Rena Barron
Rena Barron has published 6 books across 2 series. The recommended reading order starts with Kingdom of Souls (2019).
Rena Barron is an American author of science fiction and fantasy novels. She made her debut with Kingdom of Souls, also known as The Last Witchdoctor, a book that introduced readers to her affinity for magic and adventure, themes that were sparked by her childhood in small-town Alabama. Barron began writing in middle school, moving from early poems to short stories and novels by high school. Her published work, including Maya and the Rising Dark, reflects her deep love for science fiction and fantasy, as well as an interest in ghosts and superheroes. When not writing, Barron enjoys reading and practicing her French.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Kingdom of Souls Books
- Tagsyoung-adultfantasyromancechildrensci-fiparanormal-romanceDescriptionArrah trades years of her life for magic she was never born with, desperate to prove herself in a world where power flows through bloodlines and she has been left empty-handed. The daughter of two of the most powerful witchdoctors in the kingdom, she should command respect, should bend the world to her will—but the magic skipped her entirely. When children begin disappearing from the streets and dark forces stir in the shadows, Arrah makes a bargain that will cost her dearly: each spell she casts devours years from her lifespan, and the clock is already ticking down. Barron builds a West African-inspired fantasy where magic demands sacrifice and family secrets run deeper than blood. The world is lush and specific—tribal gods walk among mortals, demons hunger at the edges of reality, and every spell leaves a scar. Arrah's desperation drives the narrative forward with mounting urgency as she uncovers a conspiracy that threatens not just her kingdom but the fabric of existence itself. This is fantasy that refuses easy answers, where power always extracts its price and the line between hero and villain blurs with each impossible choice. The stakes escalate from personal to cosmic, but the heart remains intimate: a girl willing to burn her own future to save others.Publication dateSeptember 3, 2019Amazon rating4.4/5Print length496LanguageEnglishPublisherHarperCollins
- TagsfantasychildrenDescriptionIn the Kingdom of Souls series, Rena Barron crafts a world where magic demands the ultimate price, and Reaper of Souls continues the story with escalating stakes and deepening darkness. This is fantasy that refuses to flinch from the cost of power, where every spell cast and every bargain struck leaves scars that won't heal cleanly. The central tension here revolves around a protagonist caught between worlds, between duty and desire, between the living and the dead—a young woman who has already sacrificed more than most could bear and now faces choices that will reshape her entire realm. Barron writes with a keen understanding of how trauma and power intertwine, how the need for vengeance can consume even the most righteous heart, and how love persists even when everything else has been stripped away. What makes this installment compelling is its refusal to offer easy answers or comfortable resolutions. The magic system remains visceral and costly, the political intrigue grows more tangled, and the emotional stakes climb higher with each chapter. Barron balances epic scope with intimate character work, giving us a fantasy that feels both mythic and deeply personal. For readers who want their fantasy rich with consequence, steeped in West African-inspired worldbuilding, and unafraid to let its heroes stumble in the dark, this delivers exactly what the series promises.Publication dateFebruary 16, 2021Amazon rating4.6/5Print length448LanguageEnglishPublisherHarperCollins
- Tagsyoung-adultfantasyepic-fantasyDescriptionWhat does it cost to save a world that has already condemned you, and can vengeance and salvation ever walk the same path without one devouring the other? Rena Barron's Master of Souls plunges readers back into a richly imagined West African-inspired fantasy where the boundaries between gods, mortals, and demons blur into something far more dangerous than any single enemy. This installment in the Kingdom of Souls series escalates the stakes with a protagonist who must navigate not only external threats but the seductive pull of power itself—the kind that promises justice but delivers only ruin. Barron's world-building remains lush and intricate, steeped in magic systems that feel both ancient and urgent, while her characters grapple with impossible choices that test loyalty, identity, and the very nature of sacrifice. The prose carries the weight of myth without sacrificing momentum, and the emotional complexity never lets up: every alliance is fragile, every victory shadowed by loss. For readers who crave fantasy that refuses easy answers and centers voices too often marginalized in the genre, Master of Souls delivers a narrative that is as politically sharp as it is viscerally thrilling, proving once again that Barron is crafting one of the most compelling epic fantasies of this generation.Publication dateApril 11, 2023Amazon rating4.5/5Print length432LanguageEnglishPublisherHarperCollins
Order of Maya and the Rising Dark Books
- Tagsgraphic-novelsfantasychildrenhorrorDescriptionTwelve-year-old Maya has always known her father was different—he's a guardian who protects the veil between our world and the Dark, a realm of nightmarish creatures that hunger to break through. But when her father suddenly vanishes and sinkholes begin swallowing up Chicago, Maya realizes the barrier is failing, and she's the only one who can sense the creeping danger that threatens to consume everything she loves. Armed with little more than her wits and a growing connection to powers she doesn't fully understand, Maya must navigate a hidden world of celestial guardians, ancient magic, and terrifying entities that have waited centuries for this moment of weakness. The Dark is rising, and the creatures within it are far more cunning and dangerous than she ever imagined—some of them have been planning this invasion for generations, and they know exactly how to exploit the cracks in reality. This is a story about a girl who discovers that being ordinary in an extraordinary world might be her greatest strength, and that sometimes the most powerful magic is simply refusing to give up when everything seems lost. Barron weaves contemporary Chicago with Ghanaian folklore to create a middle-grade fantasy that pulses with urgency and heart, where the stakes are nothing less than the survival of two worlds.Publication dateSeptember 22, 2020Amazon rating4.7/5Print length304LanguageEnglishPublisherClarion Books
