Sophie Lark Books in Order: The Best Way to Read the Lark Notes Universe

Finding the right way to tackle Sophie Lark books in order is honestly like trying to navigate a high-stakes mafia dinner party. You don't want to sit in the wrong chair and accidentally offend a Bratva prince. Sophie has built this massive, sprawling world where characters from one series pop up as parents or rivals in the next. If you start in the wrong place, you're basically spoiling the massive reveals that make her dark romances so addictive.

I’ve spent way too much time tracking the Griffin and Gallo family trees. Trust me, it’s a lot. Most people just grab Brutal Prince because it's the TikTok darling, but there's a whole history of "Underworld" stories that came before the Chicago families took over the charts.

The Brutal Birthright Series: Where Most People Start

This is the big one. If you’re looking for the essential Sophie Lark books in order, the Brutal Birthright series is the true foundation. It’s set in Chicago and follows the blood feud between the Irish (the Griffins) and the Italians (the Gallos).

The vibe here is very much "enemies-to-lovers" but with more knives and accidental house fires.

1. Brutal Prince – Aida Gallo and Callum Griffin. She tries to poison him on their wedding night. Classic romance, right?
2. Stolen Heir – This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling featuring Nessa Griffin and Mikolaj Wilk. It's darker and much more atmospheric.
3. Savage Lover – Nero Gallo and Camille Rivera. Nero is a chaotic mess, and Camille is a mechanic just trying to survive.
4. Bloody Heart – Dante Gallo and Simone. This one is a second-chance romance that hits pretty hard emotionally.
5. Broken Vow – Riona Griffin and Raylan. Riona is arguably the most "boss" female lead in the whole series.
6. Heavy Crown – Sebastian Gallo and Yelena. This wraps up the first generation and sets the stage for the kids.

Honestly, don't skip Heavy Crown. It feels like a series finale because it kind of is.

📖 Related: Isaiah Washington Movies and Shows: Why the Star Still Matters

Transitioning to Kingmakers: The Next Generation

Once you finish the Chicago era, you’ll want to jump straight into the Kingmakers series. This is essentially "Mafia Hogwarts." The children of the couples from Brutal Birthright all go to a secret private island to learn how to be criminals.

It’s genius. You get to see Callum and Aida as parents, which is just as chaotic as you’d expect.

The order here is strictly chronological:

• The Heir (sometimes called Year One) – Follows Leo Gallo and Anna Wilk.
• The Rebel (Year Two) – Miles Griffin and Zoe Romero.
• The Bully (Year Three) – Dean Yenin and Cat Romero. This one is... spicy. Very spicy.
• The Spy (Year Three/Four) – This runs somewhat parallel but needs to be read fourth.
• The Savage (or Graduation) – The big finale where the school basically goes to war.

If you read these before Brutal Birthright, you will 100% spoil who ends up with whom in the first series. Don't do that to yourself.

👉 See also: Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett: Why Fans Are Still Divided Over the Daimyo of Tatooine

The "Underworld" Roots: The Prequel Era

Before the Griffins and Gallos became a thing, Sophie wrote the Underworld series (also known as the Colors of Crime). These are shorter, grittier, and focus more on the Russian Bratva. You don't have to read these to understand the others, but characters like Ivan and Roman show up later as powerful elders.

The most common way to find these is in the "Colors of Crime" bundles or as individual titles:

• Ivan (Emerald)
• Snow (Snow)
• Roman (Ink)
• Dom (Ash)
• Anton (Violet)
• Nikolai (Crimson)
• Luca (Sapphire)
• Black (Black)

My hot take? Read these if you really love the Bratva side of the Lark-verse. If you're just here for the Chicago drama, you can save these for a rainy day.

The Sinners Duet: A Darker Detour

If you want a break from the mafia, the Sinners Duet is Sophie’s foray into dark contemporary thriller territory. It’s about two serial killers in San Francisco who are obsessed with the same girl. It is much darker than her other books.

✨ Don't miss: Why Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Actors Still Define the Modern Spy Thriller

1. There Are No Saints
2. There Is No Devil

You can read these whenever. They don't overlap with the Kingmakers world in a way that affects the plot, though they exist in the same "universe."

Recent Standalones and New Series (2024-2026)

Sophie has been branching out lately. Anastasia is a historical reimagining that’s absolutely gorgeous and thick enough to use as a doorstop. Then there’s Grimstone and its sequel Monarch, which lean into a more gothic, eerie vibe.

• Anastasia (Standalone Historical)
• Minx (Standalone Romance)
• Grimstone (Grimstone Book 1)
• Monarch (Grimstone Book 2 - Released 2024)
• Love Contract (Released 2024)

Actionable Reading Strategy

To get the most out of Sophie Lark books in order, follow this path:

1. Start with Brutal Birthright (Books 1-6) to learn the family dynamics.
2. Move to Kingmakers (Books 1-5) to see the legacy continue.
3. If you want more of the "old guard," go back to the Underworld series.
4. Read The Sinners Duet only if you’re okay with high-trigger-warning content.

Most readers find that Stolen Heir and The Bully are the "make or break" books—if you like those, you’re officially a Lark Note for life. Check her website or Instagram for the latest illustrated editions, as she often releases special versions with character art that actually helps keep the massive cast of cousins and siblings straight in your head.