If you’ve spent more than five minutes looking at the chronicles of nick order, you know it’s basically a headache in book form. On the surface, it’s a Young Adult prequel to Sherrilyn Kenyon’s massive Dark-Hunter universe. But then you start reading and realize the timeline is doing backflips. It isn’t just a "kid version" of the adult books; it’s a reality-bending story that eventually crashes into the main series like a freight train.
Honestly, the way people talk about the order is usually wrong. They just list the publication dates and call it a day. But if you want to understand why Nick Gautier is the way he is, you have to look at the transition from the original eight-book run into the newer Shadows of Fire series.
The Basic Chronicles of Nick Order (Publication)
Most people just want the list. I get it. If you’re reading these for the first time, you should absolutely stick to the order they were released. Don't try to be fancy and jump around based on the Dark-Hunter timeline or you’ll spoil the biggest twists in the first three books.
- Infinity (2010)
- Invincible (2011)
- Infamous (2012)
- Inferno (2013)
- Illusion (2014)
- Instinct (2015)
- Invision (2016)
- Intensity (2017)
That’s the core. It starts when Nick is fourteen, a snarky kid in New Orleans with a stripper mom and a dad who’s a convicted felon. By the time you hit Intensity, everything you thought you knew about the Dark-Hunter lore has been set on fire.
Why the Order Gets Weird After Book 8
Here’s where things get kinda messy. For years, fans thought Intensity was the end. But Sherrilyn Kenyon (now writing as Sherrilyn McQueen) had a major legal battle with her previous publisher. This resulted in the final book of the original arc being self-published under her own imprint.
Because of those legal tangles, the series shifted. It didn't stop; it just evolved into a "continuation" series called Shadows of Fire. If you finish Intensity and stop there, you’re missing the actual conclusion of Nick’s journey.
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The Shadows of Fire Arc
Think of this as Season 2. Or maybe the "Graduate School" version of Nick’s life.
- Sabotage (2023)
- Last Christmas (A novella, but pretty essential for the vibe)
- Savage (2024)
- Simi (Early 2025)
The simi-centric book is a big deal because she’s been a fan favorite since the early 2000s. If you’re tracking the chronicles of nick order, you have to treat Sabotage as Book 9. It’s not a spin-off; it’s the next chapter.
Prequel or Alternate Reality?
This is the question that breaks most readers' brains. In the original Dark-Hunter books (the ones for adults), Nick Gautier is already a man. He’s Kyrian’s squire, he’s bitter, and eventually, things go very, very wrong for him.
When Infinity came out, we all thought, "Oh, cool, we’re seeing how he became that guy."
Except we weren't.
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Kenyon pulled a fast one. As the series progresses—specifically around Illusion—it becomes clear that the chronicles of nick order isn't a straight line leading to the adult books. It’s actually a "re-do." Without giving away the massive spoilers, the Nick we follow in these YA books is living in a timeline where characters from the future (like Ambrose) are trying to change his fate.
It’s basically The Terminator but with more demons and Cajun food.
The "Complete" Dark-Hunter Integration
If you’re a completionist, you might feel the urge to read the adult Dark-Hunter books alongside Nick’s chronicles. Don't do that to yourself. It’s exhausting.
However, if you want the "World Building" order, you should at least read Night Pleasures and Night Embrace before starting Infinity. It gives you the baseline for who Nick is "supposed" to be.
Why Nick’s Story Matters So Much
Nick Gautier isn't your typical YA hero. He’s poor. He’s constantly hungry. He’s sarcastic because it’s the only defense mechanism he has against a world that wants him to be a monster. Kenyon based a lot of Nick’s struggles on her own experiences with poverty, and you can feel that grit on the page.
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The real magic of the chronicles of nick order is watching a kid who was literally born to end the world decide that he’d rather just get a good grade on his French test and keep his mom safe.
Actionable Tips for New Readers
If you're just starting out, here is how to handle the series without losing your mind:
- Start with Infinity: Do not skip to the later books because you heard they have more "action." The character growth in the first three books is what makes the later payoff work.
- Watch the Names: Sherrilyn Kenyon and Sherrilyn McQueen are the same person. Some newer editions of the books will have the McQueen name on the cover. Don't let that confuse you; the content is the same.
- The Manga Version: There are graphic novels/manga for the first few books. They’re great for visuals, but they condense a lot. Stick to the prose for the full story.
- Expect a Cliffhanger: The jump between Intensity and Sabotage was years in the making. If you read them back-to-back now, the shift in tone and publishing quality might feel jarring, but keep going. The story in Savage and beyond is where the modern lore is being built.
The best way to experience this is to just dive in. New Orleans is the perfect backdrop for a kid discovering he’s the son of a demon, and the snark alone is worth the price of admission. Just remember: the order is 1 through 8, then straight into Shadows of Fire.
Next Steps for Your Reading List:
- Pick up a copy of Infinity to see if Nick's voice clicks with you.
- Check the copyright page of your books; if you're buying used, look for the St. Martin's Press editions for the first seven, as they have the original "matching" cover art styles.
- Join a community like the Dark-Hunter boards or Reddit groups if you hit Illusion and get confused—everyone gets confused there, and it's half the fun.