Shadowhunter Books Guide & Reading Order

For Beginners! No Spoilers!

My Personal Guide To The Shadowhunter Chronicles and Recommended Reading Order

*Author’s Note: I now have a “Shadowhunter Stories Chronological Timeline” that chronically lists all the stories included in this reading order!

I’ve been obsessed with The Shadowhunter Chronicles lately, but they are quite… complicated. I had a very difficult time trying to figure it all out (when to read it, what’s cannon, how to avoid spoilers), and wasn’t able to find any reading orders that are more chronologically based but help you avoid spoilers, break up the short story collections, or help with the online extras. I decided to create a guide to help others like me (so you can avoid the mistakes I made!) and to present my personal recommendation for a reading order.

So here is my shadowhunters guide and more-inclusive reading order. I did not include absolutely everything (like unnamed snippets, deleted/reworked scenes, or comic-strip scenes) because most of those contradict what happens in the cannon (see “Shadowhunter Content I am choosing not to include” at the end). I’ve included everything that can be considered cannon (at least in my opinion); they are all written (or co-written) by Cassandra Clare. This is just my personal recommendation for reading order; if you don’t like it, feel free to use it just as a Shadowhunters Guide/Master-List for all the links/info included).

It’s a mix of chronological order and publication order, so that you can have information when it’s relevant and be able to understand references when they are mentioned (instead of in hindsight) as much as possible. But of course, avoiding spoilers is first priority! (However, it is debatable as to what is a “spoiler” because sometimes things that where published first “spoil” something that was published after. In this case, I try to put the story first – not the mentioning of it – which is sometimes out of publication order). Also, see the end for some alternate versions.

Firstly, here’s some abbreviations commonly used in the shadowhunter book fandom and a little bit about each series/published book (You can skip this if you already know the basics):

Author: Cassandra Clare = CC (click here for her official website)

The Shadowhunter Chronicles = TSC

  • All of the books in the shadowhunter universe (Click here for the official Shadowhunters Website)

The Mortal Instruments = TMI

  • First series to start being published (for full publication order click here but note that there is a mistake – see Publication Order Note at the end)
  • Follows Clary Fray in 2007
  • 6 books
  • In Order: City of Bones (COB), City of Ashes (COA), City of Glass (COG), City of Fallen Angels(CoFA), City of Lost Souls(CoLS), City of Heavenly Fire (CoHF)

The Infernal Devices = TID

  • Prequel to TMI (for official chronological order click here – BUT I have now made my own more-inclusive Shadowhunters Timeline with all the stories listed in my reading order below!)
  • Follows Tessa Gray in 1878
  • 3 Books
  • In Order: Clockwork Angel (CA), Clockwork Prince (CP), Clockwork Princess (CP2)

The Dark Artifices = TDA

  • Sequel to TMI
  • Follows Emma Carstairs in 2012
  • 3 books
  • In Order: Lady Midnight (LM), Lord of Shadows (LoS), Queen of Air and Darkness (QoAaD)

The Eldest Curses = TEC

  • Spin off of TMI
  • Follows Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood 2007-2010 (so far)
  • 2 of 3 planned books are currently published
  • In Order: The Red Scrolls of Magic (RSM), The Lost Book of the White (LBW), The Black Volume of the Dead (BVD)  

The Last Hours = TLH

  • Sequel to TID
  • Follows Cordeila Carstairs in 1903
  • 3 books
  • In Order: Chain of Gold (COG2), Chain of Iron (COI), Chain of Thorns (COT)

The Wicked Powers = TWP

  • Sequel to TDA
  • Follows Drusilla Blackthorn in 2015
  • No books are published yet
  • All books currently untitled

Other Published Books

The Bane Chronicles = TBC

  • Collection of 11 short stories
  • Follows Magnus Bane from 1791-2007
  • In Order: What Really Happened in Peru; The Runaway Queen; Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale; The Midnight Heir, The Rise of the Hotel Dumort; Saving Raphael Santiago; The Fall of the Hotel Dumort; What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything (And Who You’re Not Officially Dating Anyway); The Last Stand of the New York Institute; The Course of True Love (And First Dates); The Voicemail of Magnus Bane
    • Note: The order above is the order they appear in the book, not chronological order

