The Leveling Up Series in Order

About the Leveling Up series

Series Premise

The series centers on Jacinta "Jessie" Evans (later Jessie Ironheart), a 40-year-old woman who, after a long, unfulfilling marriage ends in divorce just as her son heads to college, decides it's time for a do-over. Far from devastated, she's excited—ready to live on her own terms for the first time. When a friend offers her a house-sitting gig at Ivy House, a creepy, centuries-old mansion in the small California mountain town of Ivy House (Kinsella), Jessie accepts without hesitation.

What begins as a fresh start quickly spirals into the supernatural: Ivy House is a sentient, magical entity that has been waiting for a worthy heir. Jessie discovers she is magically chosen—bonded to the house, which awakens her latent powers as a unique female gargoyle and sorceress. She gains superhuman strength, flight, healing, and spell-casting abilities, but these come with responsibilities: protecting the magical community from threats, building a "crew" of allies, and navigating Ivy House's quirky, demanding personality (manifested through a dramatic, cape-wearing butler named Mr. Tom who acts as her terrible life coach).

The core premise follows Jessie's transformation from ordinary, uncertain divorcee to powerful magical leader. She assembles a ragtag but loyal team, faces escalating dangers (rival mages, territorial shifters, magical wars), and balances her new primal instincts with her human values. The overarching story arc involves defending her home and people, uncovering Ivy House's ancient secrets, confronting powerful enemies (like the mage Elliot Graves/Momar), and embracing midlife as a time of peak power rather than decline. Romance simmers slowly with Austin Steele, the stoic alpha shifter next door, while themes of empowerment, found family, self-acceptance, and rejecting societal expectations for women "of a certain age" drive the narrative.

Main Characters

Jessie Ironheart (Jacinta Evans): The protagonist and narrator—early 40s, recently divorced, sarcastic, resilient, and initially underconfident. She transforms into a powerful female gargoyle-sorceress hybrid, gaining strength, wings, magic, and leadership. Fiercely protective of her son and crew, she balances human empathy with primal gargoyle instincts.



- Austin Steele: The stoic, alpha-magic-wielding alpha shifter (jaguar) next door—brooding, honorable, and intensely protective. Jessie's slow-burn love interest; their chemistry builds from allies to partners.



- Mr. Tom (Edgar): Ivy House's butler manifestation—dramatic, loyal, cape-wearing, and hilariously terrible at pep talks. Comic relief and devoted sidekick.



- The Crew: A found family of misfits including:

- Niamh: Feisty, foul-mouthed basajaunak (Bigfoot-like) with a heart of gold.

- Sebastian: Brilliant, socially awkward mage with powerful magic.

- Edgar: Vampire who loves gardening and is endearingly awkward.

- Hollace: Gargoyle with a playful side.

- Others: Shifters, mages, and allies who join over time.



- Supporting figures: Jessie's son Jimmy (college-age, supportive), ex-husband (mostly absent), rival mages like Elliot Graves/Momar, and various supernatural threats.

Setting

The series is primarily set in the fictional small mountain town of Kinsella (often called Ivy House after the mansion) in California's Sierra Nevada region. Ivy House itself is the star: a sprawling, ancient, sentient mansion with secret rooms, magical wards, shifting architecture, and a personality that manifests as dramatic butler Mr. Tom. The house feels alive—creepy yet protective, full of hidden passages, magical artifacts, and a basement gym for training.



The town offers a quaint, isolated backdrop: pine forests, mountain trails, local bars, coffee shops, and a mix of magical and human residents who keep the supernatural hidden. Later books expand to nearby territories (shifter compounds, mage strongholds), road trips, and larger magical battles, but Kinsella/Ivy House remains the emotional center—a sanctuary that evolves with Jessie's power. The California mountain vibe—crisp air, starry nights, rugged wilderness—mirrors Jessie's journey: untamed potential awakening in midlife.

Tone & Themes

The tone is irreverent, hilarious, empowering, and steamy—pure escapist fun with sharp sarcasm and zero tolerance for midlife stereotypes. Breene's first-person narration from Jessie is witty, self-deprecating, and brutally honest: expect constant inner snark about aging, ex-husbands, hot shifters, and the absurdity of suddenly sprouting wings. Humor dominates—laugh-out-loud banter, ridiculous situations (a gargoyle trying to blend in at the grocery store), and Mr. Tom's over-the-top dramatics provide comic relief.

Beneath the laughs lies genuine empowerment: Jessie celebrates midlife freedom, physical changes, and reclaimed agency without apology. Romance builds slowly and intensely—charged tension, protective alphas, and explicit scenes that feel earned and equal. Action escalates to high-stakes battles, but the tone stays optimistic and uplifting: women in their 40s+ are the heroes, not sidekicks. It's cozy fantasy with edge—comforting found-family vibes mixed with thrilling danger and unfiltered midlife realness.

The Leveling Up series is a triumphant celebration of midlife magic—K.F. Breene delivers empowering, hilarious, and heartfelt paranormal women's fiction that flips the script on aging and fantasy heroines. Through Jessie's journey from divorcee to gargoyle queen, the books remind readers that 40+ is prime time for power, adventure, love, and zero regrets. With snarky humor, steamy slow-burn romance, found-family warmth, and escalating magical stakes, the series offers addictive escapism and genuine inspiration. Whether you're seeking laughs, strong female leads, or a fresh take on urban fantasy, Leveling Up proves midlife isn't an ending—it's the ultimate level-up.