Though a wildly popular series, The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare can seem pretty daunting to anyone new to the hype. At 13 books and growing, it's gotta be pretty intimidating.
If you haven't started the series, you're probably not sure if you'll ever be able to read all the books. It's a lot, like a lot a lot.
So for anyone new to the Shadowhunter world, or who may have just started reading and aren't sure how to continue, it's okay, I got you.
A couple of things to note...
- As mentioned previously, the series is still continuing. At the bottom of this guide, I'll list the future works Cassandra Clare has already announced and whatever information there is available about them that I can find. I'll also mention some companion books that aren't essential to the series but are great for fans of it or anyone looking for more info on the world.
- Also, this is only a recommended reading order. You absolutely do not have to follow anyone's order when/if you read these books. If you choose to read the entire series, this guide is simply here to help you determine which order to read the books in so you aren't spoiled for other books in the series.
There is a multitude of ways to read these books, some read one series in its entirety before reading another or some choose to read the books in the order they were published. If you read them in the order they were published, you won't risk spoiling yourself. If you read one series at a time, I don't think it would matter if you read ID or MI before the other because neither really spoil the other, but for the short story collections, Dark Artifices series, and future series I would recommend having read certain works before reading those (this will be explained better below). I would, of course, recommend reading the books in the individual series' in the numerical order they are in the series.
*Books will be listed in chronological publishing order, not by series.*
City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1)
Published: March 2007The book that started it all. I would recommend this being the first book you read of any of the series, simply for the fact that it's what began the Shadowhunter world. This follows maybe-maybe-not mundane Clary Fray as she is sucked into the shadowhunter world.
City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments #2)
Published: March 2008
This should be read as it's numbered in the Mortal Instruments series.
City of Glass (Mortal Instruments #3)
Published: March 2009
This should be read as it's numbered in the Mortal Instruments series.
Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices #1)
Published: August 2010
The Infernal Devices books are set in 1878 and follow three main characters, Jem, Will, and Tessa as they work together to determine Tessa's significance in the shadowhunter world. Personally, I think this trilogy has a very different vibe than the Mortal Instruments series and may actually be preferable. I would read this after CoG, just because the books build off information found in each other when reading in the published order.
City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments #4)
Published: April 2011
I believe the Mortal Instruments was initially meant to be a trilogy but was later turned into a 6-book series. CoFA kicks off with a whole new set of problems for the main characters to deal with. It should be read as it's numbered in the Mortal Instruments series and can be read interspersed with the ID.
Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #2)
Published: December 2011
This is book 2 of the Infernal Devices and should be read as such. It can be read interspersed with the MI series.
City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments #5)
Published: May 2012
This should be read as it's numbered in the Mortal Instruments series.
Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices #3)
Published: September 2013
This should be read as it's numbered in the Infernal Devices trilogy. Before reading CoHF though, this should be read so as not to spoil the ending.
Published: May 2014
Whether you choose to read the entire MI before starting ID, the other way around, or read the first three MI books before starting ID, it's really your choice. Though I would recommend finishing the ID before you read CoHF only because there's mention of something in CoHF that would spoil the ending of the ID trilogy.
The Bane Chronicles (Short Story Collection)
Published: November 2014
This isn't a necessary addition to the shadowhunter world overall, but if you're a fan of Magnus Bane, it's a really fun collection of short stories about his life. The stories span a couple hundred years and the last story takes place during CoHF so I would read that before reading this collection just so you don't risk spoiling anything Magnus Bane related in CoHF for yourself.
Lady Midnight (Dark Artifices #1)
Published: March 2016
Whereas reading MI and ID interchangeably is mostly spoiler-free, the DA should absolutely be read after you've completed both ID and MI because Lady Midnight has cameos from characters that would spoil aspects of both series.
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy (Short Story Collection)
Published: November 2016
This wasn't published in physical form until after Lady Midnight, but the stories in this collection should be read first so as to not spoil yourself by reading mention of the events of this collection in LM.
Lord of Shadows (Dark Artifices #2)
Published: May 2017
The second book in the Dark Artifices trilogy and also the most recent release in the Shadowhunters Chronicles. This should, of course, be read after Lady Midnight.
---------------------------FUTURE INSTALLMENTS----------------------------
*Here is Cassandra Clare's most recent statement regarding upcoming works.
Queen of Air and Darkness (Dark Artifices #3)
Expected Publication: December 4, 2018
The final installment in the Dark Artifices trilogy. This is the only upcoming work with a cover so far.
--Preorder Link here--
--Preorder Link here--
The Last Hours Trilogy: This trilogy will consist of Book 1 - Chain of Gold (her website lists Chain of Thorns as book 1, but this is the order mentioned in her most recent publishing schedule update), Book 2 - Chain of Iron, and Book 3 - Chain of Thorns. The Last Hours is set in 1903, one generation after the events of the Infernal Devices and follows the children of some of the characters from ID. Book 1 - Chain of Gold will be published sometime in 2019. *Clare's update mentioning The Last Hours here*
The Magnus Bane Trilogy: This trilogy will be of the adult fiction genre, not young adult. The three books this trilogy will consist of are Book 1 - The Red Scrolls of Magic, Book 2 - The Lost Book of the White, and Book 3 - The Black Volume of the Dead. Cassandra Clare will be co-writing this trilogy with author Wesley Chu. So far, only the first book has a release date, it's expected to be published March 5, 2019. *Article here*
Ghosts of the Shadow Market: This will be a collection of 10 short stories. The short stories will be self-published by Clare individually as ebooks and will be published in print sometime in 2019 after the first Magnus Bane book, The Red Scrolls of Magic *According to TMI Source*. As with Clare's other short story collections, this one will also be a collaborative effort between Clare and several other young adult authors. The first ebook, Son of the Dawn is available here.
The Wicked Powers Trilogy: The least is known about this trilogy as it's planned for so far in the future. The books do not yet have titles or release dates. *Here is the Goodreads page with a bit more information on this series.
--------------------------COMPANION BOOKS----------------------------
The Shadowhunter Codex
This is a really fun textbook style book filled with information on the history and world of shadowhunters. It has information on demons, downworlders, weapons, and more. It's also 'annotated' with fun questions and comments from Jace, Clary, and Simon.
An Illustrated History of Notable Shadowhunters & Denizens of Downworld
This is a book full of very nice illustrations and informative bios of characters from the Shadowhunter world.
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