Summary

Cassandra Clare’sShadowhunter Chroniclesconsist of five serial and 20 account book , andthe gauze-like range of the author ’s existence may leave anyone less familiar with her books wondering what order to read them in . Clare’sShadowhuntersnovels give up off withCity of Bonesback in 2007 , and Clary and Jace ’s story shortly expanded to become a much larger world . Clare late release her first adult fantasy novel , but the author has stick primarily to her young adult phantasy world for most of her calling . Her allegiance to herShadowhuntersstories is clear through her even releases and connections between series .

While it ’s slap-up to see Clare expatiate her young adult fantasy world , so much content within the realm ofShadowhunterscan prove overwhelming to newbie . break down the series within theShadowhunter Chroniclesand identify the honest reading order can make it easier for first - metre readersto go into this creation . While theShadowhunter Chroniclescan technically be read in both publishing and chronological order , there ’s a preferable way of life to get the most out of each serial and little storey collection .

Shadowhunters did its best to adapt all of the books ’ major storylines , however , there are some Mortal Instruments plot of land that still never get to be .

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How To Read All 20 Shadowhunters Books In Publication Order

Clare has been releasing newShadowhuntersbooks since 2007 , and the serial publication ' release order sometimes reckon them overlapping with one another . While Clare mostly stick to one serial at a time , the late additions toThe Mortal Instrumentsand the books in herInfernalDevicestrilogy came out during the same prison term frame . The same is true of her two most recent trilogies , The Last time of day and The Eldest Curses . In world-wide , Clare’sShadowhunterbooks can be well read in their publishing gild . In fact , they make a lot of sense that elbow room . The release dates of all 20Shadowhunterbooks are as stick to :

Book Title

Release Year

Tony Khan and Sting merged image

Series

City of Bones

2007

Cassian in Andor Season 2

The Mortal Instruments

City of Ashes

2008

Shadowhunter Books

Custom Image by Yailin Chacon

metropolis of Glass

2009

Clockwork Angel

Imagery from the covers of Shadowhunter Chronicles books against a background of pages

Custom Image by Simone Ashmoore

2010

The Infernal Devices

City of Fallen Angels

The Shadowhunter Chronicle short story collections featuring Magnus, Simon, and Jem

2011

Clockwork Prince

metropolis of Lost mortal

Freeform’s Shadowhunters Season 3 Poster

2012

Clockwork Princess

2013

The Bane Chronicles

2014

Short Story Collection

City of Heavenly Fire

Lady Midnight

2016

The Dark Artifices

narrative From the Shadowhunter Academy

Lord of dark

2017

world-beater of Air and Darkness

2018

The Red Scrolls of Magic

2019

The Eldest Curses

specter of the Shadow Market

Chain of Gold

The Last Hours

The Lost Book of the White

2020

mountain chain of Iron

2021

chemical chain of thorn

2023

Even though series likeThe Infernal DevicesandThe Last Hoursare set further in the past than the novel that come before them , they build on what already exist . There ’s a reason Clare wrote and issue these stories in the decree she did , andthe most straightforward manner to plunge into this world is in publication Holy Order . That articulate , it is potential to read theShadowhunter Chroniclesin chronological order if one wish to . Of course , doing so requires a more in - depth breakdown of when each series and short story aggregation in Clare ’s world convey home .

How To Read The Shadowhunter Chronicles In Chronological Order

TheShadowhunter Chroniclesare set against the background of the real world , soit ’s fairly easy to determine the timeline of Clare ’s saga . Unlike fantasy stories set in fabricated cosmos , theShadowhuntersbooks stick to the same calendar that readers do . As such , each trilogy can be dated and organized chronologically . Those looking to read Clare ’s books that mode can begin withThe Infernal Devices , which strike place in the nineteenth 100 , then move on to her works set nearer to the present day .

The Infernal Devices - Set In 1878

The Infernal Devicesis the firstShadowhuntersseries chronologically , as it takes situation in London in 1878 . The trilogy follows Tessa Grey as she ’s thrust into the worldly concern of Shadowhunters , though Tessa herself is n’t a phallus of the sweet airstream . Instead , Tessa is a configuration - shifting warlock , and she ’s tax with learning how to use her big businessman while hoodwink flavor for two different Shadowhunters : Will Herondale and Jem Carstairs . Tessa ’s story factors into the laterMortal Instrumentsbooks , so show them beforehand is n’t a tough estimate — though going by release order still gets the job done . The books inThe Infernal Devicesare :

ReadingClockwork Princessbefore finishingThe Mortal Instrumentsseries means readers will be exposed to pocket-sized raider regarding the characters ' destiny . This is why going by release ordering may be good for a first - metre referee .

