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Book series reading orders
Publication order, chronological order, and the famous debates settled. Whether it’s the Cosmere, Narnia’s publication-vs-chronological argument or Discworld’s sub-series, find the right way to read any series.
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Books A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) Books in Order
Sarah J. Maas's ACOTAR series in publication order: the Feyre trilogy, the Frost and Starlight bridging novella, A Court of Silver Flames, and the two new sequels confirmed for October 2026 and January 2027.
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Books A Good Girl's Guide to Murder in Order
Holly Jackson's YA true-crime trilogy following teen sleuth Pip Fitz-Amobi. Read the three main books in publication order; the prequel novella Kill Joy is set before book one and can be read first as an origin story or saved for after the trilogy.
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Books A Series of Unfortunate Events in Order
Lemony Snicket's 13-book saga of the Baudelaire orphans is one continuous story, so read it strictly in publication order from The Bad Beginning to The End.
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Books A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) Books in Order
George R.R. Martin's five published A Song of Ice and Fire novels in order, the basis for HBO's Game of Thrones. Two more books remain unreleased.
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Books Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere in Order
Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere is a shared universe spanning the Mistborn, Stormlight Archive, and standalone novels. There is no single "correct" order, but two paths dominate: strict publication order and the widely endorsed recommended reading order.
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Books Caraval Books in Order
Stephanie Garber's Caraval world spans two trilogies plus a holiday novella. Read the Caraval trilogy first (Caraval, Legendary, Finale), then the illustrated novella Spectacular, then the Once Upon a Broken Heart spin-off centered on Jacks, the Prince of Hearts.
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Books Cat and Mouse Duet in Order
H.D. Carlton's viral dark-romance duet in order: Haunting Adeline (2021) first, then Hunting Adeline (2022). The two books are one continuous story split in half and meant to be read back to back. The wider Cat and Mouse universe also includes the connected novella Satan's Affair, the spin-off Where's Molly, and the prequel Phantom, which are optional companions outside the core arc.
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Books Crescent City Books in Order
Sarah J. Maas's adult romantasy trilogy following Bryce Quinlan in the metropolis of Crescent City. Three books so far, meant to be read strictly in publication order.
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Books Discworld Books in Order
All 41 of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels in publication order. You don't have to read them that way, though — the series splits into sub-series you can each start cold.
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Books Dune Books in Order
Frank Herbert's original six Dune novels, listed in publication order, which is also the intended reading order, from 1965's Dune to 1985's Chapterhouse: Dune.
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Books Eragon (Inheritance Cycle) in Order
Christopher Paolini's Alagaesia saga in publication order: the four-book Inheritance Cycle (Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, Inheritance), then the novella collection and the full sequel Murtagh.
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Books Fifty Shades Books in Order
E.L. James's Fifty Shades is a three-book romance trilogy told from Ana's POV, followed by three companion retellings of the same story from Christian Grey's POV. Read the original trilogy first.
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Books Foundation Books in Order
Isaac Asimov's Foundation saga in two reading paths: publication order (the 1951 trilogy first) or chronological order, which opens with the prequels about Hari Seldon and psychohistory.
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Books Fourth Wing (Empyrean Series) in Order
Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series, the BookTok romantasy phenomenon about dragon-rider Violet Sorrengail. Three of a planned five books are out; read them strictly in publication order. A companion novel set in the same world arrives in 2026.
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Books From Blood and Ash Books in Order
Jennifer L. Armentrout's romantasy saga following Poppy. Read the six main Blood and Ash books in order, then add the Flesh and Fire prequels set thousands of years earlier.
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Books His Dark Materials Books in Order
Philip Pullman's saga across two trilogies. Read the His Dark Materials trilogy first, then The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage (a prequel), The Secret Commonwealth (a sequel), and The Rose Field (the 2025 finale).
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Books Hitchhiker's Guide Books in Order
Douglas Adams's "trilogy in five parts" plus a sixth book by Eoin Colfer. Read in publication order, the only sequence that tracks Arthur Dent's story.
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Books It Ends with Us Books in Order
Colleen Hoover's two-book duology following Lily Bloom and Atlas Corrigan. Read It Ends with Us (2016) first, then the sequel It Starts with Us (2022).
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Books Keeper of the Lost Cities Books in Order
Shannon Messenger's middle-grade fantasy follows Sophie Foster through the elven Lost Cities. Read in publication order, slotting the two half-installments — Unlocked (8.5) and Unraveled (9.5) — into their numbered positions.
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Books Maple Hills (Icebreaker) Series in Order
Hannah Grace's Maple Hills books are interconnected college sports-romance standalones. Read them in publication order: Icebreaker, Wildfire, then Daydream. Three books are published so far, with a fourth Maple Hills novel announced for 2026.
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Books Mistborn Books in Order
Read Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn by publication: the Era 1 trilogy first, then the Era 2 "Wax and Wayne" quartet set ~300 years later in the same Cosmere world.
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Books Narnia Books in Order
C.S. Lewis's seven Narnia books spark a famous debate: read them in publication order (starting with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) or chronological order (starting with The Magician's Nephew).