Tales From The Shadowhunter Academy = TftSA

  • Collection of 10 short stories
  • Follows (spoiler TMI character) from 2007-2008 (and flashbacks from other times)
  • In Order: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy; The Lost Herondale; The Whitechapel Fiend; Nothing but Shadows; The Evil We Love; Pale Kings and Princes; Bitter of Tongue; The Fiery Trial; Born to Endless Night; Angels Twice Descending
  • Note: I seriously recommend avoiding any information about this book until you have finished all of TMI (just knowing the main character will spoil CoHF)

Ghosts of the Shadow Market = GotSM

  • Collection of 10 short stories
  • Follows Brother Zachariah from 1901-2013
  • In Order: Cast Long Shadows; Every Exquisite Thing; Learn About Loss; A Deeper Love; The Wicked Ones; Son of the Dawn; The Land I Lost; Through Blood, Through Fire; The Lost World; Forever Fallen
  • Note: Avoid any infomation about this book until finished with TID (the back cover will spoil the end of CP2)

The Shadowhunter’s Codex

  • Training manual that exists in the shadowhunter world
  • Notes from Clary, Jace, and Simon in the margins (during TMI – 2007)

Secondly, a bit about how I organized this:

  • The main books (part of one of the series) are in RED
    • So if you are just looking to read the main books, just look at those in red
  • Published short stories (part of one of the published collections) are in BLUE
    • If you would rather read these all together instead of split up, see Short Story Collections Note at the end
  • Online/special content (like things CC has posted on her blog or stories that have appeared in the backs of special editions) are in GREY
  • If it is listed in bullet points under a book, then that scene/story takes place during the book above it. They are listed in the order I think you should read them.
    • If it has a “*” next to it then it is my recommendation that you read it when it comes up in the story (it should be clear, I have also put which chapter it will appear in when I can remember it).
    • If it doesn’t have a “*”, then I would recommend waiting to read it until you are done with the book. However, if you just can’t wait, you can use my Shadowhunter Stories Chronological Timeline to check when it takes place (possible spoiler warning, do so at your own risk).
  • In parenthesis () after the title, I have listed where to find it – for main books, the series it’s a part of; for short stories, the collection it’s from; and for the online/special content, a link/where it was released.
  • You can use my Shadowhunter Stories Chronological Timeline to check when each story happens chronologically (though I don’t recommend reading in this order as there will be many spoilers).

I have grouped the stories into Eras. Each Era contains one of the main series and some short stories/extra content. TMI is broken into 2 parts because there is a clear difference between the first and second half (TMI was originally supposed to end with COG, so the first 3 books feel pretty complete and the second 3 have a bit of a different storyline). It is also likely that BVD (added once it’s published) won’t be in the Aftermath Era with the other TEC books since I believe it will take place between TDA and TWP.

Clockwork War Era: The Infernal Devices

Clockwork Angel (TID) Note: If you would rather start with TMI, see How to Start TSC note at the end

Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale (TBC) Note: If you want to know why I decided to split up TBC, see Short Story Collections Note at the end

Clockwork Prince (TID)

Clockwork Princess (TID) Note: You might want to hold off on the epilogue since it spoils an important event in CoHF (though it was published before CoHF). See Aftermath Era for further info

  • A Letter Will Wrote to his Parents (here – removed from CC website)

Mortal War Era: The Mortal Instruments, Part One

City of Bones (TMI)

  • Awake (here)
  • Magnus’s Vow (here)
  • When Midnight Comes (here)

Not for Humans (here) Note: This is a crossover story with Holly Black’s faerie world and therefore may contain spoilers for some of her books (I’m not sure as I haven’t read them all)

Kissed (here – removed from CC website) Note: COB Spoiler

The Course of True Love (TBC) Note: “Kissed” & COB Spoilers

What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who has Everything (TBC) Note: COB Spoilers

The Last Stand of the New York Institute (TBC) Note: This is a bit debatable; see note at the end. Major TID and COB Spoilers!

