Cassandra Clare Books in Order (Updated March 7, 2026)

Cassandra Clare’s bibliography is easiest to read in three separate lanes.

• The first lane is the Shadowhunter Chronicles, which is by far the biggest and most interconnected part of her work.
• The second lane is Chronicles of Castellane, her adult fantasy sequence beginning with Sword Catcher.
• The third lane is Magisterium, her five-book middle grade fantasy series cowritten with Holly Black.

If you want the cleanest experience, do not try to mash all three together by publication date. Pick one lane and stay there until you are done.

The Shadowhunter Chronicles in order

This is the part most readers actually need clarified. Cassandra Clare’s own FAQ gives a broad first-read path of The Mortal Instruments → The Infernal Devices → The Dark Artifices → The Last Hours → The Wicked Powers, with side books fitted in after The Mortal Instruments, and The Infernal Devices read before Ghosts of the Shadow Market.

The Mortal Instruments

1. City of Bones (2007): Clary Fray discovers that New York hides demons, warlocks, vampires, and Shadowhunters, making this the natural entry point to the whole Shadowhunter world.
2. City of Ashes (2008): Clary’s new world gets darker and more unstable as family secrets, loyalties, and the threat of Valentine escalate.
3. City of Glass (2009): The trilogy’s first major arc reaches Idris and turns the series from urban discovery into full supernatural war.
4. City of Fallen Angels (2011): After the original war ends, the series opens a new arc with Simon under pressure and the consequences of earlier victories starting to turn.
5. City of Lost Souls (2012): Jace’s condition reshapes the emotional center of the series and pushes everyone into more dangerous choices.
6. City of Heavenly Fire (2014): The six-book sequence closes on its largest scale, resolving the Mortal Instruments arc while setting up later Shadowhunter eras.

The Infernal Devices

1. Clockwork Angel (2010): In Victorian London, Tessa Gray is drawn into the hidden world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders, beginning the prequel trilogy that later books keep returning to.
2. Clockwork Prince (2011): The London Institute’s danger becomes more personal and political as Tessa, Will, and Jem move deeper into the conflict around Mortmain.
3. Clockwork Princess (2013): The trilogy resolves its central war and its major relationships, and it becomes emotionally important for much of the later Shadowhunter material.

Essential Shadowhunter side books

• The Bane Chronicles (2013): A collection centered on Magnus Bane that works best after The Mortal Instruments, because it expands history and character context rather than serving as a starting point.
• Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy (2016): Simon’s academy stories fit best after City of Heavenly Fire, because they deal directly with the aftermath of the main Mortal Instruments arc.

The Dark Artifices

1. Lady Midnight (2016): Set after City of Heavenly Fire, Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn take over in Los Angeles, beginning a darker trilogy built on parabatai bonds, family pressure, and faerie politics.
2. Lord of Shadows (2017): The emotional and political costs of the first book deepen fast, and the trilogy starts aiming at a much larger catastrophe.
3. Queen of Air and Darkness (2018): The Dark Artifices ends on world-changing stakes and pushes the Shadowhunter setting toward its late-series future.

More side books for readers already inside the world

Ghosts of the Shadow Market (2019): This collection follows Brother Zachariah and spans multiple Shadowhunter periods, so it is much more rewarding after The Infernal Devices and stronger once you know the wider cast.

The Eldest Curses

1. The Red Scrolls of Magic (2019): Magnus and Alec take center stage in a romantic adventure set after they begin dating, making this best for readers who already know them from The Mortal Instruments.
2. The Lost Book of the White (2020): The second book continues Magnus and Alec’s story directly and should be read after The Red Scrolls of Magic.
3. The Black Volume of the Dead: This is the planned third Eldest Curses novel, but Cassandra Clare’s official series page says it has not yet been scheduled for publication.

The Last Hours

1. Chain of Gold (2020): Set in Edwardian London, this trilogy follows the next generation after The Infernal Devices, so it is much better after you already know that earlier trilogy.
2. Chain of Iron (2021): The mystery and emotional fallout from Chain of Gold tighten, with the family and friendship dynamics becoming even more central.
3. Chain of Thorns (2023): The Last Hours trilogy reaches its conclusion and closes the major threat hanging over this generation.

Recent Shadowhunter collection

Better in Black (2025): This ten-story romantic collection is a celebration of fan-favorite Shadowhunter couples and includes a preview of The Wicked Powers, so it works best as late-stage bonus reading rather than an entry point.

The Wicked Powers

1. The Last King of Faerie (2026): The first book of the final Shadowhunter trilogy is officially listed for Fall 2026 and is meant to begin the endgame of the entire saga.
2. The Last Prince of Hell (2027): Officially listed as book two of The Wicked Powers.
3. The Last Shadowhunter: Officially listed as the trilogy finale, though the official site does not currently give a publication date on the series page.

The best first-read order for Shadowhunters

For a new reader, the safest route is:

1. City of Bones
2. City of Ashes
3. City of Glass
4. City of Fallen Angels
5. City of Lost Souls
6. City of Heavenly Fire
7. Clockwork Angel
8. Clockwork Prince
9. Clockwork Princess
10. The Bane Chronicles
11. Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy
12. Lady Midnight
13. Lord of Shadows
14. Queen of Air and Darkness
15. Ghosts of the Shadow Market
16. The Red Scrolls of Magic
17. The Lost Book of the White
18. Chain of Gold
19. Chain of Iron
20. Chain of Thorns
21. Better in Black
22. The Last King of Faerie when available

That is not the strict publication order, and it is not trying to squeeze every extra book into the earliest possible slot. It is simply the least confusing path for most first-time readers.