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Books Outlander Books in Order
Diana Gabaldon's time-travel historical saga reads best in publication order, starting with Outlander (1991). Nine main novels are out, with a tenth and final book forthcoming.
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Books Percy Jackson & Riordanverse Books in Order
Read Rick Riordan's Greek and Roman demigod saga in order: the five Percy Jackson & the Olympians books first, then the five Heroes of Olympus sequels. Publication order is the right reading order.
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Books Red Queen Books in Order
Victoria Aveyard's YA fantasy quartet about a world split by blood color. Read in publication order, with two novella collections, Cruel Crown and Broken Throne, as companion reads.
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Books Red Rising Books in Order
Pierce Brown's Red Rising is a strictly sequential sci-fi series: read it in publication order, starting with the original Darrow trilogy and continuing into the second saga that begins with Iron Gold.
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Books Shadow and Bone / Grishaverse Books in Order
Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse, read in order: the Shadow and Bone trilogy first, then the Six of Crows duology, then the King of Scars duology, plus the two companion books, The Language of Thorns and The Lives of Saints.
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Shadowhunter Chronicles Reading Order
Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter universe spans 25+ books grouped into sub-series and companion collections. The simplest way in is to read by sub-series rather than book-by-book, starting with The Mortal Instruments — or, if you prefer the in-world timeline, the Victorian prequel The Infernal Devices.
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Books Shatter Me Series in Order
Tahereh Mafi's dystopian-romance saga follows Juliette Ferrars, whose touch is lethal. Read the six main novels with all five novellas slotted into the timeline, or stick to the core books.
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Books Sherlock Holmes Books in Order
Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes canon is 4 novels and 56 short stories gathered into 5 collections. Read in publication order, or start with the most famous tales.
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Books The Cruel Prince (Folk of the Air) in Order
Holly Black's BookTok-favorite faerie trilogy follows Jude Duarte and Cardan through the treacherous court of Elfhame, rounded out by two companion volumes: a between-books novella told from Taryn's point of view and a later collection of Cardan-centric tales with an epilogue.
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Books The Dark Tower Books in Order
Stephen King's eight Dark Tower books in order. Read the main saga (I-VII) by publication, with the 2012 midquel The Wind Through the Keyhole either last or between books 4 and 5.
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Books The Dresden Files Books in Order
Jim Butcher's urban-fantasy series follows wizard-detective Harry Dresden across 18 main novels. Read in publication order, which lines up exactly with the in-universe timeline.
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Books The Expanse Books in Order
James S.A. Corey's nine-book space-opera, best read in publication order starting with Leviathan Wakes. Several optional novellas slot between the novels.
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Books The First Law Books in Order
Joe Abercrombie's grimdark First Law world spans nine books: a founding trilogy, three standalones, and the Age of Madness trilogy. Read them in publication order for the cleanest experience.
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Books The Inheritance Games Books in Order
Jennifer Lynn Barnes's YA puzzle-mystery saga: read the original Avery Grambs trilogy first, then The Brothers Hawthorne and the Games Untold novella collection, then the spin-off trilogy that begins with The Grandest Game and continues in Glorious Rivals, all in publication order.
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Books The Kingkiller Chronicle in Order
Patrick Rothfuss's fantasy series follows the legend of Kvothe across two novels, plus a companion novella about Auri. Read in publication order; the long-awaited third book remains unpublished.
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Books The Poppy War Books in Order
R.F. Kuang's grimdark military-fantasy trilogy following Rin from war orphan to shaman-general. It is strictly sequential, so read it in publication order: Poppy War, Dragon Republic, Burning God.
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Books The Stormlight Archive Books in Order
Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive in order: all five main books published so far, plus the Edgedancer and Dawnshard novellas slotted into their ideal reading positions.
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Books The Wheel of Time Books in Order
All 14 main Wheel of Time novels in publication order, from The Eye of the World to A Memory of Light, plus where to slot the prequel New Spring.
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Books The Witcher Books in Order
Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher books read best with the short-story collections first (The Last Wish, then Sword of Destiny), followed by the five-novel Saga. The standalone Season of Storms and the 2024 prequel Crossroads of Ravens are best saved for after the main run.
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Books Throne of Glass Books in Order
Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass in order: the simple publication order, plus a recommended reading order that slots in the prequel and reads Tower of Dawn alongside Empire of Storms.
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Books Twisted Series (Ana Huang) in Order
Ana Huang's four interconnected Twisted standalones in order, each following a different couple in the same friend group. Read in publication order to catch the cameos.
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Books Warrior Cats (Warriors) Reading Order
Erin Hunter's Warriors saga runs across nine main arcs of (mostly) six books each. Read by publication arc — The Prophecies Begin first — and slot the Dawn of the Clans prequel in later. The newest arc, Changing Skies, began in 2025.
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Books Wings of Fire Books in Order
Tui T. Sutherland's middle-grade dragon saga, built in arcs of five books. Read by publication: The Dragonet Prophecy, then The Jade Mountain Prophecy, then the Lost Continent arc, and now the Forgotten Isles arc, with the Legends prequels slotted in alongside the arcs they connect to.