City of Ashes (TMI)

City of Glass (TMI)

  • Extended Manor Scene *Chap 9 (here) Note: See Extended Sex Scenes Note
  • Jace’s letter to Clary *Chap 15 (COG Extra or here – removed from CC website)
  • Jace’s POV Manor Scene (here – removed from CC website)
  • Becoming Sebastian (here – removed from CC website) Note: Also known as “A Dark Transformation”

Dark War Era: The Mortal Instruments, Part Two

The Shadowhunter’s Codex – Note: Some TID/TMI, Part One Spoilers

City of Fallen Angels (TMI)

City of Lost Souls

  • Extended Dirty Sexy Club Scene *Chap 13 (here) Note: See Extended Sex Scenes Note
  • Stephen’s letter to Jace * (here)
  • A Question of Power (CC tumblr – removed from CC website)

What Really Happened in Peru (TBC)

The Runaway Queen (TBC)

The Rise of the Hotel Dumort (TBC)

Saving Raphael Santiago (TBC)

The Fall of the Hotel Dumort (TBC)

The Voicemail of Magnus Bane (TBC) Note: Major CoLS Spoiler

City of Heavenly Fire (TMI)

  • Extended Cave Scene *Chap 20 (CC tumblr) Note: See Extended Sex Scenes Note
  • Magnus’s Letter to Alec (CC tumblr)

Aftermath Era: The Eldest Curses

CP2 epilogue (CP2 – TID) + After the Bridge (CC tumblr) Note: These two are like one long scene but they will spoil a major event in CoHF (“After the Bridge” spoils even more of CoHF, so DEFINITELY don’t read that one until after TMI), so I recommend waiting to read the CP2 epilogue until here so you can read them together

The Red Scrolls of Magic (TEC) Note: This book takes place prior/during CoFA but it will spoil a big reveal in CoHF so I recommend waiting until after TMI (However if you have already watched the Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments tv show then you know the spoiler and could read it after COG)

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy (all of them – listed in order below) Note: Major CoHF spoilers

  • Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy
  • The Lost Herondale
  • The Whitechapel Fiend
  • Nothing but Shadows
  • The Evil We Love
  • Pale Kings and Princes
  • Bitter of Tongue
  • The Fiery Trial
  • Born to Endless Night
  • Angels Twice Descending

Cast Long Shadows (GotSM) Note: Major Spoilers for CP2 (same goes for all of GotSM), See When to Read TLH Note

Every Exquisite Thing (GotSM) Note: Important info in here for LBW, See When to Read TLH Note

The Midnight Heir (TBC) Note: Major “Nothing but Shadows” Spoilers. If this seems to not fit when you start reading COG2, know that CC has said that it will be shown to fit later in TLH

The Lost Book of the White (TEC) Note: Spoiler for “Born of Endless Night”

In Dreams Begin, (LBW Extra – unable to find online)

Cold Peace Era: The Dark Artificies

Lady Midnight (TDA) Note: Major Spoilers for TMI

  • Letter to Author Blackthorn *Chap 5 (CC tumblr)
  • Extended Beach Scene *Chap 18 (CC tumblr) Note: See Extended Sex Scenes Note
  • Stars to Burn *The Wild Hunt, Some Years Ago (CC tumblr)

Learn about Loss (GotSM) Note: Spoiler for LM – so if you’re thinking about reading all these GotSM stories before LM like I almost did, don’t

A Deeper Love (GotSM)

The Wicked Ones (GotSM)

Son of The Dawn (GotSM)

The Land I Lost (GotSM)

Through Blood, Through Fire (GotSM)

A Long Conversation (LM Extra or here)

Lord of Shadows (TDA) Note: Spoiler for “The Land I Lost”

  • Extended Cottage Scene *Chap 24 (CC tumblr)

Our Waking Souls (CC tumblr) Note: LoS Spoilers

Queen of Air and Darkness (TDA) Note: Spoiler for “Through Blood, Through Fire”

A Love That Never Tires, (QoAaD Extra or here) Note: Spoiler for QoAaD

The Lost World (GotSM) Note: Major QoAaD Spoilers. If you are thinking about waiting to read all the GotSM until here, see Publication Order / Ghosts of the Shadow Market Note below

Forever Fallen (GotSM) Note: Major QoAaD Spoilers

Merry Thieves Era: The Last Hours

The Penultimate Hours (Collection of extras each linked below or CC’s newsletter Extra)

