Zen Cho Books in Order

This reading order guide provides the complete list of Zen Cho books in order, from the very first to the latest, and is always updated so you won’t miss anything!

Zen Cho is a name that has quietly but powerfully made its way into the hearts of fantasy, science fiction, and romance readers around the world. Born in 1986 in Malaysia, Zen grew up surrounded by stories—both the ones she read and the ones she dreamed up herself. She started writing when she was just six years old, barely a few years after learning to read. It was clear from early on that stories were going to be an important part of her life. Today, she is not only a talented author but also a practicing lawyer living in London, balancing two careers that are both demanding and inspiring.

Writing while working a full-time job is no small task, but Zen approaches it with a thoughtful, life-loving attitude. She tries to write a little bit every day, but she also believes deeply in living well. For Zen, it’s not just about getting words on a page—it’s about enjoying time with loved ones, laughing, living, and collecting the kinds of memories that inspire stories in the first place. She often says that when she looks back on her life one day, she wants to see both a trail of stories and moments spent with people she loves. This deep human warmth and balance is something that shines through in her writing too.

Her books blend wit, emotion, and rich imagination in a way that’s all her own. Her debut novel, Sorcerer to the Crown (2015), was the first in the much-loved Sorcerer Royal series. Set in a magical version of Regency England, it combines fantasy with sharp commentary and a hint of romance. The story introduces us to Zacharias Wythe, a freed slave who becomes England’s first Black Sorcerer Royal, and the fierce, magical woman who unexpectedly becomes his ally. The novel is both delightful and daring, and it earned Zen Cho nominations and awards—including the British Fantasy Award for Best Newcomer and a nod for Best Novel from the British Fantasy Society.

But before her big debut, Zen had already spent years writing and learning. Like many writers, her path wasn’t straightforward. She wrote what she calls two “drawer novels”—books that taught her how to write but weren’t quite ready for the world. Letting go of those projects was tough, especially emotionally. But she kept going. Her perseverance paid off when she found the right story, and the right characters, in Sorcerer to the Crown.

Her writing is often influenced by her childhood reading experiences. Growing up in Malaysia, she read a lot of nineteenth-century British and North American fiction. These books were full of strange customs, foreign settings, and characters who spoke in unfamiliar ways. For many readers, such books are a window into another time. For Zen, they were also a bridge between worlds—a way of understanding how people and stories work, even in the most alien of settings.

Zen Cho’s work reflects this blend of cultures and eras. Her books often take familiar genres and turn them inside out. Whether she’s writing about magical academies (The True Queen, 2019), 1920s literary London (The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo, 2012), or ghosts and spirits in Southeast Asia (Spirits Abroad, 2014), she brings a fresh voice and perspective. Her humor is smart but never mean. Her characters are vivid, often stubborn, and deeply relatable.

In The True Queen, Zen chose to focus on new characters after struggling for years to continue the story of Zacharias and Prunella. As she’s said in interviews, it’s hard to stretch a romance across multiple books without losing the spark—or irritating readers! Instead, she introduced readers to Muna and Sakti, two sisters cursed by unknown magic. Their journey takes them from the beaches of Janda Baik to high society England, blending folklore with politics, sisterhood, and magic.

Zen’s stories often feel both classic and modern. They explore serious themes—race, identity, gender, colonialism—without ever losing their sense of wonder. Her voice is distinct: thoughtful, funny, a little mischievous, and full of heart. She is not only a writer to watch but also one to cherish. Her books remind us that stories can be fun, fierce, and full of feeling all at once.

If you’re just discovering Zen Cho’s work, you’re in for a treat. Whether you’re starting with Sorcerer to the Crown, diving into her award-winning short stories, or picking up The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo for a quick and clever read, you’ll find something special. Her books have a way of surprising readers—of offering something different than what you expected, yet exactly what you needed.