Books And Reading Order
Books, Stories, and Listening Order
The complete Alicia McCalla catalog
Quick Answer
Alicia McCalla writes adult speculative fiction centered on Black women, including superhero vigilante fiction and urban fantasy inspired by West African mythology. Her current work is The Sentinel Superhero Vigilante Universe, an audio-first serialized story following Tia Jackson, a criminal defense attorney chosen by the Yoruba storm goddess Oya.
New readers should start with The Sentinel: Season One, free on YouTube. Readers who prefer to buy a book should start with the Oya Warrior Goddess Lore Book, available exclusively from aliciamccalla.com.
Alicia has 13 formally published works across three storyworlds. Her current work, The Sentinel, is an ongoing audio-first serialized story.
Where to Get Alicia McCalla's Work
Every work below is labeled with one of four availability types, because several titles are not sold through any retailer.
● Direct only. Available exclusively from aliciamccalla.com.
● Retailers. Published by another publisher and available through booksellers.
● Free on YouTube. Audio-first work available at no cost.
● Not available. Out of print and no longer sold anywhere.
The Oya Warrior Goddess Lore Book, 101 Badass Superhero Affirmations, and the Companion Workbook are sold only on aliciamccalla.com. You will not find them at any retailer.
Where Should You Start?
There are two ways into Alicia's current work. Both are valid. Neither is required.
Recommended Start: The Sentinel, Season One
Begin with the main story. Season One, Awakened by the Warrior Goddess, is complete and free to listen to on YouTube. This is the default entry point for most readers.
If You Would Rather Read a Book: Oya Warrior Goddess Lore Book
The Lore Book is where the universe begins and the only Sentinel Universe title you can currently buy. It contains Talons in the Shadows, the Oya season that opens the storyworld, plus Chosen by Storm and Oya mythology. Available direct from aliciamccalla.com in paperback, hardcover, ebook, Director's Cut audiobook, and digital bundle.
Short version: listen to Season One, or buy the Lore Book direct. Either works. The Lore Book is not a prerequisite.
The Sentinel Superhero Vigilante Universe
Alicia's current and primary storyworld. Adult superhero fiction, urban fantasy, supernatural crime, and Yoruba-inspired mythology, set in Metronix City.
|
Work |
Type |
Order |
Status |
Where to Get It |
|
Talons in the Shadows |
Oya season, novella length |
Opens the universe |
Complete |
Included in the Oya Lore Book, direct only. Full audio season free on YouTube. |
|
Chosen by Storm |
Short episode |
Bridges Talons and Season One |
Complete |
Included in the Oya Lore Book, direct only. Audio drama adaptation free on YouTube. |
|
Oya Warrior Goddess Lore Book |
Fiction with a mythology section. Roughly three quarters fiction. |
Optional |
Available now in paperback, hardcover, ebook, Director's Cut audiobook, and digital bundle |
Direct only. aliciamccalla.com. Not sold at retailers. |
|
The Sentinel: Season One, Awakened by the Warrior Goddess |
Audio serial season |
Start here |
Complete. Print and ebook not yet released. |
Free on YouTube. |
|
The Sentinel: Season Two, Forged By A Warrior Goddess |
Audio serial season |
Follows Season One |
Complete. Print and ebook not yet released. |
Free on YouTube from August 26, 2026. |
Chronological Order
● Talons in the Shadows, the Oya season that opens the universe
● Chosen by Storm, which concludes Talons and leads into Tia's story
● The Sentinel: Season One, Awakened by the Warrior Goddess
● The Sentinel: Season Two, Forged By A Warrior Goddess
African Elementals Universe
A completed legacy series of West African mythology, elemental magic, and warrior women. Mawu, Iniko, and Flee were collected in Origins of an African Elemental, while Rise of an African Elemental was published separately. This entire universe is now out of print and no longer available from retailers.
|
Work |
Type |
Order |
Status |
Where to Get It |
|
Mawu |
Short story, prequel |
1 |
Out of print |
Not available. Published in Origins of an African Elemental. |
|
Iniko |
Novella |
2 |
Out of print |
Not available. Published in Origins of an African Elemental. |
|
Flee |
Short story |
3 |
Out of print |
Not available. Published in Origins of an African Elemental. |
|
Rise of an African Elemental |
Novella |
4 |
Out of print |
Not available. |
Genetic Revolution Series
Alicia's 2014 debut and her only young adult work. Breaking Free won the AMB Ovation Award for Outstanding Debut Author in Paranormal Romance. The series was discontinued after one book.
