(RabidReads.com)Normally I would say that this is the first book in this very long series. Yes, its numbered as one, but from my understanding, the author went back and wrote this farther into the series, although I have no idea how far in she was when she wrote it. I guess that means when I read book 2 first, out of order(I thought), I was really reading the first one that came out? Confusing yes, but it doesnt even matter as I think any of these can be read as a standalone if need be.