Melissa McShane Books In Order

Publication Order of The Books of the Dark Goddess Books

Publication Order of Company of Strangers Books

Publication Order of Convergence Books

Publication Order of The Crown of Tremontane Books

Publication Order of Dalanine Books

Publication Order of The Dragons of Mother Stone Books

Publication Order of Emissary Books

Publication Order of The Extraordinaries Books

Publication Order of The Last Oracle Books

Publication Order of The Living Oracle Books

Publication Order of The Saga of Willow North Books

Publication Order of The Heirs of Willow North Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Anthologies

Melissa McShane is a fantasy and romance writer from the US that made a name for herself with the “Crown of Tremontane” series of novels. She does not have any early memories of where she grew up as her family moved all over the US that she can practically call any place in America home including Texas, Arizona, New York State Colorado, Washington State, and Oregon. Throughout her childhood the only constant thing was her books, which she remembers reading given that making friends was so difficult. Some books she read include the “Crown Duel” in Utah and the “Foundation” series while she was in Texas. Given her love for books she also once worked as a librarian that taught her a lot about matching books with readers and people’s reading habits. However, she did not get into writing until she went to college where she wrote reviews and literary essays for several years. She first got started writing when she wrote “Emissary” her first novel just for fun and found it so fun and exciting that she never stopped. When she is not writing her novels she loves to spend time playing “Arkham Horror” or watching “Doctor Who” with her family. She also loves to paint fantasy miniatures, repair and make jewelry, and do some costume sewing. She lives in Utah with her children and three cats one of which is so dumb that it walks into walls.

As a child she loved to read anything about ballrooms, princes, castles, romance and anything to do with the regency period. As such, she loved the works of Jasper Fforde, Martha Wells, Lois McMaster Bujold, Sherwood Smith, Diana Wynne Jones and the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. Her “Crown of Tremontane” novels are a unique blend of the genres combining history, fantasy and romance to make for some very exhilarating narratives. “The Extraordinaires” series of novels is inspired by her love for the Regency Period as she sets the novels in a society and world that had increasingly become egalitarian. Melissa McShane had always been fascinated by religion in the Regency period and hence one of the biggest motifs of her Tremontane setting is the belief in a heaven without gods, hence having no power or authority. Its a different and unique take that has made the novels such a hit in the fantasy community.

Melissa McShane’s The Crown of Tremontane series of novels for the most part are straight fantasy narratives that come with more intricately written characters. The nature and choices of the characters often tend to result in a crisis in the middle of the narrative, even as McShane introduces several unexpected twists and turns in the novels. Such developments make for novels that rise above the ordinary romance novel as they incorporate more complex writing devices. The novels have a steampunk feel to them from the magical motive forces making for a Victorian like social feel. Some of the motifs such as the vast royal library are so vividly described and included that they at times feel like a character in themselves. For instance, the library neglected as it is becomes the centerpiece for the power struggle between a powerful group of scholars and the queen both of whom want control over information and learning.The novels combine royal court maneuvering, political intrigue, and romance to produce what may be best classified as thoughtful but light fantasy novels.

The novels of The Crown of Tremontane series are spread across three generations of persons that lived about twenty five years apart from one another. “Rider of the Crown” is about a nomad warrior named Imogen that gets entangled in international intrigue when she is appointed ambassador to Tremontane, after she was made an unwilling bride to a cruel man. At Tremontane she gets involved with the regent’s son Jeffrey. Another novel “Agent of the Crown” tells the story of Telaine the granddaughter to Alison that poses as a frivolous socialite when she is in fact spying for the Tremontane Kingdom. Melissa’s Willow North trilogy is about Willow who starts out as a thief before she became the Queen of the North. Willow is involved in a complex struggle for succession that involves her boyfriend and an eight year old destined to be king who cannot protect himself. The novels are an excellent prequel to the Crown of Tremontane series of novels.

“Servant of the Crown” the first novel of the Crown of Tremontane series introduces the Countess of Waxwold Alison Quinn. The Countess is content living a life of reading and books until the Queen of Tremontane asks her to be lady in waiting for the godmother for half a year. While the royal household is home to the massive Royal Library, Alison is reluctant to leave her books behind for six months but she will do her duty as expected of her. But what she was not prepared for was the Queen’s play boy brother Prince Antony North, who always gets what he wants, and what he wants now is her. An unfortunate public encounter soon throws them together though Alison could swear she wants nothing to do with him. But as she spends more time with him, she comes to the realization that there is more to the man than she had heard. Soon their dislike morphs into friendship and possibly something more had IT not been cut short by disaster that sends Alison running. But when she is once again summoned to the royal palace, it is for something she cherishes more than anything. She is to serve as Royal librarian and given the place of the library in the political intrigues of the kingdom contact with Anthony will be inevitable. Can she open her heart to love again and will she manage to save the Kingdom and the Royal library from saboteurs?

“Rider of the Crown” the second of the series features a woman warrior named Imogen of the Kirkellan tribes. But now that Ruskald has made peace with Kirkellan one of the terms of the peace treaty is that she is to be married to the evil King of Ruskald for at least five years. She is forbidden to fight and confined in the freezing Ruskald capital, where she experiences nothing but desolation and darkness. However, Elspeth North the heir to the nearby Tremontane kingdom makes war against Ruskald and in the process sets Imogen free. She takes up her new role of ambassador to Tremontane where the challenges are just as many as she struggle against foreign customs, and glittering ballrooms while trying to maintain her warrior identity. Acting as ambassador, she soon learns she was attracted King Jeffrey the charismatic and attractive man forbidden to her. But when war threatens to break out again, she needs to decide if she is a diplomat, warrior or something else completely.