The Last Hours - Set In 1903

The Last Hoursis a sequel toThe Infernal Devices , and it follows Jem ’s cousin , Cordelia Carstairs , as well as the children of the character from the earlier series . WhileCassandra Clare ’s websitestates that readers do n’t take to read any otherShadowhuntersbooks before plunge intoThe Last hour , they’ll doubtless get more out of it by at least readingThe Infernal Devicesfirst . Characters from Tessa ’s story appear in this trilogy as well , so it makes signified to dig into it chronologically . The leger inThe Last Hourstrilogy are :

The Mortal Instruments - Set In 2007

The deadly Instrumentsis set around the clip the first book was published , with Clary Fray getting pulled into the world of Shadowhunters in 2007 . After her female parent disappear and a demon attack her , Clary discovers there ’s more to the world — and her family account — than she ’s been told . She ’s require in by Shadowhunters who assist her track down her mom , but she also gets wrap up in their conflict . The mod - solar day backdrop ofThe Mortal Instrumentsmakes it implausibly light to diminish into — even if Clary ’s Shadowhunter friends do n’t have a good grip on the technology or dada refinement of the time period . The Word in the series are :

The Mortal Instrumentsbooks do eventually overlap withThe Infernal Devices , but reading Clare ’s series chronologically wo n’t spoil Jace and Clary ’s fib in any fashion . If anything , readingClockwork Princessprior toCity of Heavenly Firewill reveal despoiler aboutThe Infernal Devices’characters ' destiny .

The Dark Artifices - Set In 2012

The Dark Artificesis fix five year after the events ofThe Mortal Instruments , placing its story in 2012 . This trilogy tells the story of best friends and parabatai Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn . Both characters are seen inCity of Heavenly Fire , and their trilogy elaborates on how the war inThe Mortal Instrumentsimpacts them and their families . Characters from prior books make appearances , so it defecate mother wit to readThe Dark Artificeslast . The novels in this trilogy are as follows :

The Eldest Curses - Set At Different Points Of The Shadowhunters Timeline

The Eldest Cursesis Clare ’s trilogy ( co - written with Wesley Chu ) pore onThe Mortal Instrumentscharacters Alec Lightwood and Magnus Bane — and it follows them at different points in their relationship , soeach book in the series falls on a dissimilar part of theShadowhunterstimeline . WhileThe Eldest Cursesis a trilogy , only two book of account have get out so far . The final novel likely wo n’t get until afterthe finalShadowhunterstrilogy , The Wicked Powers . For now , reader can dive into the first two Holy Writ , which take place as follow :

Where Cassandra Clare’s Short Story Collections Fit In

Clare has also indite a number of short tarradiddle collections set in theShadowhuntersworld , and this is where the timeline gets even more complicated . As Clare ’s collection tend to focus on specific characters or places , the account within them go down in different areas of the dealership ’s timeline .

The Bane Chroniclescontains many chronicle about Magnus Bane ’s life-time , and some take place well before Clary and her friend assemble him , while others are set in the midst ofThe Mortal Instruments .

Tales From The Shadowhunter Academy

narrative From the Shadowhunter Academyfollows Simon after the events ofCity of Heavenly Fire , though some of the story reference reference and issue from the past . In worldwide , this collection should be find fault up afterThe Mortal Instruments . Simon ’s time at the titulary honorary society take shoes after that serial publication chronologically , and readers will get any references to the past at that point in a chronological read .

Ghosts Of The Shadow Market

spectre of the Shadow Marketfollows Brother Zachariah on trips to the Shadow Market , the undercover encounter shoes and trading post for creatures in the Shadowhunter universe . Different taradiddle are coiffure at different head in the saga , from afterThe Infernal Devicesto afterThe Dark Artifices .

The Best Order To Read Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunters Books In

When it comes down to it , the best order to read Clare’sShadowhunterbooks is their release order , especially for anyone coming to the serial for the first time . Although prequel serial likeThe Infernal DevicesandThe Last Hourscan technically be enjoyed prior toThe Mortal InstrumentsandThe Dark Artifices , lecturer will get more out of these by be the order they were published in . Likewise , it ’ll be easy to avoid spoilers by picking upThe Eldest Cursesand Clare ’s short chronicle solicitation when they were published . TheShadowhunter Chroniclescan get confusing for a newcomer otherwise , though longtime fans may benefit from a new , chronological approaching .