in and out, but then she sees Claire Sutherland, one of Astrid’s stuck-up besties, and decides that maybe there’s some fun (and a little retribution) to be had in Bright Falls, after all.   Having raised her eleven-year-old daughter mostly on her own while dealing with her unreliable ex and running a bookstore, Claire Sutherland depends upon a life without surprises. And Delilah Green is an unwelcome surprise…at first. Though they’ve known each other for years, they don’t really know each other—so Claire is unsettled when Delilah figures out exactly what buttons to push. When they’re forced together during a gauntlet of wedding preparations—including a plot to save Astrid from her horrible fiancé—Claire isn’t sure she has the strength to resist Delilah’s charms. Even worse, she’s starting to think she doesn’t want to...

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the Bright Falls series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read Bright Falls?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Delilah Green Doesn't Care" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Ashley Herring Blake intended.

Can I read Bright Falls books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the Bright Falls universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.