If you want the mafia-heavy side of the Rinaverse first, start with Throne of Power and follow this alternative order.
This is the better path if criminal empires, arranged marriages, dangerous alliances, and darker power games are the reason you are here.
If you want the cleanest full-universe introduction instead, go back to the main Rinaverse reading order and start with Cruel King.
Who this route is for
Readers who already know the mafia books are the main attraction and would rather begin with the most dangerous, power-driven branch of the universe.
You lose the slower first-generation buildup that makes the official order feel so interconnected from the start. This route is about preference, not completeness.
Once you enter a duet, trilogy, or series, read straight through it in order. The branch order changes here, but the internal order never should.
Mafia-first reading order
This follows Rina Kent's official mafia-first alternative: start with the criminal-power books, then loop back through the original school-era series, and continue on through the rest of the universe.
- Throne Duet Book 1: Throne of Power (2021) · Amazon
- Throne Duet Book 2: Throne of Vengeance (2021) · Amazon
- Deception Trilogy Book 1: Vow of Deception (2021) · Amazon
- Deception Trilogy Book 2: Tempted by Deception (2021) · Amazon
- Deception Trilogy Book 3: Consumed by Deception (2021) · Amazon
- Monster Trilogy Book 1: Blood of My Monster (2023) · Amazon
- Monster Trilogy Book 2: Lies of My Monster (2023) · Amazon
- Monster Trilogy Book 3: Heart of My Monster (2023) · Amazon
- Royal Elite Book 1: Cruel King (2019) · Amazon
- Royal Elite Book 2: Deviant King (2019) · Amazon
- Royal Elite Book 3: Steel Princess (2019) · Amazon
- Royal Elite Book 4: Twisted Kingdom (2020) · Amazon
- Royal Elite Book 5: Black Knight (2020) · Amazon
- Royal Elite Book 6: Vicious Prince (2020) · Amazon
- Royal Elite Book 7: Ruthless Empire (2020) · Amazon
- Kingdom Duet Book 1: Reign of a King (2020) · Amazon
- Kingdom Duet Book 2: Rise of a Queen (2020) · Amazon
- Royal Elite Epilogue (2020) · Amazon
- Lies & Truths Book 1: All the Lies (2020) · Amazon
- Lies & Truths Book 2: All the Truths (2020) · Amazon
- Empire Book 1: Empire of Desire (2021) · Amazon
- Empire Book 2: Empire of Sin (2022) · Amazon
- Empire Book 3: Empire of Hate (2022) · Amazon
- Empire Book 4: Empire of Lust (2022) · Amazon
- Legacy of Gods Book 1: God of Malice (2022) · Amazon
- Legacy of Gods Book 2: God of Pain (2022) · Amazon
- Legacy of Gods Book 3: God of Wrath (2022) · Amazon
- Legacy of Gods Book 4: God of Ruin (2023) · Amazon
- Legacy of Gods Book 5: God of Fury (2023) · Amazon
- Legacy of Gods Book 6: God of War (2024) · Amazon
- Villain Book 1: Kiss the Villain (2025) · Amazon
- Villain Book 2: Hunt the Villain (2026) · Amazon
- Villain Book 3: Crave the Villain (2027, expected) · Amazon
- Vipers Book 1: Beautiful Venom (2025) · Amazon
- Vipers Book 2: Sweet Venom (2025) · Amazon
- Vipers Book 3: Tempting Venom (2026) · Amazon
This route still skips Rule of a Kingdom and Dark Deception, matching the author's main reading-order note that both only add one prequel chapter. Crave the Villain is still expected in 2027.
Your reading progress
Check off books as you finish them. This tracker is shared with the main Rinaverse page, so a book you mark here will also show up there.
Reading Progress
0 of 38 read- Throne Duet Book 1: Throne of PowerReading
- Throne Duet Book 2: Throne of VengeanceReading
- Deception Trilogy Book 1: Vow of DeceptionReading
- Deception Trilogy Book 2: Tempted by DeceptionReading
- Deception Trilogy Book 3: Consumed by DeceptionReading
- Monster Trilogy Book 1: Blood of My MonsterReading
- Monster Trilogy Book 2: Lies of My MonsterReading
- Monster Trilogy Book 3: Heart of My MonsterReading
- Royal Elite Book 1: Cruel KingReading
- Royal Elite Book 2: Deviant KingReading
- Royal Elite Book 3: Steel PrincessReading
- Royal Elite Book 4: Twisted KingdomReading
- Royal Elite Book 5: Black KnightReading
- Royal Elite Book 6: Vicious PrinceReading
- Royal Elite Book 7: Ruthless EmpireReading
- Kingdom Duet Book 1: Reign of a KingReading
- Kingdom Duet Book 2: Rise of a QueenReading
- Royal Elite EpilogueReading
- Lies & Truths Book 1: All the LiesReading
- Lies & Truths Book 2: All the TruthsReading
- Thorns Duet Book 1: Red ThornsReading
- Thorns Duet Book 2: Black ThornsReading
- Empire Book 1: Empire of DesireReading
- Empire Book 2: Empire of SinReading
- Empire Book 3: Empire of HateReading
- Empire Book 4: Empire of LustReading
- Legacy of Gods Book 1: God of MaliceReading
- Legacy of Gods Book 2: God of PainReading
- Legacy of Gods Book 3: God of WrathReading
- Legacy of Gods Book 4: God of RuinReading
- Legacy of Gods Book 5: God of FuryReading
- Legacy of Gods Book 6: God of WarReading
- Villain Book 1: Kiss the VillainReading
- Villain Book 2: Hunt the VillainReading
- Villain Book 3: Crave the VillainReading
- Vipers Book 1: Beautiful VenomReading
- Vipers Book 2: Sweet VenomReading
- Vipers Book 3: Tempting VenomReading
How this route feels
You begin with adult mafia power struggles instead of the school-era setup, so the opening mood is heavier, more dangerous, and more strategic right away.
When you finally hit Royal Elite, it feels less like the start of the universe and more like you are uncovering the earlier generation after meeting the darker side first.
If you choose series by vibe first and continuity second, this route makes a lot of sense. If you choose by overall world payoff, the main guide is still stronger.
Should you use this or the official order?
- You want the mafia books first
- You prefer darker adult-world stakes immediately
- You are following mood more than generational buildup
- You want the cleanest first-time whole-universe path
- You want to meet the first generation before later echoes
- You do not have a strong preference for mafia-first tone
FAQ
What is the first book in the Rinaverse mafia-first order?
Start with Throne of Power, then read Throne of Vengeance.
Is the mafia-first route better than the main Rinaverse order?
Not necessarily. It is better only if the mafia branch is the part you care about most. The main guide is still the cleaner whole-universe introduction.
Do I still go back to Royal Elite in the mafia-first order?
Yes. After the Throne, Deception, and Monster books, the route loops back to Royal Elite and then continues through the rest of the universe.
Is this the official alternative order?
Yes. This follows the mafia-first alternative that Rina Kent shares for readers who want that side of the universe first.
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