BookPath
Home/Authors/Jasmine Mas/Villains of Lore

Villains of Lore Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Jasmine Mas
2 Entries
Ongoing
Quick Answer

Start Villains of Lore by Jasmine Mas with "Blood of Hercules", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

The complete reading order for the Villains of Lore series by Jasmine Mas. 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 "Blood of Hercules"

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.

Begin Reading Path →
Audible VersionBest for commuting

Community Consensus

Medium Debate

"The overwhelming consensus and most detailed discussion focuses on Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings series, specifically highlighting the Liveship Traders trilogy for its excellent character writing and nuanced villains (Kennit is repeatedly called a 'masterclass in villainy'). Other highly recommended series include The Wheel of Time, Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, and Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel books."

Key Reddit Advice

For the Realm of the Elderlings, start with the Farseer Trilogy, followed by the Liveship Traders trilogy. This is the chronological order, and many readers expressed initial difficulty transitioning directly into Liveship Traders due to missing the previous cast (Fitz).

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Villains of Lore 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 Villains of Lore. 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 "Blood of Hercules" 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 "Villains of Lore" 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 "Blood of Hercules"Explore all by Jasmine Mas

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 Order2 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.
Best Start Here
1

Blood of Hercules

Pub: 2025★ 3.94

The INSTANT New York Times bestseller! Don't miss the overnight viral sensation everyone is talking about! The gorgeous collector's hardcover edition of Blood of Hercules features gold foil sprayed edges, foil casing, and metallic cover treatment and an exclusive teaser of the next book, Bonds of Hercules. I'm just a girl. And it turns out, I'm Hercules. I'm struggling to survive in a Titan infested world where Spartans, immortals from twelve royal families who have god-like powers and obscene wealth, rule over all. A shy-stammering foster child with nothing, I keep my head down, cover my scars, and focus on excelling in school. At least, I try to. Then it happens. My blood test reveals I'm part of the powerful elite. I'm one of them. A Spartan. Forced to attend the Spartan War Academy, I undergo the most harrowing test of all time to see if I have what it takes to be an immortal. There's just a few problems. Achilles and Patro are my scary mentors. Kharon, the ferryman of death, and Augustus, the son of war, are my terrifying professors. Also, I'm pretty sure either someone's stalking me everywhere I go, or my sanity's slipping--I have a bad feeling both are true. I'm surrounded by Villains and they're smothering me with their hate, obsession, and dark possessiveness. Too bad for them, they have no clue just who they're messing with. A Dark Romantasy for readers who love: "Who did this to you?" Extreme Enemies to Lovers Strong Heroine Morally Gray Alpha Heroes Zodiac Academy, Quicksilver and When the Moon Hatched

2

BONDS OF HERCULES

Pub: 2025★ 4.08

Plot details hidden until you finish "Blood of Hercules".

The second book in the Villains of Lore series. Seduction and danger put Hercules in a tough spot.

Prefer Listening?

Best if you commute

Get the professional narration of "Blood of Hercules" free with an Audible trial.

Try Audible →

Own the Physical Copy

Best value option

Add "Blood of Hercules" to your library. Curated links ensure you get the correct edition.

View on Amazon →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the Villains of Lore 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 Villains of Lore?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Blood of Hercules" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Jasmine Mas intended.

Can I read Villains of Lore 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 Villains of Lore 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.