Sherrilyn Kenyon


Sherrilyn Kenyon is an American writer. Under her former married name, she wrote both urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She is best known for her Dark Hunter series. Under the pseudonym Kinley MacGregor she writes historical fiction with paranormal elements. Kenyon's novels have sold over 70 million copies in print in over 100 countries. Under both names, her books have appeared at the top of the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today lists, and they are frequent bestsellers in Germany, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Biography

Sherrilyn Kenyon was born on 11 December 1965 in Columbus, Georgia. The fourth child in a family of five children, her parents, Harold and Malene Woodward, divorced when she was eight, at which point she lived with her grandparents. She describes her childhood as defined by abuse and poverty, but she remained close to her mother, who encouraged and shared her interest in horror, the paranormal and science fiction.
Kenyon started writing while in high school, in part as therapy to escape other aspects of her life. She went to Georgia College in the 1980s, and there she met her future husband, Lawrence Kenyon. They married in 1990, and they moved to Jackson, Mississippi, while he studied law. Although money was already tight, after their first child was born and he graduated they lost their house, subsequently forcing them to live out of their car until they were able to secure an apartment some months later.
Once in an apartment, Kenyon was able to return to writing. Previously, Kenyon had published her first story in 1975, and in the mid-1980s she was a writer for the science fiction magazine Cutting Edge. She had sold a number of books in the early 1990s, prior to the birth of her son, but her big break came in 1999 when the first two books of her "Dark-Hunter" sequence were picked up by St. Martin's Press as part of a three-book deal. She had started the series with short stories that she had written in 1984, and had started development on the novels in 1986, but it took until the late 1990s before she had the opportunity to complete them.

Accusations and divorce

On January 7, 2019, Kenyon filed a lawsuit against her husband and his assistants, claiming they had poisoned her over a number of years in order to sabotage her health for his financial gain. After her husband filed for divorce in March 2018, the suit alleges that tests concluded her levels of lithium, tin, barium, thorium and other metals were at a dangerous level of toxicity, indicating that they had "systematically poisoned her since 2015". However, the test results had not been interpreted by a toxicologist. Her husband's statement about the lawsuit called her "a brilliant fiction writer who has made it apparent that she cannot discern between fiction and reality". She dropped her lawsuit on July 26, 2019.

Written (mostly) as Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dark-Hunter Universe (combined)

