Some have asked why I have included Sherrilyn Kenyon’s “Chronicles of Nick” YA series, within my Dark-Hunter/Were-Hunter/Dream-Hunter reading order guide, and if it’s absolutely necessary to read them to keep up with the series? After all, that series is about Nick as a teen, and not the adult “Nick” we’ve come to know in the Dark-Hunter world. How would his “teen” books be relevant within the adult Dark-Hunter series?
I’ve listed her books in the order that they are written by the author (and/or intended to be read), and while Nick’s books take place in a different “time” from the Dark-Hunter books, after I read them, I realized… Nick’s books DO fall into place. They are important. Nick’s series provides a little insight into the Dark-Hunter’s past, and better yet, a deeper look into his own past when he erroneously became involved in their world.
But more importantly, I’ve started noticing something weird, and maybe even a little disturbing (albeit exciting). There are a few new catches… things have changed. Or have they? You see, because of Nick’s actions as a “teen”, and a bit of “interference” (or should I say influence) from the future, things might just be changing in the Dark-Hunter world, as we know it today. It’s… complicated 😉
There was a specific twist in one of Nick’s books that had me reflecting back to a past Dark Hunter book, and I thought to myself… Whoa! Everything could change. That’s gotta change things!! How is Sherrilyn gonna do that? And I’m dying to see it play out. But without having read Nick’s books, (if I had only stuck with the Dark-Hunter releases), I would have missed these little changes… this tidbit of potential disaster, entirely.
Here’s a note from the author that I tend to agree with…
**Note to Dark-Hunter fans
The Chronicles of Nick *is* Nick’s real and true past. There is a huge surprise (several actually) in the book that I don’t want to spoil, but when you read the book, everything you think is an inconsistency will make perfect sense to you. More than that, you will understand exactly why Nick is the way he is and why he continues to hate Acheron the way he does. But you have to be patient. All will be clear on May 25, 2010.
Nick’s series will run until it intersects with Night Pleasures and then Nick will have his own novel in the Dark-Hunter world.
Book one, Infinity, begins when Nick meets Kyrian.
Book two will pick up the next day after Infinity ends and will be out Feb 2011.Remember the one promise that I try to keep in every book: Just when you think you know the truth about a character or event, you find out that things are seldom what they seem. Nick is one of those characters. There’s a lot more to our little Cajun than what you’ve seen to date. That’s why it takes 12 books to tell his story.
There are many, many secrets you’ll learn about a lot of characters, including Cherise and especially Jaden and Jared. Just hold on… you ain’t seen nothing yet 🙂
So that’s it. Some want to skip Nick ’cause it’s YA, but Nick as an “adult” and who he is now… is integral in the teen books. It’s kind of important in the Dark Hunter grand scheme of things. What a world Sherrilyn Kenyon has built. I don’t know how she does it, and how she keeps up with it… and even where she is going with it, but if you ask me, I say, read ’em!! Sure they may not be my favorite books in the series (although they are fun), they HAVE provided a few strange twists to what I thought I already know about the Dark-Hunters. And of course, they are definitely not “steamy” but if you want the full “Dark-Hunter” effect, just go with the flow. 😉
Well Maryse that was very apropos of you (haha love that word always learning something new word with you) I often find myself argueing about this topic with other fans and you my dear did a fantastic job…….thanks
Yup!! They’ve got their own charm those books, cause something’s up. I’m just wondering… what? So thanks. I was hoping that post made sense!
As long as she gives us our happy ever after I am all good. I do miss the banter back and forth with ash and nick and every book I read without their awesome bro cajun dialog it makes my heart ache………….I. do believe his story will rock us to the core……….
And about NIcks spin off series I have a 12 year old with add and other learning disabilities and she read both books in less than 5 days while doing 2 sports she loved them…..squee and your reading order guide not only helped me buy the right ones but lead me to you…….
hi i saw this book at a local book store and started reading it and found my self sort of lost ? do i need to read the dark hunters volumes 1-3 to under stand chronicles of nick ? im now reading the infamous which i assume is book 1 ?