  • Letter from Ragnor to Magnus (here) Note: This does give away a bit of the premise of COG2 (about as much on the back cover) but it is a very good summary of the TLH main characters. See Publication Order Note below
  • A Lightwood Christmas Carol (CC website)
  • Lucie and Ghosts (CC website)
  • Days Past: Lucie and Cordelia (CC website)
  • Cirenworth Hall, Devonshire (CC website) Note: This story was originally released as an extra prior to the release of COG2 (and later part of The Penultimate Hours), but is also included within the text of COG2, so feel free to skip it here
  • The Anniversary Party (CC website)
  • The Devil Tavern (CC website)
  • The City of Bones (CC website)
  • London, Grosvenor Place, 1901 (here) Note: Spoilers for “Cast Long Shadows”
  • Days Past: Christopher (CC website)
  • Letter from Lucie to Cordelia (here)

Chain of Gold (TLH) Note: Major Spoilers for TID. See When to Read TLH Note below

Fairy Tale of London (COG2 Extra or here or CC’s newsletter Extra) Note: You can read this anytime after CP2 (even before it’s epilogue) without spoilers

The Letter Game (here)

Chain of Iron (TLH) Note: Major LM spoilers, CoHF spoiler

  • One Must Always Be Careful of Books (COI Extra – unable to find online)

Chain of Thorns (TLH) – Next on my TBR!

Wicked Powers Era (likely to be renamed later)

Secrets of Blackthorn Hall (tumblr – Released in parts throughout April 2021-August 2022) Note: Major spoilers for TDA and TID, and references TLH

The Black Volume of the Dead (TEC, unpublished) – unscheduled release date

The Wicked Powers #1 (Unpublished) – unscheduled release date

The Wicked Powers #2 (Unpublished)

The Wicked Powers #3 (Unpublished)

Alternate Versions

I have designed this timeline so you can move some of the Eras around, but still keep everything the the Eras together. I put alternate versions below that pretty much work just as well as the above order. Other mixes are possible (technically CC says you can start Shadowhunters at the beginning of TMI, TID, TDA or TLH), but will likely include major spoilers (if you are thinking of a different way and would like my opinion, message me on insta @lifeisjustablurblog or email me at lifeisjustablurblog@gmail.com).

This version is closer to publication order: (See How to Start TSC note below)

  1. Mortal War Era
  2. Clockwork War Era
  3. Dark War Era
  4. Aftermath Era
  5. Cold Peace Era
  6. Merry Thieves Era
  7. Wicked Powers Era

You can also wait to read the Aftermath Era until after the Merry Thieves Era: (See When to Read TLH Note)

  1. Clockwork War Era (or Mortal War Era)
  2. Mortal War Era (or Clockwork War Era)
  3. Dark War Era (+TftSA) See When to Read TLH Note
  4. Cold Peace Era
  5. Merry Thieves Era
  6. Aftermath Era
  7. Wicked Powers Era

How to Start TSC (Mortal War/Clockwork War Eras Alternate Version): If you are looking to stay closer to publication order, you can read the Clockwork War Era after the Mortal War Era, but before the Dark War Era (I recommend reading TID in publication order at the latest – though there are no benefits to publication order over this way – because things from TID as a whole will be important in the second half of TMI). This is actually how CC recommends you read TSC, and how I originally read them. HOWEVER, if you do this, you might want to wait to read “Magnus’s Vow” to fully appreciate it and DO NOT READ “The Last Stand of the New York Institute” (see note below) until finishing TID.

I think either of these ways of starting TSC works just fine, but I seriously recommend starting with either City of Bones or Clockwork Angel. Starting with Chain of Gold will majorly spoil TID and starting with Lady Midnight will majorly spoil TMI. Also, TMI and TID both have protagonists who are new to the shadowhunter world, so you can learn with them. TLH and TDA main characters are all shadowhunters, who have always been shadowhunters, so you’ll probably feel like you’re doing a lot of catch up.

If you are unsure if you want to start with TMI or TID, here’s some tips. COB was the first book published and if you start here, for the most part the books will get better as you read (COB/COA/COG are not as well written as CC’s later books). You’ll also be starting with the more modern and more epic/influential story. If you start with CA, you are reading in a more chronological order and can pick up references when you get to TMI. You’ll get to see the history and more “typical” times of shadowhunter life first before the whole shadowhunter world changes in TMI. I also think CA is better written and has clearer world-building.

