If you’ve been hanging around romancelandia long enough, you’ve probably heard the name Karina Halle tossed around. That’s because she’s the queen of keeping you on your toes—whether it’s heart-pounding romance, spooky vibes, or let’s be honest, both. If you’re in the mood to be haunted by love (and maybe a few actual ghosts), then buckle up because we’re diving into Karina Halle’s world. Whether you like vampires and demons, or you just want plain swoon-worthy heroes, she’s got a little something for everyone. Ready to see what all the hype is about? Let’s do this.

Karina Halle reading guide

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Karina Halle Beginners Reading Guide

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of who Karina Halle is, let’s just say she’s not your average romance author. If you’re here expecting soft and fluffy love stories, you might want to take a detour. Karina’s the type of author who throws her characters into chaos, lets them wrestle with their demons (sometimes literally), and then gives you a romance that makes it all worth it.

Who is Karina Halle?

Karina Halle is a bestselling author known for blending romance with dark, suspenseful elements. She started her career in screenwriting and journalism, which shows in her storytelling—her books are fast-paced and packed with cinematic tension.

Francesca and Karina Halle

She earned a dedicated fanbase with her Experiment in Terror series, and for good reason—it’s a mix of horror, romance, and suspense that keeps you hooked from the start. In fact, even though I first discovered her by reading Sins & Needles (which I absolutely love), it was Experiment in Terror that really solidified her spot as one of my go-to authors. I haven’t read many series that I literally couldn’t stop binging back-to-back, but this one did it for me. If you love a series that keeps you on edge while making you swoon, this is definitely one to dive into.

But Karina doesn’t stick to just one genre—she’s written everything from contemporary romance to gothic and paranormal stories, often adding twists that keep readers hooked. If you’re looking for books that push boundaries while still delivering on romance, Karina Halle is definitely an author to check out.

Why Read Karina Halle?

Let me just say—her books are anything but your typical romance. If you’re over perfect heroes and predictable love stories, she’s got you covered. She’s here for those of us who love our romance with a little more bite and a lot more tension. Here’s why she’s so addictive:

  • If slow-burn chemistry that leaves you screaming at your Kindle is your thing, she delivers every time.
  • Love paranormal or horror romance but want all the emotional feels, too? She somehow manages to nail both.
  • She writes the kind of flawed, messy characters that stay with you long after the last page.
  • Oh, and if you’re into morally grey heroes? Get ready, because she’s got those in spades.
  • Karina’s books are the definition of binge-worthy—you’ll sit down for a chapter, and next thing you know, it’s 3 a.m. and you’re contemplating life choices.
  • Plus, her stories aren’t just romance—they’ve got real stakes that’ll keep you guessing, swooning, and freaking out all at once.

How to Read Karina Halle’s Books

Honestly, that really depends on your vibe and mood. She writes across multiple genres so you’ll probably find something that is very specific to the mood you’re in. While some of her books are series, most of them can be read as standalones. But if you plan on reading all, there are some best practices and I’ll try to give you some guidelines below.

Where to Start Reading Karina Halle?

This will ultimately depend on what you like because there are so many genres to choose from. I’ll cover the paranormal ones in the next section. But for her contemporaries, if you want a romantic thriller I would go for the Artists Trilogy. If you prefer a romcom, let’s go for The Royals Next Door. If you want an adorable contemporary romance, try The Pact. A forbidden romance, The Forbidden Man or A Nordic King. And for a new adult college setting Smut and armchair travel Where Sea Meets Sky.

Spooky Season Horror Romance Karina Halle Guide

I think one of the subgenres that Karina Halle excels in is horror romance. So I’ll be a little biased here and tell you to binge my favorite horror romance series by her, Experiment in Terror. Be warned, it’ll take over your spooky season though because once you reach book 3 you can’t put them down. If that’s too long but you still want demons, try The Devil’s Metal. But if demons are not your thing, she’s got some vamps too. Read Blood Orange for a modern retelling of Dracula or Black Sunshine for a vamp kidnapping gothic romance. And there’s always Hollow for a gothic retelling of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and A Ship of Bones & Teeth, a dark retelling of The Little Mermaid.

Are Karina Halle’s books connected?

For the most part, Karina Halle’s books stand alone or are part of separate series, but there are a few connections and Easter eggs for fans who read widely. Most of her contemporaries are either standalones or interconnected standalones when they are in fact part of a series. That means if you pick one up you’ll be fine. But of course if you read in order, you’ll get to peak some interconnected characters.

