What order should I read the Cooperative Realm books in?

TL;DR Every book stands alone. Some books share characters

My Cooperative Realm series is less about specific characters and more about a place—a big place, the whole Cooperative Realm. That’s why you can read them in any order.

But… there are a few sets within the sets that actually do have a chronological order. So if you’re big on beginning to end, here’s a list:

Books featuring Katla and the Planet Arkhide

Secrets of the Synths—In a world where synthetic humans are a part of everyday life, 8-year-old Katla embarks on a daring adventure to uncover the secrets of her island's synth clubhouse. This short novella is the most middle-grade/YA story I’ve written

Worlds Apart—On a planet where the majority are seamlessly connected through advanced implants, 16-year-old Katla finds she may be forever out of the loop. I’d call this novella YA/adult.

Hidden Planet—To save her people, 24-year-old Katla Sofiasdotter must renegotiate the terms of the unfair treaty the Cooperative Realm has offered. Problem is, Katla's no diplomat. This novel, written for adults, is the best basic introduction to how the Cooperative Realm works.

All three of these stories are in the collection Tales of Arkhide, which I would recommend getting instead of the three separate books. But if you don’t care for younger-grade reading, I’d recommend you skip Synths and Worlds altogether and just start with Hidden Planet. 

Books featuring Mondrian Delacroix (and, eventually, Arkhide)

The Listeners—After her solo spacecraft cracks in half mid-flight—and the front half vanishes—Mondrian Delacroix finds herself with a new mission. Find out why. This novel has new main characters, but earlier side characters from Arkhide make an appearance toward the end.

The Elders of Arkhide —Mondrian's now-quiet life is interrupted when the reclusive augmented humans of Arkhide summon her for a mission. Her task? To decode strange signals from the ocean's depths that hint at something unprecedented. As Mon discovers clues through her unique ability to "Listen," she realizes she might unlock the key to a world none have ever seen. 

Books featuring Frankie Styles (she pronounces it Stee-leys)

Cargo Trouble—Frankie Styles took on a small-time cargo route at the edge of Cooperative space to get away from the constant pressure of her life in Central sector. She's about to find out that edge space is just as turbulent as the life she left behind. And a lot weirder. This novella is the origin story for the Frankie series

Frankie Takes a Holiday—Frankie thinks a relaxing week on the beach while her spaceship is overhauled is just the ticket. Joke’s on her. This novel takes place directly after the events in Cargo Trouble.

Frankie Takes a Dive—When guests start dying in mysterious watery accidents at the glittering Valdes Underwater Resort, it's up to the indomitable Frankie and her tech-savvy partner to unravel the sinister plot. This novel takes place sometime after Cargo Trouble/Frankie Takes a Holiday, but it’s a great place to start.

Frankie Book 4—what I’m working on now (Oct 2024)

Are there any characters or stories you're longing to see in the Co-op world? Tell me in the comments, and I'll add them to the list! 

updated 6 Oct 2024