In the end, neither is really “more correct” in my opinion; I chose to put TID first for the reasons above and so that “Magnus’s Vow” and “The Last Stand of the New York Institute” (see note below) could be in the Mortal War Era because that is where they are most relevant.

When to Read TLH (Merry Thieves Era): I know many may be temped to read TLH right after TID (i.e. before TMI and TDA), but seriously I don’t recommend it. Firstly, Chain of Gold (COG2) has a light spoiler and Chain of Iron (COI) has major spoilers for Lady Midnight (LM) (like you will know the big-revel ending of LM if you have already read COI).

Secondly, there are a bunch of stories in the Aftermath Era that introduce characters from TLH that were published before COG2. However, “Every Exquisite Thing” and even more so, “Cast Long Shadows” are stories that are kind of treated as mysteries in TLH (even though they were already published) so you could wait to read them until after TLH if you’d rather not know what happened in Anna’s and Mathew’s past, respectively. (If you do this, the other stories from GotSM and LBW will still make sense, you’ll just have to accept a few things as true without explanation).

If you are thinking about waiting to read these stories until after TLH and saving the whole Aftermath Era for last (as in my second alternate option), know that if you don’t read TftSA before TDA and TLH you’ll miss some lead-up to both. “Nothing but Shadows” introduces you to James and Matthew (some of the main characters of TLH) and gives some interesting history on how the met and something special about James. A few of the other stories in TftSA including “The Lost Herondale” and “Pale Kings and Princes” give you lead up for TDA. The first gives you some background for Helen and Mark (side characters in TDA) and the second introduces the mystery that will be (kinda) solved by the end of TDA (and will be a focus of the unreleased Wicked Powers series). TDA also spoils major plot points of TftSA, so even if you want to wait to read the majority of the Aftermath Era until last, consider reading at least TftSA before TDA.

Short Story Collections (splitting up vs. reading together) Note: If you want to read The Bane Chronicles (TBC) all together, I would recommend doing so between CoLS and CoHF (“The Voicemail of Magnus Bane” will spoil CoLS and you don’t want to read them all too early because you want to have enough knowledge on Magnus first).

If you want to read Ghosts of the Shadow Market (GotSM) all together then I recommend doing so after finishing TDA (“The Lost World” and “Forever Fallen” will spoil QoAaD). However, I very much suggest reading these in particular more broken up, as they weren’t even all published together (see publication order note below ) and some have these little hints leading up to something reveled in QoAaD (mostly #3-8 in GotSM). I’d also rather read them when I’m invested in the characters they are about, and so that I have the background from them already before going into main books.

However, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy (TftSA) to me feels much more like a book than GotSM or TBC because each “story” takes place a few months or less after the last one and they all have the same main character, side characters, and mostly same location (except for flashbacks). They feel more like chapters than individual stories which is why I recommend reading them all together.

Publication Order / Ghosts of the Shadow Market Note: If you are trying to stay a closer to or follow publication order, note that although the hardcover of Ghosts of the Shadow Market (GotSM) did not come out until after QoAaD, the first 8 stories from it were published before it in digital versions, so you should read those at least before QoAaD (though I would recommend before LoS to catch more hints). I’ve heard people say just read all of GotSM after TDA, which you could if you want, but then certain things will only make sense in hindsight and QoAaD does spoil something that GotSM spends a lot of time building towards.

These 8 GotSM stories are the only mistake I have found in the official publication order timeline (the last 2 GotSM stories were published with the Hardcover). If you are following publication order – I am not going to make an entire publication order with all the stories from this reading order – know that the online/special content was generally published with or after the main book/series they relate to, with the exception of The Penultimate Hours which were mostly released prior to COG2 (all but the 2 letters and London, Grosvenor Place which were released later).

Extended Sex Scenes Note: Not all of these scenes exactly follow what happens in the cannon, however, they are so much clearer and make so much more sense than the “clean version” that is in the books that I personally accept these as cannon. But if that confuses you, feel free to wait to read them until later or skip them all together. I’d say they are for about 16+ (not any worse than smutty fanfic).

