If you’re hunting for a polite, historically accurate romp through the Scottish Highlands, you’re in the wrong place. Honestly. The Karen Moning Highlander series isn't about tea and crumpets or strictly adhering to 16th-century social etiquette. It is a wild, sometimes messy, and incredibly addictive blend of ancient Fae magic, time-traveling 21st-century women, and massive Scottish warriors who are—frankly—a bit much in the best way possible.
Most people stumble onto these books because they’ve finished the Fever series and realized they need more of that Druid-meets-Fae-world-building fix. Or maybe they just like men in kilts. Either way, there’s a reason these books have stayed on the "must-read" lists for over two decades.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Karen Moning Highlander Series
There is a huge misconception that this is just another Outlander clone. It isn't. Not even close. While Diana Gabaldon leans heavily into the historical grit and the "realism" of living in a 1700s mud-hut, Karen Marie Moning went a completely different direction. She leaned into the weird.
We’re talking about an immortal Fae prince named Adam Black who meddles in human lives just because he's bored. We’re talking about the MacKeltar brothers, who aren't just hot guys in plaid; they are the keepers of ancient, dangerous magic that keeps the world from falling into chaos. Basically, it’s a superhero story disguised as a bodice-ripper.
The series consists of seven core novels and a novella, usually read in this order:
- Beyond the Highland Mist (Hawk & Adrienne)
- To Tame a Highland Warrior (Grimm & Jillian)
- The Highlander’s Touch (Circenn & Lisa)
- Kiss of the Highlander (Drustan & Gwen)
- The Dark Highlander (Dageus & Chloe)
- The Immortal Highlander (Adam & Gabrielle)
- Spell of the Highlander (Cian & Jessi)
- Into the Dreaming (The novella that wraps things up)
If you start with book one, Beyond the Highland Mist, be warned: it was Moning's debut, and it's a bit of a "pink" romance. Moning herself has famously said in interviews that she didn't really hit her stride until Kiss of the Highlander. But if you skip the early ones, you miss the setup for the MacKeltars, and trust me, you want the MacKeltar context.
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The MacKeltar Connection: Why the Mid-Series Shift Matters
Somewhere around book four, everything changes. The stakes get higher. The magic gets darker. The Karen Moning Highlander series stops being just about "girl meets Scot" and starts building the foundation for the entire Fever universe.
If you’ve read Darkfever, you know the name MacKeltar. You know about the Druids and the "voice" they use to command people. All of that lore? It starts here. In Kiss of the Highlander, we meet Drustan MacKeltar, a man who has been asleep for five centuries. Gwen Cassidy, a modern-day woman with a penchant for physics and a bit of a clumsy streak, accidentally wakes him up.
It’s hilarious. Truly.
Watching a 16th-century chieftain try to process 70mph car rides and modern-day denim is the kind of fish-out-of-water comedy that Moning excels at. But then things get heavy. We find out about Dageus, his twin, who is slowly being consumed by thirteen evil Druid souls. It’s dark stuff. It’s not your grandma’s romance novel.
The Adam Black Factor
You can't talk about this series without talking about Adam Black. He is the ultimate trickster. In the early books, he’s a secondary character, a shimmering nuisance who transports women across time just to see what happens. He’s arrogant. He’s beautiful. He’s a total jerk.
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But then he gets his own book, The Immortal Highlander.
The Fae Queen, Aoibheal, gets tired of his nonsense and strips him of his powers. He becomes mortal and invisible. The only person who can see him is Gabrielle O’Callaghan, a Sidhe-seer. This is the first time we really see the concept of a "Sidhe-seer" in Moning’s work, which—as any fan knows—is the entire backbone of MacKayla Lane’s story later on.
Is It Actually Worth Reading in 2026?
You've probably noticed that the "alpha male" trope has evolved since 1999. Some of the behavior in the first few books—specifically Hawk in Beyond the Highland Mist—can feel a bit dated. He’s broody, he’s demanding, and he’s... well, he’s a 16th-century warlord.
However, the growth of the series is what makes it fascinating. Moning moves from standard romance tropes into complex urban fantasy. By the time you get to Spell of the Highlander, featuring Cian MacKeltar (trapped inside a mirror!), the writing is sharp, the world-building is airtight, and the stakes feel global.
Also, the "steamy" factor. Let's be real. That's why half the people are here. Moning writes chemistry that actually feels earned. It's not just "they met and now they're in love." It’s "they fought for 300 pages, survived a Fae attack, and now they finally admit they're obsessed with each other."
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Pro-Tips for New Readers:
- Don't skip the novella. Into the Dreaming might seem optional, but it provides a sense of closure to the Highland era before the world pivots toward Dublin and the Fever series.
- Look for the "Keltar" name. If a character has it, they are important.
- Check the publication dates. If you find the first book too "old-school," jump to Kiss of the Highlander. You can always go back and read the prequels later as "origin stories."
- Listen to the Audiobooks. Phil Gigante’s narration of the later books is legendary in the romance community. His Scottish accent is... let's just say it's effective.
Final Practical Steps for Your Binge
If you’re ready to dive into the Karen Moning Highlander series, start by picking up Beyond the Highland Mist to see the very beginning of Adam Black’s meddling. If you find the 20th-century "damsel" vibe of the first heroine annoying, pivot immediately to Kiss of the Highlander.
Once you finish the seven books, move straight into Darkfever. You’ll see characters and bloodlines from the Highlander books pop up in the Fever series, and the "Aha!" moments are incredibly satisfying. The way Moning links these two worlds is a masterclass in long-term world-building.
Go grab a copy of The Highlander's Touch—it won a RITA award for a reason—and pay attention to Circenn Brodie. He’s arguably one of the best-written heroes in the entire genre, mostly because he’s a man of absolute integrity who gets completely upended by a woman from the future who has no idea who he is.
It’s a fun ride. Just don’t expect it to be a history lesson. It’s a magic lesson.