Each sub-set of the series is marked by the type of creatures the novel is about.
Dark #L.O.A. #Were #Dream #Hellchaser #C.O.N. #Shadows of Fire #TitleCharactersPublication Date
1———Dark-Hunters Julian and GraceFebruary 2, 2002
2———Night PleasuresKyrian and AmandaSeptember 1, 2002
3———Night EmbraceTalon and SunshineJuly 1, 2003
4———Dance with the DevilZarek and AstridDecember 1, 2003
5———Kiss of the NightWulf and CassandraMarch 23,
2004
5.51——Sword of DarknessKerrigan & SerenMarch 28, 2005
5.752——Knight of DarknessVarian and MerewynNovember 1, 2006
6—1—Night PlayVane and BrideAugust 3, 2004
7———Seize the NightValerius and TabithaDecember 28, 2004
8———Sins of the NightAlexion and DangerJune 28, 2005
9—2—Unleash the NightWren and MaggieDecember 27, 2005
10—3—Dark Side of the MoonRavyn and SusanMay 30, 2006
11——1The Dream-HunterArik and GearyFebruary 6, 2007
12———Devil May CrySin and KatJuly 31, 2007
13——2Upon the Midnight ClearAidan and LetaOctober 30, 2007
14——3Dream ChaserXypher and SimoneFebruary 5, 2008
15———AcheronAcheron and Soteria/ToryAugust 4, 2008
16———One Silent NightStryker and ZephyraNovember 25, 2008
17——4Dream WarriorJericho and DelphineFebruary 3, 2009
18—4—1Bad Moon RisingFang and AimeeAugust 4, 2009
18.5———1Infinity
19—5—No MercyDev and SamiaSeptember 7, 2010
19.5———2Invincible
20—6—RetributionSundown and AbigailAugust 2, 2011
21—752The GuardianSeth and LydiaNovember 1, 2011
21.5———3Infamous
22—8—Time UntimeRen and KateriAugust 7, 2012
22.5———4Inferno
23———StyxxStyxx and BethanySeptember 3, 2013
23.5———5Illusion
23.75———Dark BitesCollection of short storiesJanuary 21, 2014
2439—3Son of No OneCadegan and JoSeptember 2, 2014
24.5———6Instinct
25410—4DragonbaneMaxis and SeraphinaAugust 4, 2015
25.5———7Invision
26511—DragonmarkIllarion and EdilynAugust 2, 2016
27———5Deadmen WalkingBane and MaraMay 9, 2017
28612—DragonswornFalcyn and MedeaAugust 1, 2017
28.5———8Intensity
29------6Death Doesn't BargainKalder and Cameron
30713—StygianUrian and SarraxynSeptember 3, 2018
31———7At Death's DoorValynda and
Dark Hunter Universe short stories
  • "Dragonswan"
  • "The Beginning"
  • "Phantom Lover"
  • "A Dark-Hunter Christmas"
  • "Winter Born"
  • "Second Chances"
  • "A Hard Day's Night-Searcher"
  • "Until Death We Do Part"
  • "The Wager"
  • "Fear the Darkness"
  • "Shadow of the Moon"
  • "Redemption"
  • "Where Angels Fear to Tread"
  • Dark Bites – A collection of the short stories/novellas that Kenyon has written for St. Martin's Press, featuring Fear the Darkness, with Nick as the lead, and updates on other characters. Available in print in mass market paperback.
  • * House of the Rising Son – Dark Hunter Universe #26.5. Dream-Hunter #5.5
  • ** The story of Aricles & Bathymaas
  • * Phantom Lover – V'Aidan's story that was first in "Midnight Pleasures"
  • * Winter Born – Dante & Pandora that was first in "Stroke of Midnight"
  • * A Dark-Hunter Christmas – Gallagher originally posted online
  • * Until Death Do We Part – originally published in "Love At First Bite" anthology
  • * A Hard Day's Night Searcher – originally published in "My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding" anthology
  • * Shadow of the Moon – originally published in Dead After Dark
  • * Fear the Darkness – originally a digital download for fans. It is a little piece of Nick after his mother died.
  • * Where Angels Fear to Tread – originally published in the "Blood Lite" anthology
  • * Love Bytes – originally published in "Naughty or Nice"
  • * Santa Wears Spurs – originally published in All I Want for Christmas anthology. Written as Kinley MacGregor.
  • * Redemption – A bonus scene from The Guardian
  • * A Hero for the Holidays
  • * Season of Magic

    Dark-Hunter Universe (by series)

Were-Hunter
  1. Night Play,
  2. Unleash the Night,
  3. Dark Side of the Moon
  4. Bad Moon Rising
  5. No Mercy
  6. Retribution
  7. The Guardian
  8. Time Untime
  9. Son of No One
  10. Dragonbane
  11. Dragonmark
  12. Dragonsworn
  13. Stygian
  14. Shadows Within
  15. ''Savitar''
    Dream-Hunter
  16. The Dream-Hunter
  17. Upon the Midnight Clear
  18. Dream Chaser
  19. Dream Warrior
  20. The Guardian
  21. Shadow Fallen
  22. ''Queen of All Shadows''
    Hellchaser/Hell-Hunter novels
  23. Daemon's Angel,
  24. Bad Moon Rising
  25. The Guardian
  26. Time Untime
  27. Son of No One
  28. Dragonbane
  29. Deadmen Walking
  30. Death Doesn't Bargain
  31. ''At Death's Door''
    Lords Of Avalon
Notes: Begun as Kinley MacGregor. Continuing as Sherrilyn Kenyon.
  1. Sword of Darkness,
  2. Knight of Darkness,
  3. Darkness Within
  4. Son of No One
  5. Dragonbane
  6. Dragonmark
  7. Dragonsworn
  8. ''Battleborn''
    Deadman's Cross
Part of three series: The Dark Hunter Universe, Hellchasers and Sea Wolves. They are historical fantasy.
  1. Deadmen Walking
  2. Death Doesn't Bargain
  3. ''At Death's Door''