“The Last Stand of the New York Institute” Note: I think it’s good to read this story during the Mortal War Era because I think it’s really interesting to see how truly terrible The Circle was – and not just Valentine. It will make Valentine seem like a better villain then how he’s written in TMI. However, there are a few minor things in it that you wouldn’t otherwise know until COG/COHF (though it was published before COHF). And don’t do this if you haven’t read TID!!! It spoils the entire ending of CP2. If you are reading Mortal War Era before the Clockwork War Era, read this story after “The Fall of the Hotel Dumort” in the timeline.

CC Newsletter Extras / We Jace You a Clary Christmas Note: “We Jace You a Clary Christmas” (similar to The Penultimate Hours) is a collection of extras given free to anyone who signs up for CC’s newsletter (You can do so on her website). However, all the stories that make up We Jace You a Clary Christmas are linked seporately in the timeline. They include: Awake, When Midnight Comes, Because it is Bitter, Jace POV Manor Scene, The Act of Falling, Our Waking Souls, A Long Conversation, and A Love That Never Tires. But if you would like to have the package with the cover art, by all means go sign up (if you are a shadowhunters fan I say do it, it’s not that many emails and they are always so cute)! Just know you won’t be missing anything if you don’t (same goes for all other CC newsletter Extras).

CC Website Extras Note: Towards the end of March 2021, CC took the whole “Extras” section off her website (all the ones that we originally published there have “removed from CC website” written in their parenthesis). So far I have not been able to figure out why they were taken down or if they will return. I have provided new links to these stories.

Updates Note: I will continue to update this as new books/content is released. If you have any questions or think that there is something I left out (but check if it’s below in the content I’m choosing not to include first) please message me on insta (@lifeisjustablurblog) or email me (lifeisjustablurblog@gmail.com)! Last update: Mar. 4, 2023.

Shadowhunter Content I am choosing not to include:

  • An Illustrated History of Notable Shadowhunters and Denizens of Downworld (this doesn’t have any kind of story but it does include spoilers for TMI, TID, and TftSA)
    • also called “The Flower Book”
  • Special Editions bonus stories I cannot find (If you know where to find any of these please reach out to me) Such as…
    • “Simon’s Graduation Party” Note: TMI and TftSA Spoilers
  • Deleted/reworked scenes from any book (there are just too many and many contradict cannon)
  • Comic strip scenes (I have found that they don’t always match up to cannon, I’ve read that usually CC gives the idea but Cassandra Jean actually writes them, but I have listed below the ones I know of and when they take place)
    • Will/Jem Comic (CC tumblr) – prior to TID (1877)
    • Will/Tessa Comic (CC tumblr) – between TID and TLH, Note: Major TID spoilers
    • Magnus sends the Blackthorns and Emma back to LA (CC tumblr) – deleted CoHF scene, Note: CoHF spoilers
    • The Wedding (CC tumblr) – after CoHF but date doesn’t match “In Dreams Begin,” which is supposed to be the written version, Note: Major TID/TMI Spoilers
  • Images – Such as…
    • Maps (Ones in paperback main books by Drew Willis) Note: (very) Light spoilers
  • Other small snippets/info CC has released (usually on her tumblr)
  • Graphic Novels (adaptations of the main books)
  • All The Stories Are True Book: Classics Reimagined in the World of the Shadowhunters (Fairy tales retold with TSC characters – originally a QoAaD promo, now in Limited Edition release) Note: May have light TMI, TID, TDA, TLH, and TftSA spoilers
  • The Official Mortal Instruments Coloring Book (Includes quotes from TMI)
  • Shadowhunters and Downworlders: A Mortal Instruments Reader (A book of essays by other authors about TSC)
  • “Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments” TV Show (good but a bit cheesy and very different from the books), Note: Major TMI Spoilers, light TID spoilers
  • “City of Bones” Movie (seriously do not waste your time) Note: Major COB Spoilers

Here are some great sites I found for finding extras:

OVERALL: In the end, however you choose to read them, just enjoy the books! They are an amazing world with fantastic characters, and I absolutely adore them. Head over to my insta (@lifeisjustablurblog) for shadowhunter reviews and discussions. I hope you found this useful, either as a reading order, or just as a Shadowhunter Master-list (sorry it’s so long lol).

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