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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 โ or, if you prefer the in-world timeline, the Victorian prequel The Infernal Devices.
Shadowhunter Chronicles Reading Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
The Shadowhunter Chronicles is not a single series but a sprawling fantasy universe of more than two dozen novels and novellas, all set in a world where half-angel demon hunters police the supernatural. Because reading 25-plus books one at a time is overwhelming, the smartest way to navigate it is at the sub-series level. This page treats each numbered series and companion collection as one entry, so you can see the shape of the whole thing before diving in.
The recommended reading order starts where most fans agree it works best: The Mortal Instruments, the modern-day flagship that introduced Clary Fray and the wider world. From there you move to The Infernal Devices, a Victorian prequel set in 1878 London, then forward through The Dark Artifices and The Last Hours. The companion collections โ The Bane Chronicles, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, and Ghosts of the Shadow Market โ plus the Magnus-and-Alec spin-off The Eldest Curses slot alongside the main arcs and are best read after the core series they connect to, since they trade on emotional payoffs you only feel once you know the characters.
The big debate is where to begin. Reading order (which here matches publication) opens with The Mortal Instruments and preserves every reveal exactly as Clare intended. The alternative is chronological-by-setting: The Infernal Devices (1878) comes first in the in-world timeline, followed by The Last Hours (1903), then The Mortal Instruments (2007) and The Dark Artifices (2012). The catch is that The Infernal Devices and The Last Hours contain reveals that land harder once you already know the modern books โ so most readers, and Clare herself, lean toward reading order. Use the chronological toggle only if you specifically want to experience the world from its oldest events forward.
If you enjoy interconnected universes, the Shadowhunter Chronicles scratch a similar itch to Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses, or Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse. Pick the reading order toggle for the guided path, or chronological order to follow the timeline from 1878 onward.
Timeline 2007โ2020
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I read The Shadowhunter Chronicles in?
At the sub-series level, the recommended path is The Mortal Instruments, then The Infernal Devices, then The Dark Artifices and The Last Hours, with the companion collections (The Bane Chronicles, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, Ghosts of the Shadow Market) and the Eldest Curses spin-off read alongside the arcs they connect to. This roughly matches publication order, which preserves every reveal.
How many books are there in The Shadowhunter Chronicles?
More than 25 novels and collections in total, which is why most readers organize them into sub-series rather than tracking individual titles. The main numbered series are The Mortal Instruments (6 books), The Infernal Devices (3), The Dark Artifices (3) and The Last Hours (3), plus the Eldest Curses trilogy and several short-story collections (The Bane Chronicles, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy and Ghosts of the Shadow Market). A final trilogy, The Wicked Powers, is forthcoming.
Should I read The Mortal Instruments or The Infernal Devices first?
Most readers, and author Cassandra Clare, recommend The Mortal Instruments first. The Infernal Devices is a prequel by setting (1878), but reading it second means certain reveals and emotional beats land much harder than if you started with it. Use the chronological-by-setting toggle only if you specifically want to follow the in-world timeline from oldest to newest.
Do I have to read the companion collections?
No. The Bane Chronicles, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, Ghosts of the Shadow Market and the Eldest Curses spin-off are optional but enrich the universe, especially the recurring warlock Magnus Bane. They're best read after the core series they tie into so the references and cameos pay off.
Is The Shadowhunter Chronicles the same as the Shadowhunters TV show?
The 2016-2019 Freeform TV series Shadowhunters and the earlier film The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) both adapt the books, but the printed Shadowhunter Chronicles are the original and far larger source material.
Who writes The Shadowhunter Chronicles?
Cassandra Clare is the lead author, often co-writing the short-story collections and the Eldest Curses trilogy with collaborators including Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, Robin Wasserman and Kelly Link.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, shadowhunters.fandom.com, Wikidata
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