Where Do The Miss Fortune Holiday Specials Fit In Series Order?

As a librarian who gets this question a lot, I advise patrons to follow the author's intended release order. This information is usually curated on sites like Fantastic Fiction or the author's official reading order page. For this series, the holiday entries are listed chronologically by release alongside the main numbered books. It's the simplest method and ensures any minor callbacks or evolving town dynamics make sense. We keep a printed list at the circulation desk!

The used bookstore near me has them all shelved together alphabetically by author. So 'Fortune's Blade' (spin-off) is right next to 'Fortune's Fall' (main book 2). I've seen new readers pick the wrong one. The physical order on a random shelf is often the most misleading guide of all. This is why you can't trust a bookstore's fiction section for series order. You must consult a list. The existence of spin-offs with similar naming conventions makes alphabetical order a trap. Always have your phone ready to check a reading order guide when browsing in person. It's a necessary modern skill.

Order matters if you're a stickler for continuity, like me. A tiny detail: in the main book after the first holiday special, there's a very offhand reference to the previous Christmas's events. If you haven't read the holiday book, you'll just gloss over it. But if you have, it's a satisfying little 'aha!' moment. Those nods are sprinkled throughout for those who follow the timeline.

I see a lot of recommendations for the 'Machete Order' (a concept from Star Wars fandom) applied here. That would be: 'Fortune's Pawn', 'Honor's Knight', then flashback to 'A Girl Named Disaster', then finish with 'Heaven's Queen'. The idea is you get the initial setup and rising action, then a deep dive into motivation at the crucial moment, then the climax. It's an interesting idea that preserves some surprises while deepening the emotional stakes right before the finale. I haven't tried it myself, but the theory is sound. It might be the best of both worlds for someone who wants a structured, enhanced narrative flow.

I'll admit I skimmed the last few. They started to feel repetitive. But all this talk about 'Taken to the Grave' (book 15, I know) being a turning point has me intrigued. Maybe I dropped off right before it got good again. Can anyone confirm if it's a soft reboot of sorts? Or does it lean heavily on lore from books I barely remember? If it's mostly a fresh start with just a few callbacks, I might jump back in. I don't have the time for a full re-read, but I'm willing to give it another shot if the consensus is that it's a standout.

I'm more interested in the in-universe timeline of Gertie's hair colors and vehicle destruction. That's the real chronology that matters. Each book offers a new, spectacularly failed experiment in personal style or automotive control.

Check the author's newsletter. Sometimes they offer a free download of the first novella, 'Wicked Deeds', to new subscribers. That's the easiest way to start legally and for free. If you like it, you can buy the next three in order. Supporting authors directly is always cool. The newsletter might also have bonus scenes or deleted snippets that add context, which makes following the intended order more rewarding. It feels like being part of a club.

Man, the 'Miss Fortune' series by Jana DeLeon is such a wild ride—mixing mystery, humor, and Southern charm in a way that’s totally addictive. If you’re diving in, you’ll wanna start with 'Louisiana Longshot', the first book that introduces us to Fortune Redding, a CIA assassin hiding out in a tiny Louisiana town under the guise of a beauty pageant coach. The chaos that follows is pure gold, with quirky characters like Gertie and Ida Belle stealing every scene. From there, the series just keeps building momentum, with each book adding layers to Fortune’s undercover life and the town’s absurdly entertaining dynamics. After 'Louisiana Longshot', the order goes like this: 'Lethal Bayou Beauty', 'Swamp Sniper', 'Swamp Team 3', 'Gator Bait', 'Soldiers of Fortune', 'Fortune Hunter', 'Miss Fortune', 'Fortune Funhouse', 'Fortune Favors the Cruel', and 'Fortune and Glory'. Phew, that’s a lot of titles! What’s cool is how DeLeon balances standalone mysteries with an overarching story about Fortune’s past catching up to her. The later books, like 'Fortune Funhouse', even throw in carnival shenanigans, because why not? By the time you hit 'Fortune and Glory', you’re so invested in this dysfunctional found family that you’ll be begging for more. Trust me, binge-reading these is like eating potato chips—you can’t stop at just one.

The novel doesn't 'fit' so much as it 'flanks' the main story. It runs parallel to the early events of 'Cannon Fodder', just from a different port city. You see news of the main plot's inciting incident filtering in through tavern rumors and wanted posters in her story. It makes the world feel huge and lived-in. For that reason, reading them side-by-side could be a cool experiment, though I've never tried it.

Publication order is definitely the way to go here. The author, Rachel Bach, builds the world and Devi's abilities in a very specific sequence that gets messed up if you jump around. I've seen some people try to read the prequel novella first, but it spoils some of the mystery around the phantoms and the overarching conflict. The emotional payoff in 'Heaven's Queen' only works if you've followed Devi's journey from the gritty start of 'Fortune's Pawn'. Trust the release schedule on this one; it was designed to be experienced that way.