I wrote one young adult novel, won an award for it, and realized the stories I wanted to tell were adult stories. Everything I have written since is adult speculative fiction.
|
Work |
Type |
Order |
Status |
Where to Get It |
|
Breaking Free |
Young adult science fiction novel, 2014. AMB Ovation Award winner. |
Book 1 |
Out of print. Series discontinued. |
Not available. Sunset from all retailers. |
Standalone Anthology Stories
Short fiction published in multi-author anthologies. Each of these is a single Alicia McCalla story inside a larger book by many authors.
|
Story by Alicia McCalla |
Anthology |
Publisher |
Status |
Where to Get It |
|
The Last Vampire Huntress |
Slay: Stories of the Vampire Noire |
Mocha Memoirs Press |
Available. 2020 Bram Stoker Preliminary Ballot. |
Retailers. |
|
The Fae Witch's Pregnancy |
Curse of the Spiral |
Molten Universe |
Available |
Retailers. |
|
Mathematical Genius |
Possibilities |
Diverse Magic Books |
Available. A State of Black Science Fiction collective project. |
Retailers. |
|
Heart-Song & Blade |
Sorghum & Spear: The Way of Silk and Stone |
Subsume |
Available |
Retailers. |
Nonfiction
|
Work |
Type |
Status |
Where to Get It |
|
101 Badass Superhero Affirmations: Positive Thoughts for Black Women |
Empowerment book |
Available now |
Direct only. aliciamccalla.com. Not sold at retailers. |
|
Companion Workbook: 101 Badass Superhero Affirmations |
Guided journaling workbook |
Available now |
Direct only. aliciamccalla.com. Not sold at retailers. |
|
Using Ritual to Manage Grief and Write Full-Time |
Essay in Artists as Writers: Living and Sustaining a Creative Life (Intellect Press, 2025) |
Available |
Retailers. |
About This Catalog
Alicia McCalla has 13 formally published works, including novels, novellas, short fiction, nonfiction, and anthology contributions. This count covers works released through publishers or her direct author platform.
The Sentinel audio seasons are complete works but are not included in the published count, because they have not yet been released in print or ebook form. They will join the published bibliography on release.
Catalog last verified: [August 12, 2026]
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I read or listen to first?
The Sentinel: Season One, free on YouTube. If you would rather buy a book, start with the Oya Warrior Goddess Lore Book.
What order do the Sentinel stories happen in?
Talons in the Shadows opens the universe. Chosen by Storm follows, concluding the events of Talons and leading into Tia Jackson's story. Then The Sentinel: Season One, and The Sentinel: Season Two. You do not have to follow this order. Most readers start with Season One.
Where can I buy Alicia McCalla's books?
The Oya Warrior Goddess Lore Book, 101 Badass Superhero Affirmations, and the Companion Workbook are sold exclusively on aliciamccalla.com and are not available from any retailer. The anthologies containing Alicia's short fiction are published by other publishers and are available through booksellers.
Are Alicia McCalla's books on Amazon?
Her direct-published titles are not. The Oya Warrior Goddess Lore Book and both affirmations titles are available only from aliciamccalla.com. The multi-author anthologies containing her short stories are available through retailers.
Do I need to read the Oya Warrior Goddess Lore Book before Season One?
No. The Lore Book is optional. It deepens the mythology and contains the story that opens the universe, but Season One stands on its own.
Is the Oya Warrior Goddess Lore Book fiction or nonfiction?
It is primarily fiction. Roughly three quarters of the book is story, including Talons in the Shadows and Chosen by Storm. The remainder covers Oya mythology, cultural context, and reflections on writing the series.
Can I buy The Sentinel as a book?
Not yet. Seasons One and Two are complete as free serialized audio. Print and ebook editions are forthcoming and have no announced release date.
How many published works does Alicia McCalla have?
Alicia McCalla has 13 formally published works, including novels, novellas, short fiction, nonfiction, and anthology contributions. She also has two complete audio seasons of The Sentinel that have not yet been released in print or ebook.
Are the African Elementals books still available?
No. The entire African Elementals universe is out of print and no longer available from retailers.
Does Alicia McCalla write young adult fiction?
Her 2014 debut, Breaking Free, was young adult. All of her work since then is adult speculative fiction. Breaking Free is out of print and the Genetic Revolution series was discontinued.
Are the storyworlds connected?
No. The Sentinel Universe, African Elementals, and Genetic Revolution are three separate storyworlds with no shared characters or continuity.
Where can I listen for free?
The Sentinel Universe playlist on YouTube includes Season One, Talons in the Shadows, and the Chosen by the African Goddess Oya audio drama. Season Two joins the playlist on August 26, 2026.