Some of her books exist in the same universe or have characters that crossover, which means if you want to read all of them it’s recommended you read them in order. For example, the Experiment in Terror series and the Ada Palomino Trilogy are connected, with Veiled being a spin-off. However, many of her other series, like the Dark Eyes Duet and Dracula Duet, are completely separate and can be read independently.

Is there a recommended Karina Halle reading order?

You can definitely start where the mood strikes. However, for the best reading experience there are some series that should be read in order, and others that can be fine as interconnected standalones. And then you have some series that you can or should read another series first. These are some of my recommended guidelines:

Series that should be read in order include: Experiment in Terror, The Artists Trilogy, Dark Eyes Duet, Ada Palomino, Devils series, Dracula Duet, Underworld Gods and Nightwind.

The rest of her contemporaries can be read as interconnected standalones. As with any series though, if you read them in order you get the overlapping characters and some plotlines that may pop up and it would enrich the experience to read in series order. But it’s not necessary.

And most importantly, some series connect to each other. Here are some best practices for series to read before others: read the Experiment in Terror series before Ada Palomino, read the Artists Trilogy before Dirty Angels. If you choose to, maybe also read both of those before the Sins Duet as that is a story of the kids of characters from both of them. You should read the Dark Eyes duet before Nightwolf, although it’s technically a standalone, reading the duet first helps you understand the world and some characters cross over.

Karina Halle Book List

Click on the titles below to read our reviews.

2011

2012

2013

Read our interview with Karina Halle about the release of Bold Tricks here

2014

I just finished Karina Halle’s Love, In English and oh my God, what a rollercoaster of emotions that was. Brilliant book. I think it comes out later this month.

Recommendation from L.H. Cosway during an interview with Under the Covers

2015

  • Dirty Deeds (Dirty Angels #2)
  • Where Sea Meets Sky (Where Sea Meets Sky #1)
  • The Offer (McGregor Brothers #2)
  • Dirty Promises (Dirty Angels #3)
  • The Play (McGregor Brothers #3)
  • Winter Wishes (McGregor Brothers #3.5)
  • Racing the Sun (Where Sea Meets Sky #2)

2016

  • The Lie (McGregor Brothers #4)
  • The Debt (McGregor Brothers #5)
  • Smut
  • Bright Midnight
  • Heat Wave
  • Veiled (Ada Palomino #1)

2017

  • Black Hearts (Sins Duet #1)
  • Dirty Souls (Sins Duet #2)
  • Before I Ever Met You
  • Rocked Up (with Scott Mackenzie)
  • Bad at Love
  • After All
  • Wild Card (North Ridge #1)
  • Maverick (North Ridge #2)

2018

  • Hot Shot (North Ridge #3)
  • The Swedish Prince (Nordic Royals #1)
  • The Wild Heir (Nordic Royals #2)
  • Nothing Personal
  • A Nordic King (Nordic Royals #3)

2019

  • Discretion (Dumonts #1)
  • Disarm (Dumonts #2)
  • My Life in Shambles
  • The Royal Rogue (Nordic Royals #4)
  • The Forbidden Man (previously The Younger Man)

2020

  • Disavow (Dumonts #3)
  • Lovewrecked
  • One Hot Italian Summer
  • The One That Got Away
  • Ghosted (Experiment in Terror #9.5)
  • Came Back Haunted (Experiment in Terror #10)

Check out our complete Experiment in Terror by Karina Halle series guide here

2021

  • The Royals Next Door
  • Black Sunshine (Dark Eyes Duet #1)
  • The Blood is Love (Dark Eyes Duet #2)
  • Song for the Dead (Ada Palomino #2)
  • Nightwolf

2022

  • River of Shadows (Underworld Gods #1)
  • Crown of Crimson (Underworld Gods #2)
  • Blood Orange (Dracula Duet #1)

2023

  • Black Rose (Dracula Duet #2)
  • A Ship of Bones & Teeth (Nightwind #1`)
  • Hollow (Gothic Shade of Romance #1)
  • Legend (Gothic Shade of Romance #2)

2024

  • City of Darkness (Underworld Gods #3)
  • The Royals Upstairs
  • Ocean of Sin and Starlight (Nightwind #2)

And there you have it—whether you’re in the mood for spooky romance, intense action, or morally grey characters, Karina Halle has you covered. Seriously, she’s one of those authors who can keep you hooked no matter the genre. Let me know in the comments what book you’re starting with! And if you want more book recs, check out some of our other posts that you might find interesting.

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Karina Halle Reading Guide

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