Kathryn Rose
Kathryn Rose has published 3 books. The recommended reading order starts with Camelot Burning (2014).
Kathryn Rose is a Canadian speculative fiction novelist who reimagines legend with grit and a modern edge. Born in Toronto and raised in the Kitchener-Waterloo area of Southern Ontario, she studied literature and philosophy at York University before relocating to Los Angeles, where she lives with her husband and their perpetually feuding cat and dog.
Rose launched her career in 2014 with Camelot Burning, the first installment in her Metal & Lace series published by Flux. The trilogy wrapped in 2016, cementing her place as a writer who blends myth with invention and delivers fantasy that feels both timeless and electric. Her work draws readers who crave stories built on familiar legend but charged with fresh energy.
When she's not writing, Rose cooks with her husband or listens to rock music, both of which fuel the speculative fiction worlds she builds. She brings the same intensity to the page that she finds in a good guitar riff, shaping her fiction with the kind of drive that keeps readers coming back.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Metal & Lace Books
- Tagsfantasychildrensci-fiDescriptionWhat happens when the legendary world of Arthurian myth collides with the gears and steam of invention, and a young woman finds herself caught between courtly duty and magical destiny? Vivienne is eighteen and living a double life that would make most people's heads spin—by day she's a lady-in-waiting to Guinevere, the future queen of Camelot, attending to all the delicate rituals of court life, and by night she's secretly apprenticed to Merlin himself, learning the ancient and dangerous art of magic. It's a precarious balance, but one she's managed to maintain until now. When Morgan La Fey, King Arthur's sorceress sister, declares war on Camelot, everything Vivienne knows is thrown into chaos. Merlin has a plan, though—one that's as audacious as it is unprecedented. Together, they're going to build something the world has never seen: a steam-powered metal beast, a fusion of magic and machinery that might be Camelot's only hope against Morgan's dark sorcery. This is Arthurian legend reimagined with a steampunk twist, where corsets and courtly intrigue meet clockwork and invention, and where a young woman's courage and ingenuity become the weapons that could save a kingdom. Vivienne's journey is one of transformation, as she steps out from the shadows of service and into her own power, proving that sometimes the most unlikely heroes are the ones who change everything.Publication date2014
- Tagsyoung-adultfantasyromancechildrenDescriptionThere's something intoxicating about a world where magic and metal collide, where ancient legends aren't just stories but blueprints for survival. Avalon Rising plunges you into a realm where the mythic past bleeds into a dangerous present, and the line between hero and pawn grows thinner with every choice. Kathryn Rose weaves a tale that feels both timeless and urgent, drawing on Arthurian echoes while carving out something entirely her own. This is the kind of story that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go—where every alliance is fragile and every secret carries weight. At the heart of it all is a protagonist caught between duty and desire, between the legacy they've inherited and the future they're desperate to forge. The Order of Metal & Lace suggests a world of contrasts—strength wrapped in elegance, brutality softened by beauty—and Rose delivers on that promise. Expect court intrigue, simmering tension, and the kind of magic that costs something real. If you're drawn to fantasy that doesn't shy away from complexity, that treats its mythology with reverence while twisting it into something fresh, this is your next obsession. Avalon is rising, and you'll want to be there when it does.Publication date2015
- TagsfantasyDescriptionIn the Order of Metal & Lace series, Kathryn Rose weaves Arthurian legend into something sharp and new, and *Excalibur Reigning* brings that reimagining to a head. The sword isn't just a symbol here—it's a weapon with weight, a legacy that demands answers, and the stakes are as personal as they are mythic. Rose understands that the best retellings don't just dress up old stories; they ask what those stories mean when the world shifts beneath them. This is fantasy that trusts its readers to care about more than spectacle. The prose has bite, the characters carry scars that matter, and the tension between duty and desire—between the crown and the heart—feels earned. If you've been waiting for Arthurian fiction that honors the bones of the legend while daring to break a few, this is it. Rose writes with the confidence of someone who knows these myths inside out and isn't afraid to make them bleed.Publication date2016
Frequently Asked Questions about Kathryn Rose
The books by Kathryn Rose are part of the Order of Metal & Lace series. The correct reading order is Camelot Burning, published in 2014, followed by Avalon Rising in 2015, and Excalibur Reigning in 2016. Reading them in this sequence will allow readers to follow the narrative arc and character development as intended by the author.
To begin reading Kathryn Rose's books, start with Camelot Burning. This was the first book published in the Order of Metal & Lace series, released in 2014. It introduces the world and main characters, setting the stage for the subsequent books in the sequence. Following this with Avalon Rising and Excalibur Reigning will provide a complete experience of this series.
Yes, it is recommended to read Kathryn Rose's books in order. The Order of Metal & Lace series follows a continuous storyline. The first book, Camelot Burning, establishes the plot and characters. Avalon Rising continues directly from the events of the first book, and Excalibur Reigning concludes the narrative. Reading them out of order may lead to confusion regarding the plot progression and character relationships.
Kathryn Rose writes the Order of Metal & Lace as a series. The books are designed to be read in a specific sequence to fully understand the ongoing story. There are no standalone novels mentioned in her published works within this series.
Kathryn Rose has written three books in the Order of Metal & Lace series. These include Camelot Burning (2014), Avalon Rising (2015), and Excalibur Reigning (2016). These three titles constitute the entirety of her published work in this series.
The first book Kathryn Rose wrote in the Order of Metal & Lace series is Camelot Burning. It was published in 2014 and serves as the inaugural volume of the series, introducing readers to the world and the characters that will feature in the subsequent installments.
The most recent book written by Kathryn Rose is Excalibur Reigning. Published in 2016, it is the third and final book in the Order of Metal & Lace series. This title concludes the narrative arc that began with Camelot Burning and continued through Avalon Rising.
Kathryn Rose writes fantasy novels. Her published works are part of the Order of Metal & Lace series, which features elements typical of the fantasy genre. Specific subgenres within fantasy are not detailed, but the series title suggests a blend of historical or legendary elements with fantastical concepts.
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Kristen Ciccarelli
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We verified the reading order for Kathryn Rose's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: March 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Kathryn Rose Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/kathryn-rose