    Dark Hunter Universe – The Chronicles Of Nick series (young adult)

The Chronicles Of Nick take place well before the first Dark Hunter novel and follows one of the series' main characters: Nick Gautier.
  1. Infinity
  2. Invincible
  3. Infamous
  4. Inferno
  5. Illusion
  6. Instinct
  7. Invision
  8. ''Intensity''

    Dark Hunter Universe – Shadows of Fire series (young adult)

Shadows of Fire is a four book continuation of CON. After this is finished there will be an as of yet untitled adult trilogy that will finish the story line.
  1. Sabotage
  2. Last Christmas
  3. Savage
  4. Simi
  5. ''Sanctify''

    Dark Hunter Universe – extras

Audio books
  • All books in the Dark Hunter series are available on Audio.
    Supplements
  • The Dark-Hunter Companion, co-author Alethea Kontis
  • Dark-Hunter: An Insider's Guide, an enhanced ebook
    Manga and graphic novels
  • Lords of Avalon Graphic Novels:
  • # Sword of Darkness co-written by Robin Furth
  • # Knight of Darkness written by Robin Furth
  • The Dark Hunters Manga:
  • # The Dark Hunter: Vol. 1
  • # The Dark Hunter: Vol. 2
  • # The Dark Hunter: Vol. 3
  • # The Dark Hunter: Vol. 4
    Comics
  • Sword of Darkness
  • Knight of Darkness
    Omnibuses and boxed sets
  • Night Pleasures and Night Embrace
  • The Dark-Hunter Novels Boxed Set
  • The Dark-Hunter Novels Boxed Set'' ''

    B.A.D. (Bureau of American Defense) Agency series

Novels
  1. Bad Attitude,
  2. Phantom in the Night, co-author Dianna Love
  3. Whispered Lies, co-author Dianna Love
  4. Silent Truth, co-author Dianna Love
    Short stories
  • BAD to the Bone, in the anthology Big Guns Out of Uniform
  • Captivated By You, in the anthology Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down: Three Tales of Erotic Romance
  • Turn Up the Heat, in the anthology Playing Easy to Get
  • Just Bad Enough, short story, co-author Dianna Love, in anthology Deadly Promises
  • BAD Mission, short story in the anthology Thriller 3: Love is Murder
    Omnibuses
  • Born to Be B.A.D., a reprint of the BAD stories PLUS a new short story called One BAD Night
  • A B.A.D. Collection includes eBooks of Phantom in the Night, Whispered Lies, Silent Truth, and an excerpt from Alterant

    The League series">w:The League series">The League series

The League series is divided into two generations. Generation 1 is Nemesis Rising. Generation 2 is Nemesis Legacy. This series combines the two to tell a story. It is recommended that you read them in the order listed below.
Combined reading order
  1. Born of Night: The League - Nemesis Rising
  2. Born of Fire
  3. Born of Ice
  4. Fire and Ice in the anthology Man of My Dreams, published by Penguin Group US ; re-written & re-released in the anthology In Other World, published by Penguin Group
  5. Born of Shadows
  6. Born of Silence
  7. Cloak & Silence
  8. Born of Fury
  9. Born of Defiance
  10. Born of Betrayal
  11. Born of Legend
  12. Born of Vengeance
  13. Born of Trouble
  14. ''Born of Darkness''
    Nemesis Rising
  15. Born of Night
  16. Born of Fire
  17. Born of Shadows
  18. Born of Silence
  19. Cloak & Silence
  20. Born of Fury
  21. Born of Defiance
  22. Born of Betrayal
  23. Born of Legend
  24. Born of Vengeance
  25. Born of Trouble
  26. ''Born of Darkness''
    Nemesis Legacy
  27. Born of Ice
  28. Fire and Ice in the anthology Man of My Dreams, published by Penguin Group US ; re-written & re-released in the anthology In Other World, published by Penguin Group
  29. Born of Rage
  30. ''Born of Blood''
    Nemesis Dynasty
Young adult spin-off series.
  1. ''Born of Rebellion''
    Eve of Destruction
Spin-off series
  1. Eve of Destruction
  2. Eve of Ruin
  3. Eve of Havoc
  4. ''Eve of The Fallen''

