Ordinary Magic books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Ordinary Magic series?"

"There are thirteen books in the Ordinary Magic series, published between 2016 and 2022."

Q: "What is the first book in the Ordinary Magic series?"

"The first book in the Ordinary Magic series is Dues and Don'ts, published in 2019."

Q: "Do the Ordinary Magic books need to be read in order?"

"The series rewards reading in order, since Delaney's relationships — both personal and professional — develop across the run and the romance thread builds progressively toward resolution. That said, each book has a standalone case at its center, and Monk writes the world clearly enough that later entries are usually accessible to new readers. Starting with Death and Relaxation (2016) is recommended to get Delaney's full introduction to her job and the rules of Ordinary."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Dues and Don’ts	2019	Devon Monk	N/A
2	Death and Relaxation	2016	Devon Monk	Buy
3	Devils and Details	2016	Devon Monk	Buy
4	Gods and Ends	2017	Devon Monk	Buy
5	Rock Candy	2017	Devon Monk	Buy
6	Rock Paper Scissors	2018	Devon Monk	Buy
7	Dime a Demon	2019	Devon Monk	Buy
8	Hell’s Spells	2020	Devon Monk	Buy
9	Sealed With a Tryst	2021	Devon Monk	Buy
10	Nobody’s Ghoul	2021	Devon Monk	Buy
11	Brute of All Evil	2022	Devon Monk	Buy
12	Paper Stars	2017	Devon Monk	Buy
13	Scissor Kisses	2018	Devon Monk	Buy

The Ordinary Magic series was Devon Monk’s longest project — thirteen novels published between 2016 and 2022, with a fifteenth as recently as 2025 — and it represents a deliberate tonal shift from the darker urban fantasy of her Allie Beckstrom and Age of Steam work. Ordinary, Oregon is a coastal town with a specific set of rules: gods who want a break from divinity can check in, deposit their powers at the border, and enjoy a normal vacation. Police Chief Delaney Reed enforces the unusual local ordinances this arrangement requires, including resolving the crimes that tend to happen when deities get bored.

The series is funny, warm, and romantically involved in a way that her earlier work was not. The tone is closer to cozy paranormal than to noir urban fantasy, and the thirteen-book run let Monk build a full cast of supernatural neighbors and recurring threats without rushing any of it. The romance between Delaney and Ryder has a slow-burn patience that readers of the series consistently mention as one of its pleasures.

Dues and Don’ts (2019), Death and Relaxation (2016), and the rest of the series can be read roughly by publication date for the intended experience. The world is self-contained and does not require familiarity with Monk’s other series.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Ordinary Magic series?

There are thirteen books in the Ordinary Magic series, published between 2016 and 2022.

What is the first book in the Ordinary Magic series?

The first book in the Ordinary Magic series is Dues and Don’ts, published in 2019.

Do the Ordinary Magic books need to be read in order?

The series rewards reading in order, since Delaney’s relationships — both personal and professional — develop across the run and the romance thread builds progressively toward resolution. That said, each book has a standalone case at its center, and Monk writes the world clearly enough that later entries are usually accessible to new readers. Starting with Death and Relaxation (2016) is recommended to get Delaney’s full introduction to her job and the rules of Ordinary.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order