Series · young adult fantasy

Dark Shores

by Danielle L. Jensen

The Dark Shores series by Danielle L. Jensen has 5 known books (publication-state breakdown unavailable).

Books: 5 known books
Publication dates: Not recorded
First recorded release: 2019
Status: completed
Shelved under: Young Adult , Fantasy

Book one

Dark Shores (2019)

Reading order

We have no reading order on file for this series yet.

Key facts about the Dark Shores series

Danielle L. Jensen has 17 books on our list. Additionally, they write The Malediction Trilogy, The Bridge Kingdom and Saga of the Unfated. We shelve the books under young adult fantasy.

About the Dark Shores series

Dark Shores is Danielle L. Jensen's high-seas fantasy epic, blending Roman-empire-style conquest with pirate adventure, unruly gods, and slow-burn romance. Marcus, a legion commander, and Teriana, a sailor from a nation his empire wants to conquer, are forced into an uneasy alliance in Dark Shores; Lydia, a scholar, and Killian, a rebel military leader, carry a parallel storyline in Dark Skies. The two pairs' stories converge in Gilded Serpent, which weaves all four points of view together, before the saga concludes in Scorched Earth.

Jensen has said Dark Shores and Dark Skies were originally written as a single novel before being split into two books, each following a different couple — which is why the author's own reading order lets readers start with either one. A prequel novella, Tarnished Empire, fills in backstory for a supporting cast member. The series ran from 2019 to 2025 and is Jensen's second major fantasy series, published in the years between The Malediction Trilogy and The Bridge Kingdom's later volumes.

Frequently asked questions

How many books are in the Dark Shores series?

Four novels — Dark Shores (2019), Dark Skies (2020), Gilded Serpent (2023), and Scorched Earth (2025) — plus the prequel novella Tarnished Empire (2021).

Do I read Dark Shores or Dark Skies first?

Either order works. The two books were originally written as one novel, then split into parallel storylines following different couples, so the author's own guidance is to start with whichever one interests you more.

What order should I read the Dark Shores series in?

Dark Shores and Dark Skies (in either order), then Gilded Serpent, then Scorched Earth. Tarnished Empire is an optional prequel novella best read before Gilded Serpent.

Is Dark Shores connected to The Bridge Kingdom or The Malediction Trilogy?

No — it's a separate world and cast with no shared characters, though all three are by Danielle L. Jensen.

Is the Dark Shores series finished?

Yes, it concluded with Scorched Earth in August 2025.