Book Series · 3 Books

Maya and the Rising Dark Books

In order from Maya and the Rising Dark to Maya and the Lord of Shadows.

Rena Barron's completed trilogy follows a twelve-year-old Chicago girl who discovers her family's supernatural role and fights the Dark with her two closest friends.

Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated August 13, 2026

Reading order

How to Read the Maya and the Rising Dark Trilogy

Read Maya and the Rising Dark, Maya and the Return of the Godlings, and Maya and the Lord of Shadows in numbered order. The conflict, friendships, and family revelations form one continuing story that reaches its conclusion in book three.

Rena Barron's Kingdom of Souls trilogy is a separate YA fantasy with different characters and a different world, not a prequel or continuation of Maya's story.

Sources: Rena Barron's official trilogy and series FAQ.

For parents

What Parents Should Know

The trilogy includes a missing and endangered parent, supernatural monsters, possession and corruption, magical battles, injuries, death, grief, and threats to Maya's family, friends, and city. Some creatures and trips into the Dark may be frightening for sensitive readers.

Friendship and family support remain central, and Maya's power grows alongside her confidence. The fantasy draws on West African mythology and places a Black girl and her Chicago community at the center of a large-scale adventure.

Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

Sale price

$1699

Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

Maya and the Rising Dark

By Rena Barron

A girl must unlock her powers to stop a looming war between worlds.

298 pages· 61,958 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

Hardcover

Summary: Twelve-year-old Maya's father vanishes, thrusting her into a hidden battle between our world and the Dark. As a godling, Maya must harness her powers to stop the Lord of Shadows from unleashing chaos. With werehyenas prowling and shadowy nightmares haunting her, can Maya save her neighborhood and find her father before it's too late?

In reading order

Maya and the Rising Dark Series

3 books · Published 2020–2022

#1 in Series

Sale price

$1699

Maya and the Rising Dark

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

A girl must unlock her powers to stop a looming war between worlds.

#2 in Series

Sale price

$1597

Maya and the Return of the Godlings

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2021

Maya must retrieve her father's soul to prevent a war between worlds.

#3 in Series

Sale price

$1597

Maya and the Lord of Shadows

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

Maya battles the Lord of Shadows to prevent a war that could destroy the world.

Good to know

Common Questions

How many books are in the Maya and the Rising Dark series?

There are 3 books in the Maya and the Rising Dark series. It began with Maya and the Rising Dark in 2020, and the newest book, Maya and the Lord of Shadows, was published in 2022.