Cassandra Clare Reading Order: The Complete Shadowhunter Chronicles

Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter Chronicles is one of YA fiction’s most expansive shared universes — over 20 books across multiple series, all set in the same world of Shadowhunters, demons, warlocks, and the Clave. It looks daunting from outside. Here’s the definitive reading order.

The Series, In Recommended Reading Order

1. The Mortal Instruments (Start Here)

1. City of Bones (2007)
2. City of Ashes (2008)
3. City of Glass (2009)
4. City of Fallen Angels (2011)
5. City of Lost Souls (2012)
6. City of Heavenly Fire (2014)

The complete Mortal Instruments reading order is on the series page. Begin here. Clary Fray discovers she’s a Shadowhunter; the world of the Chronicles is established.

2. The Infernal Devices (Read After TMI Books 1–3)

1. Clockwork Angel (2010)
2. Clockwork Prince (2011)
3. Clockwork Princess (2013)

The complete Infernal Devices reading order is on the series page. Set in Victorian London, 130 years before TMI. Follows Will Herondale and Tessa Gray. You can read this after finishing TMI Books 1–3 or after the full TMI series — both work, but reading before TMI Book 6 adds resonance to City of Heavenly Fire.

3. The Dark Artifices

1. Lady Midnight (2016)
2. Lord of Shadows (2017)
3. Queen of Air and Darkness (2019)

The complete Dark Artifices reading order is on the series page. Set in Los Angeles, five years after TMI. Follows Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn. Read after completing both TMI and The Infernal Devices.

4. The Last Hours

1. Chain of Gold (2020)
2. Chain of Iron (2021)
3. Chain of Thorns (2023)

Set in Edwardian London; the children of the Infernal Devices characters. Read after completing The Infernal Devices.

5. The Wicked Powers (Ongoing)

1. The Book of Mortal Sin (2026)

The newest series; follows characters from The Dark Artifices.

6. The Eldest Curses (with Wesley Chu)

1. The Red Scrolls of Magic (2019)
2. The Lost Book of the White (2020)
3. The Black Volume of the Dead — forthcoming

Follows Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood; can be read alongside the main series.

The Bane Chronicles

The Complete Recommended Reading Order

For readers who want to read everything:

1. City of Bones through City of Glass (TMI 1–3)
2. Clockwork Angel (TID 1)
3. City of Fallen Angels (TMI 4)
4. Clockwork Prince (TID 2)
5. City of Lost Souls (TMI 5)
6. Clockwork Princess (TID 3)
7. City of Heavenly Fire (TMI 6)
8. The Red Scrolls of Magic (EC 1)
9. Lady Midnight (TDA 1)
10. The Lost Book of the White (EC 2)
11. Lord of Shadows (TDA 2)
12. Queen of Air and Darkness (TDA 3)
13. Chain of Gold (TLH 1)
14. Chain of Iron (TLH 2)
15. Chain of Thorns (TLH 3)
16. Then: The Wicked Powers and remaining Eldest Curses

Where to Start

Read City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments Book 1) first. It introduces the Shadowhunter world clearly and efficiently. Everything else in the Chronicles assumes this foundation.

If you’ve only seen the film or Shadowhunters TV show: Both adaptations changed significant plot elements. The books are worth reading regardless — start with City of Bones from the beginning.

The TV and Film Adaptations

• The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (film, 2013) — modest box office; didn’t spawn a sequel film
• Shadowhunters (Freeform, 2016–2019) — TV adaptation of TMI; ran three seasons; Clare was involved as producer; changed some plots significantly

Both adaptations have sent substantial audiences to the books.