- TagsfantasyDescriptionTwelve years old. That's how old Maya is when she realizes saving her father came with a price she didn't anticipate. She crossed the veil between worlds, escaped the Lord of Shadows, and brought her father home. But she left something behind: his soul. Maya's orisha powers are spiraling. She's a godling in training, patching veils and containing baby wormholes her magic accidentally tears open. The human world and The Dark are on the brink of collapse, and Maya's the one holding the fraying threads together. Until she discovers the truth about what her rescue mission cost. The only solution is to return to The Dark. Maya and her friends must restore what they abandoned—the very thing keeping the veil from shattering completely. But the Lord of Shadows isn't waiting. He's gathering his army for war, and this time the stakes are total annihilation. Rena Barron raises the stakes in this sequel that refuses to let its young hero catch her breath. Maya must do the unthinkable: ally with the darkbringers, her sworn enemies, to stand a chance against the coming storm. This is middle grade fantasy that understands power has consequences, heroism demands sacrifice, and sometimes saving the world means working with the people who want to destroy it.Publication dateSeptember 21, 2021Amazon rating4.7/5Print length243LanguageEnglishPublisherClarion Books
- Tagsgraphic-novelsfantasysuspenseepic-fantasythrillerDescriptionThis is a book that understands the weight of inherited power and the courage it takes to claim a destiny you never asked for, set against a backdrop where ancient magic collides with the modern world in ways both thrilling and deeply personal. Maya's story picks up with the stakes higher than ever—the Lord of Shadows has risen, and the fragile balance between the human realm and the Dark is unraveling fast. She's still grappling with her newfound abilities as a godling, still learning what it means to wield magic that connects her to forces older and more dangerous than she can fully comprehend, and now she must face an enemy who threatens everything she loves. The mythology here is rich and layered, drawing on West African traditions with a specificity that makes the supernatural elements feel both wondrous and grounded, and Barron never lets the world-building overshadow the emotional truth at the heart of Maya's journey. What makes this sequel sing is how it refuses to let Maya be simply powerful—she's allowed to be uncertain, to stumble, to question whether she's strong enough for what's coming. The relationships deepen, the danger escalates, and the sense that nothing is guaranteed keeps the pages turning with an urgency that feels earned rather than manufactured.Publication dateSeptember 13, 2022Amazon rating4.7/5Print length304LanguageEnglishPublisherClarion Books
Frequently Asked Questions about Rena Barron
Rena Barron's books are published in two distinct series. The first series to begin publication was the Order of Kingdom of Souls Books, followed by the Order of Maya and the Rising Dark Books. Within each series, the books are intended to be read in the order they were published. If you wish to read the books in chronological order of their publication, you would read the first book of the Kingdom of Souls series, then the second book of that series, and so on, before starting the Maya and the Rising Dark series. The books do not need to be read in order across series.
A good starting point for reading Rena Barron's books is with the first book in either of her series. The first book published was Kingdom of Souls in 2019, which begins the Order of Kingdom of Souls Books. Alternatively, Maya and the Rising Dark, published in 2020, starts the Order of Maya and the Rising Dark Books. Both series are written for a young adult audience and explore themes of magic and identity.
The books within each of Rena Barron's series should be read in the order they were published. For the Order of Kingdom of Souls Books, the sequence is Kingdom of Souls, Reaper of Souls, and Master of Souls. For the Order of Maya and the Rising Dark Books, the sequence is Maya and the Rising Dark, Maya and the Return of the Godlings, and Maya and the Lord of Shadows. While the series themselves are separate, reading within each series in order is recommended for the best understanding of the story and character development.
Rena Barron writes books in series. She has two distinct series: the Order of Kingdom of Souls Books and the Order of Maya and the Rising Dark Books. Each series contains multiple books that build upon each other. There are no standalone novels currently published by Rena Barron. Readers will find interconnected stories within each of these series, following distinct groups of characters and their adventures.
Rena Barron has written six books. These books are divided between two series. The Order of Kingdom of Souls Books has three titles: Kingdom of Souls (2019), Reaper of Souls (2021), and Master of Souls (2023). The Order of Maya and the Rising Dark Books also has three titles: Maya and the Rising Dark (2020), Maya and the Return of the Godlings (2021), and Maya and the Lord of Shadows (2022).
The first book Rena Barron wrote and published was Kingdom of Souls, which was released in 2019. This novel is the first installment in the Order of Kingdom of Souls Books. It introduces readers to the world and characters that will be explored throughout the series. Kingdom of Souls sets the stage for the subsequent books in the series, establishing the conflicts and themes that drive the narrative.
The most recent book written by Rena Barron is Master of Souls, published in 2023. This book is the third and final installment in the Order of Kingdom of Souls Books. It concludes the story arc that began with Kingdom of Souls and continued through Reaper of Souls. Master of Souls brings resolution to the characters and plotlines established in the earlier books of the series.
Rena Barron writes young adult fantasy novels. Her books are characterized by elements of magic, adventure, and explorations of identity. The stories often feature young protagonists navigating complex worlds with supernatural forces and personal challenges. Both the Order of Kingdom of Souls Books and the Order of Maya and the Rising Dark Books fall within this genre, offering readers imaginative tales with strong character arcs.
A.G. Howard
Coming soon
We verified the reading order for Rena Barron's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: July 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Rena Barron Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/rena-barron