Emily Larkin Books in Order: The Complete Regency Reading Guide
Imagine a fairy godmother who grants each daughter of one family a single magical wish — and imagine that wish landing them in the middle of the most dangerous, romantic trouble of their lives. USA Today bestseller Emily Larkin's Baleful Godmother series threads a touch of magic through beautifully grounded Regency romance. Here is how it all connects and exactly where to start.
Does the order matter? A little more than usual, and here is why. Each Baleful Godmother book is a complete standalone romance with its own couple and happy ending, but they all spring from the same premise — a centuries-old wish granted to one woman per generation — and a prequel quartet sets up the godmother herself. Read in order and the magical framework and family connections deepen with each book; read out of order and every novel still stands beautifully on its own. Below is the full sequence.
The Fey Quartet (prequel novellas)
Four medieval-set novellas that introduce the fairy godmother and the wish that echoes down the generations. Short, lovely, and the true chronological starting point — though many readers save them for after the main series.
- Maythorn's Wish
- Hazel's Promise
- Ivy's Choice
- Larkspur's Quest
The Baleful Godmother series (the main event)
The full-length Regency novels, each following a different heroine granted one supernatural gift she must learn to wield. This is the heart of Larkin's world and where most readers begin.
- Unmasking Miss Appleby (2016) — a heroine gifted the power to change her shape; the perfect first Emily Larkin book.
- Resisting Miss Merryweather (2016)
- Trusting Miss Trentham (2016)
- Claiming Mister Kemp (2017)
- Ruining Miss Wrotham (2017)
- Discovering Miss Dalrymple (2017)
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Beyond the godmother
Emily Larkin also writes straight (non-magical) Regency romance and connected historicals for readers who love her voice but want their period romance without the fantasy thread. Her stories are known for emotional depth, careful historical detail, and slow-burning tension rather than heavy heat. Because she continues to publish and occasionally reissues collections, the surest way to confirm her newest titles is Larkin's own site — but the Baleful Godmother books remain her most beloved and the best on-ramp to everything else.
Where to start
Start with Unmasking Miss Appleby. It is the first full-length novel, introduces the magical premise cleanly, and is the book most readers point newcomers toward. If you are the kind of reader who cannot bear to read anything out of chronological order, begin with the Fey Quartet novellas — they are quick and set up the godmother whose gifts drive everything that follows. Either way, once the magic hooks you, read the main series straight through in order.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to read Emily Larkin's books in order?
Each Baleful Godmother book stands alone, but many readers prefer to read in order because they share a magical family premise and recurring connections. The Fey Quartet novellas act as a prequel that sets up the wish-granting godmother.
Where should I start with Emily Larkin?
Start with Unmasking Miss Appleby, the first full-length novel. If you love strict chronological order, begin with the Fey Quartet novellas, which introduce the fairy godmother behind the series.
Are Emily Larkin's romances historical or fantasy?
Regency historical romance with a light thread of magic. Each heroine is granted one supernatural gift, but the stories stay grounded in real Regency settings, emotion, and slow-burn romance.