Hi Justin.
Good question!
Because the Chronicles of Nick books are YA, and marketed to teens, NO… you do NOT need to read the Dark Hunter series to understand what’s going on with Nick as a teen.
The Dark Hunter series is fun, exciting and full of action and danger BUT it is specifically for an adult market, and focuses on romance. Those who have read the Dark Hunters already would benefit to read the Chronicles of Nick as it expands the story they’ve been following, but the Chronicles of Nick stands on it’s own, as a series, so no need to backtrack.
Well I picked up one of my mom’s romance novels, (Seize The Night) and started to read it yesterday because I was home sick, and I ended up falling in LOVE! It took me a bit to understand because I started on Book 7 (plan on going back to read from beginning) but it’s an amazing series!
You see, I love the violence, sexiness, and all the other reasons it’s considered an “Adult Book’ and the idea of going to a YA version kind of bums me out. Should I still read it, to get into Nick’s head?
I’m far from being a young adult, but in my opinion yes you should include C o N when you read the DH series. I love his char and reading his books did explain some things.
Now I feel like I should go back to the beginning of Dark-Hunters just to refresh myself before continuing on and reading Nick’s books. Wow, thanks for that tidbit to help with my Kenyon obsession.
the chronicles and the dark hunters are closely related. havent you noticed that in time untime, Nick is becoming his old self and not antagonistic much with Acheron?
Hi, I just read the Chronicles of Nick books, and waiting for Inferno. Could someone clear something up for me? I have been looking around to see what exactly the Dark Hunter series has to do with Nick, and I’m wondering is the Nick in CoN going to turn out like Ambrose or is he going to be different? Because if he turns out to be more like Ambrose I’m not sure what to think… I’m a big fan of Nekoda and Nick and hoping for something good happening for those two. I also don’t want to see Cherise dead. Soo… yeah. Can someone explain to me please?
Do you think I would not catch anything if I read CON AFTER I finish all the DH books? Or should I just read CON within the DH timeline as you listed? Thanks!
I was wondering that if since the CON is Nick before the DH series then should I read the CON before the DH or read then as you say.
I was EXTREMELY reluctant to read CON. However when I started, I immediately fell into a must-read-trance and I read all 5 books in THREE days! I’m a bit floored by that but they were THAT good and I avoid YA like the plague (cause they usually bore me but not this time!)
On the chronicles of nick serious which order do you read them in? When I look it up some say infinity and other say illusion ??
Started with CoN because I do enjoy YA books as well as Adults books as long as they have a good story line. When I realized that there was a whole DARK HUNTER series, I was in reader heaven. The DH thus far is AWESOME and you can’t beat the amazon e-reader price for them all. Ive read all the CoN but still refer back. I also have noticed the “changes” as I read the DH and can’t wait til it all comes together. I think the order here is great if you can but if you’ve already read CoN, don’t worry, you will still be impressed with the DH and vice-versa. However, DH series is ADULT not quite appropriate for YA readers.
To Blair, since no one has answered your question, Infinity is the first one, Illusion is number 5. I haven’t actually read Infinity, as I got them from the library and they didn’t have that one. I started with number 2 and have read 3, 4, and 5, waiting anxiously for number 6 to come out. And I hadn’t read anything at all by Sherrilyn Kenyon until the Chronicles of Nick books. I just happened to be sitting down on a bench in the library waiting for my daughter and grandchildren to get done, and I saw them on the shelf, so I checked out number 2, 3, and 4. Once I was halfway through number 3, I knew I would read them all. I still wasn’t aware of the other books, until I read something on the book jacket about the Dark Hunter series, then I knew I had to read everything she wrote. So far I have only read Acheron, other than the CON books. But it’s definitely worth the read to read that series too.
And just in case you missed the reference to my grandchildren, I’m a 61 year old grandmother of 12 and I like YA books, especially fantasy or paranormal type books.