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You've probably seen those gold-foiled covers all over your feed. The ones with the bird cages and the dripping metal. Raven Kennedy has basically become the queen of "romantasy" lately, mostly thanks to a certain golden-skinned woman named Auren. But if you think she’s just the "Midas girl," you’re actually missing out on some of the wildest, funniest, and most unhinged fantasy romance out there.
Honestly, trying to track down every Raven Kennedy book in order is kind of a headache because she doesn't just stick to one lane. She jumps from dark, heavy trauma-recovery epics to literal comedies about a foul-mouthed Cupid.
Most people start with the Plated Prisoner series. It’s the heavy hitter. It’s also the series that gets the most "wait, does it get better?" questions from new readers. (Spoiler: It does. Book one is just the tip of the iceberg.) But Kennedy has a massive backlist of reverse harems, co-written paranormal mysteries, and standalone stories that are worth your time if you want more than just the mainstream hits.
The Plated Prisoner Series: The Golden Standard
This is the big one. If you're looking for the Raven Kennedy books in order, this is usually where the journey starts. It’s a reimagining of King Midas, but it’s not the fairy tale you heard as a kid. It’s gritty.
One thing people get wrong about this series is expecting a fluffy romance from page one. It isn't that. It’s a story about a woman realizing she’s in a bird cage, even if that cage is made of gold.
- Gild (2020): This is book one. A lot of people find it slow or even frustrating because the protagonist, Auren, is so brainwashed by Midas. You have to push through.
- Glint (2021): This is where the world opens up. We meet the Fourth Kingdom, and things finally start to move.
- Gleam (2021): This is arguably the best book in the series for many fans. The emotional payoff is huge.
- Glow (2022): Things get long here. It's a chunky book, and the POV expands quite a bit.
- Gold (2023): The penultimate chaos.
- Goldfinch (2024): The big finale that wrapped up Auren and Slade's main arc.
If you’re starting these, just know that the first book is meant to make you feel uncomfortable. It’s setting the stage for Auren to actually find her own power. By the time you get to Gleam, you’ll be glad you stayed.
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The Heart Hassle Series: The One Nobody Talks About Enough
If Plated Prisoner is the serious, dark sibling, Heart Hassle is the chaotic, hilarious younger sister. This is a "why choose" (reverse harem) romance centered on Emelle, a Cupid who accidentally gets a physical body and ends up in the fae realm.
It is incredibly funny. Like, actually laugh-out-loud funny. Emelle is a disaster, and her internal monologue is a top-tier reading experience.
- Signs of Cupidity (2018)
- Bonds of Cupidity (2018)
- Crimes of Cupidity (2019)
- For the Love of Cupidity (2019): This is a 3.5 novella, but don't skip it if you like the characters. It’s basically a Valentine's Day special.
- Sheer Cupidity (2022): The fifth installment that keeps the madness going.
There’s also a spin-off called Can’t Fix Cupid (2019). It’s set in the same world, so if you finish the main series and have a Cupid-shaped hole in your heart, that’s where you go next.
The Collaborative Projects and Hidden Gems
Raven Kennedy is a workhorse. She has co-written a ton of stuff, particularly with authors like CoraLee June and Ivy Asher. These usually lean more into the paranormal romance or "New Adult" vibes.
The Hellgate Guardians (Co-written with Ivy Asher)
This is a paranormal prison series. If you like grumpy guards and supernatural inmates, this is your niche.
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- Grave Mistakes (2020)
- Grave Consequences (2020)
- Grave Decisions (2020)
- Grave Signs (2020)
Savannah Heirs (Co-written with CoraLee June)
A contemporary reverse harem series. It’s much more grounded than her fae stuff but still has that signature Kennedy edge.
- Cruel (2019)
- Tame (2019)
- Wild (2019)
The Pack of Misfits
This one is a bit different. It’s a shifter romance series where each book focuses on a different woman in the "pack."
- Addie (2019)
- Reese (2020)
- Jetta (2020)
What’s Coming Next in 2026?
As of early 2026, the big news is that Kennedy is moving into a new duology. She recently announced a project inspired by the Pied Piper, but with a dark, fae, romantic twist. Expect a lot of "ruthless desire" and plague-ridden power struggles. It sounds like she’s leaning back into the darker atmosphere of Plated Prisoner but with a fresh folklore spin.
There's also The Sweetest Fiend, which has been on the horizon for a while. Kennedy likes to keep several plates spinning, so her release schedule can sometimes feel like a whirlwind.
Making Sense of the Reading Order
If you're new, don't try to read everything at once. Start with the "vibe" you want.
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If you want Epic Fantasy and Angst, start with Gild. It’s the series that defined her career. Just be prepared for the slow burn. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
If you want Rom-Com and Chaos, start with Signs of Cupidity. It’s a much faster read and feels totally different from her gold-themed books.
If you’re a Completionist, you’ll want to check out her standalone work like The Girl Who Cries Colors. It’s an older title from 2018, but it shows the early roots of her world-building.
Actionable Next Steps for Readers
- Check Content Warnings: Especially for the Plated Prisoner series. Book one deals heavily with emotional abuse and captivity. It’s not for everyone.
- Don't Judge a Series by the First 50 Pages: With Kennedy, the payoff is usually in the character growth. Auren in Gild is a completely different person than Auren in Goldfinch.
- Follow Her Newsletter: She’s very active with her community and often drops "bonus scenes" or updates on the Plated Prisoner TV adaptation, which has been in the works for a while now.
- Join the Fandom: The "Plated Prisoner" Facebook groups and Discord servers are huge. If you're confused about the lore of the kingdoms or the "rot" in Auren’s chest, there are thousands of fans ready to explain the theories.
The best way to experience these books is to let yourself be surprised. Kennedy is great at subverting tropes—just when you think you know where a story is going, she’ll drop a reveal that changes the entire context of the previous three books.