Chronicles of Castellane

This is a separate adult fantasy series and has nothing to do with the Shadowhunter world.

1. Sword Catcher (2023): Kel, body double to the prince of Castellane, and Lin, a physician from the city’s margins, are pulled into court intrigue, criminal power, and buried magic.
2. The Ragpicker King (2025): The direct sequel expands the conspiracies around Castellane and should be read immediately after Sword Catcher.

If you are not here for Shadowhunters at all, this is the cleanest modern place to start with Clare’s adult fantasy work.

Magisterium (with Holly Black)

This is also separate from Shadowhunters and separate from Sword Catcher. It is a five-book middle grade fantasy sequence.

1. The Iron Trial (2014): Callum Hunt enters the Magisterium despite being raised to fear magic, opening a school fantasy story that slowly turns stranger and darker.
2. The Copper Gauntlet (2015): The mysteries around Call’s identity and the Magisterium itself deepen, making this a true continuation rather than a reset.
3. The Bronze Key (2016): Trust, loyalty, and the consequences of earlier revelations take center stage as the series starts moving faster.
4. The Silver Mask (2017): The fourth book takes Call and his friends beyond ordinary school conflict and into much higher personal danger.
5. The Golden Tower (2018): The Magisterium series concludes its long arc and resolves the central threat around Call’s fate.

Is there one full Cassandra Clare publication order?

Yes, but it is not the most useful way to read her. If you only want the full bibliography by release, the main books run like this:

1. City of Bones (2007): The first Shadowhunter novel and the beginning of Clare’s best-known universe.
2. City of Ashes (2008): The immediate continuation of Clary’s story.
3. City of Glass (2009): The first major Shadowhunter climax.
4. Clockwork Angel (2010): The Victorian-era prequel that opens The Infernal Devices.
5. City of Fallen Angels (2011): The start of the second Mortal Instruments arc.
6. Clockwork Prince (2011): The middle Infernal Devices novel.
7. City of Lost Souls (2012): The fifth Mortal Instruments book.
8. Clockwork Princess (2013): The end of The Infernal Devices.
9. The Bane Chronicles (2013): Magnus-centered stories from across the Shadowhunter world.
10. City of Heavenly Fire (2014): The final Mortal Instruments novel.
11. The Iron Trial (2014): The first Magisterium book, cowritten with Holly Black.
12. The Copper Gauntlet (2015): The second Magisterium book.
13. Lady Midnight (2016): The start of The Dark Artifices.
14. The Bronze Key (2016): The third Magisterium book.
15. Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy (2016): Simon’s post-Mortal-Instruments collection.
16. Lord of Shadows (2017): The second Dark Artifices novel.
17. The Silver Mask (2017): The fourth Magisterium book.
18. Queen of Air and Darkness (2018): The finale of The Dark Artifices.
19. The Golden Tower (2018): The final Magisterium book.
20. Ghosts of the Shadow Market (2019): Brother Zachariah’s cross-era Shadowhunter stories.
21. The Red Scrolls of Magic (2019): The first Eldest Curses novel.
22. Chain of Gold (2020): The first Last Hours novel.
23. The Lost Book of the White (2020): The second Eldest Curses novel.
24. Chain of Iron (2021): The second Last Hours novel.
25. Sword Catcher (2023): Clare’s adult fantasy series begins.
26. Chain of Thorns (2023): The third Last Hours novel.
27. The Ragpicker King (2025): The second Chronicles of Castellane novel.
28. Better in Black (2025): A Shadowhunter romance collection with a preview of The Wicked Powers.

What order matters most?

Order matters most inside the Shadowhunter world.

The Mortal Instruments, Infernal Devices, Dark Artifices, Last Hours, Eldest Curses, and Wicked Powers all gain context from the earlier books. The companion collections are optional, but they are much stronger once you already know the characters.

Order also matters inside Magisterium and inside Chronicles of Castellane, but those are much simpler because they are straightforward sequences.

Latest release status

The latest Cassandra Clare book currently released is Better in Black, published on December 2, 2025.

For brand-new novels, the latest currently released novel is The Ragpicker King from 2025.

The next major Shadowhunter novel officially listed is The Last King of Faerie, scheduled for Fall 2026.

FAQs

What Cassandra Clare book should I read first?

For most readers, City of Bones is still the right place to begin. It is the gateway to the Shadowhunter world and the foundation for almost everything else.

Can I start with The Infernal Devices instead?

You can, but it is not the safest first route if your goal is to read the whole Shadowhunter saga. City of Bones remains the clearest entry point.

Are Sword Catcher and Shadowhunters connected?

No. Chronicles of Castellane is a separate adult fantasy series.

Is Magisterium part of Shadowhunters?

No. Magisterium is a different series, cowritten with Holly Black.

Do I have to read the side books?

No. The Bane Chronicles, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, Ghosts of the Shadow Market, and Better in Black are best treated as bonus reading unless you want the fuller world.

Final recommendation

If you want one decisive answer, start with City of Bones and stay inside the Shadowhunter route until at least Clockwork Princess before branching. That keeps the world clear, preserves the reveals, and gives the later books their full emotional weight.

Then read Sword Catcher only when you want a completely separate adult fantasy, and read The Iron Trial only when you want Clare’s middle grade lane.