    [Belador]

The first four novels in this series are co-authored with Dianna Love. Later novels will be written solely by Dianna.
Novels
  1. Blood Trinity
  2. Alterant
  3. The Curse
  4. ''Rise of the Gryphon''
    Short story
  5. Fire Bound, free e-short story

    Silent Swans series

  6. The Cecilian Swan
  7. Swans of Feather
  8. ''War of the Swans''

    Nevermore series

  9. Insurrection
  10. Omega Rising
  11. ''Crimson Dawn''

    Myths & Outlaws series

  12. House of Fire & Magic
  13. House of Ice and Shadows
  14. ''House of Air and Illusions''

    Other works

Novels
  • ''Daemon's Angel''
    Novellas
  • Love Bytes, in the anthology Naughty or Nice
  • Knightly Dreams, in the anthology What Dreams May Come
    Essays
  • "The Search of Spike's Balls", in Seven Seasons of Buffy edited by Ben Bella
  • "Parting Gifts", in Five Seasons of Angel edited by Glenn Yeffeth
    Non-fiction
  • The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in the Middle Ages,
  • The Writer's Complete Fantasy Reference: An Indispensable Compendium of Myth and Magic,
  • The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook, with Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet
  • The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook, 2nd ed.

    Written (mostly) as Kinley MacGregor

Published by Avon unless noted otherwise. Some of these appear in multiples because they happen in the same universe.

Lords Of Avalon

  1. Sword Of Darkness
  2. Knight Of Darkness

    The Sea Wolves series

  3. Master of Seduction,
  4. A Pirate of Her Own,
  5. Deadmen Walking *As Sherrilyn Kenyon
  6. Death Doesn't Bargain *As Sherrilyn Kenyon
  7. At Death's Door *As Sherrilyn Kenyon

    Brotherhood of the Sword series

Includes the entire MacAllister's Series.
  1. Master of Desire,
  2. Claiming the Highlander,
  3. Born in Sin,
  4. Taming the Scotsman,
  5. A Dark Champion,
  6. Return of the Warrior,
  7. The Warrior,
  8. Midsummer's Knight, in the anthology Where's My Hero?

    The MacAllisters series

  9. Master of Desire,
  10. Claiming the Highlander,
  11. Born in Sin,
  12. Taming the Scotsman,
  13. The Warrior,

    Other novellas

  • Santa Wears Spurs, in the anthology All I Want for Christmas

    Awards

Sherrilyn McQueen has received nominations and awards both under her married name Sherrilyn Kenyon and as Kinley MacGregor.
  • Prism Award
  • * Best Fantasy – Fantasy Lover
  • * Best Light Paranormal – Night Pleasures
  • Prism Award
  • * Best Dark Paranormal – Dance with the Devil
  • * Best Light Paranormal – Night Embrace
  • The Golden Quill for Best Paranormal, Dance with the Devil
  • Darrell Awards
  • * Best Novel – ''Sins of the Night''

    Bestseller lists

  • Sins of the Night was #5 on Amazon.com's bestselling books of 2005. Fantasy Lover and Night Pleasures are #6 and #7 respectively for the best of the decade so far.
  • Devil May Cry was #2 on 'New York Times Best Sellers Hardcover Fiction List
  • No Mercy on the New York Times Best Sellers Hardcover Fiction List