What order should I read Jennifer A. Nielsen's books in?

Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The False Prince.

What is Jennifer A. Nielsen's most famous book?

The False Prince (2012) is Jennifer A. Nielsen's most widely read book.

Jennifer A. Nielsen books in order

American writer

Born: 1971
Country: United States
Books: 27

Jennifer A. Nielsen has published 16 novels, 1 non-fiction book and 10 children's books, beginning with The Captive Kingdom (2012). The best-known is The False Prince (2012). The latest is One Wrong Step (2025).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with Jennifer A. Nielsen

Start here
The False Prince
Jennifer A. Nielsen's most-read book.
Shortest way in
The Runaway King
One of the most-read, at about 352 pages.
Newest
One Wrong Step
Published 2025.

Standalone novels in order

The Captive Kingdom (2012)
400 pages★ 3.4 (5 ratings)
Buy
Behind Enemy Lines (2013)
192 pages
Buy
The Runaway King (2013)
352 pages★ 5.0 (8 ratings)
Buy
The Scourge (2016)
368 pages
Buy
Deadzone (Horizon, Book 2) (2017)
208 pages
Buy
The Traitor's Game (The Traitor's Game, Book 1) (2018)
405 pages
Buy
The Deceiver's Heart (2019)
384 pages
Buy
Words on Fire (2019)
336 pages
Buy
Warrior's Curse (the Traitor's Game, Book 3) (2020)
368 pages
Buy
Rescue (2021)
400 pages
Buy
The Shattered Castle (2021)
368 pages
Buy
Lines of Courage (2022)
400 pages
Buy
Iceberg (2023)
352 pages
Buy
Uprising (2024)
356 pages
Buy
Free State of Jax (2025)
352 pages
Buy
One Wrong Step (2025)
324 pages
Buy

Non-fiction in order

Once Upon a Climb (2024)
Buy

Children's books in order

Elliot and the Goblin War (2010)
Buy
Elliot And The Last Underworld War (2012)
Buy
Runaway King, the (2012)
331 pages
Buy
The False Prince (2012)
342 pages★ 4.0 (30 ratings)
Buy
The Shadow Throne (2014)
317 pages★ 5.0 (8 ratings)
Buy
A Night Divided (2015)
317 pages★ 4.5 (10 ratings)
Buy
Mark of the Thief (2015)
346 pages
Buy
Rise of the Wolf (2016)
346 pages
Buy
Wrath of the Storm (2017)
342 pages
Buy
Resistance (2018)
201 pages
Buy

About Jennifer A. Nielsen

Jennifer Anne Nielsen is an American author known primarily for young adult fiction. Her works include the Ascendance Series, Behind Enemy Lines, The Mark of the Thief, A Night Divided, and the Underworld Chronicles.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Jennifer A. Nielsen FAQ

How many books has Jennifer A. Nielsen written?: Jennifer A. Nielsen has published 16 novels, 1 non-fiction book and 10 children's books that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Jennifer A. Nielsen's books in?: Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The False Prince.
What is Jennifer A. Nielsen's latest book?: One Wrong Step (2025).
What is Jennifer A. Nielsen's most famous book?: The False Prince (2012) is Jennifer A. Nielsen's most widely read book.