A Comprehensive Guide to Starting The Shadowhunters Chronicles

Hello everyone, and welcome to my very first blog post! Today, I'm here to give you a detailed guide on how to dive into the world of The Shadowhunters Chronicles by Cassandra Clare. With over 20 books in this series, figuring out where to start can feel like trying to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded. I had the same issue when I first started, so I decided to create this guide for you.

My journey into the Shadowhunters world began when I watched the Netflix show "Shadowhunters." Spoiler alert: I became an instant fan. Naturally, I dove headfirst into the books. But after devouring the six books in the Mortal Instruments series, I was left scratching my head, wondering what to read next. Fear not, fellow reader! We're going to tackle this bookish maze together.

There are multiple ways to read this series, and we're going to explore them all. Stick around until the end to hear my personally-tested and recommended reading order. I promise you'll be able to choose the best path for you once you know a bit about the plots of all the books. So, grab your stele and let's get started!

What Are The Shadowhunters Chronicles About?

The Shadowhunters Chronicles is a young-adult urban fantasy franchise by Cassandra Clare. She created this magnificent world where there are different kinds of people all living around mortal human beings but are invisible to them because they have something called glamour. There are Shadowhunters, Downworlders, Angels, and Demons. 

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Shadowhunters, also known as Nephilim, are a secretive race of beings who are humans with angel blood. For over a thousand years, they have fought demons and coexisted with Downworlders, which include Vampires, Werewolves, Warlocks, and Faeries, in the Shadow World, creating their own unique culture and civilization within human society. Their mandate is to maintain peace in the Shadow World and keep it hidden from the mundane world while protecting the inhabitants of both realms.

Appointed by the Angel Raziel, Shadowhunters are the designated warriors on Earth, tasked with controlling and overseeing demons and supernatural creatures that reside among us. A thousand years ago, Raziel bestowed upon them the necessary tools like the mortal instruments and the book of the Gray Book, to fulfill this mission. Think of them as celestial peacekeepers equipped with divine tools and a centuries-old duty.

Description of the Books

There are essentially five interconnected series within the Shadowhunters universe, each focusing on a different era and a unique set of Shadowhunters. I will be reviewing all the books in these series on my blog, so keep an eye out for the ones that pique your interest. To make things easier, I'll include the publication dates of all the books, helping you track your reading journey. Let's dive into this magical world together—because who doesn't love a bit of demon-slaying with their morning coffee?

1. The Mortal Instruments

"The Mortal Instruments" consists of six books that follow the story of Clary Fray, a seemingly ordinary teenager who discovers she is anything but. As Clary uncovers her true heritage as a Shadowhunter, she is thrust into a world of magic, mythical creatures, and ancient conflicts. These books offer a thrilling journey filled with prophecies and magical powers, all while a constant threat of dark forces looms—after all, nothing says 'welcome to adulthood' like finding out that your entire life was a lie. 

• City of Bones (2007)
• City of Ashes (2008)
• City of Glass (2009)
• City of Fallen Angels (2011)
• City of Lost Souls (2012)
• City of Heavenly Fire (2014)

2. The Infernal Devices

Set in the 19th century, where Victorian London bursts into life with magic, mystery, and mayhem, this trilogy serves as a captivating prequel to The Mortal Instruments. It follows the adventures of Tessa Gray, a young girl with mysterious powers, and introduces an unforgettable cast, including the brooding Will Herondale and the kind-hearted Jem Carstairs. Along the way, Tessa's courage, loyalty, and heart are tested in ways she never imagined—especially as she finds herself irresistibly drawn to both of these charming young men. Love triangles in the middle of magical chaos—what could possibly go wrong?

• Clockwork Angel (2010)
• Clockwork Prince (2011)
• Clockwork Princess (2013)

3. The Dark Artifices

Set in present-day Los Angeles, five years after the events of The Mortal Instruments, this trilogy follows the gripping adventures of parabatai Shadowhunters Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn. As they unravel the truth behind a series of gruesome murders, they uncover dark secrets that threaten to tear their world apart. However, the dangers they face are not solely external. Amidst the chaos, forbidden feelings blossom between Emma and Julian, adding an intriguing layer of romance to their already perilous journey. Readers are left wondering, "Will they overcome the obstacles in their path, or will their love lead to their downfall? Because, let's face it, fighting evil while falling in love with the person you should not is a lot harder than it looks in the movies!

• Lady Midnight (2016)
• Lord Shadows (2017)
• Queen of Air and Darkness (2018)

4. The Eldest Curses

Co-authored by Cassandra Clare and Weasley Chu, The Eldest Curses trilogy delves into the adventures of Magnus Bane, the beloved and fan favourite warlock from The Mortal Instruments (and every other book as he is an immortal character), and his boyfriend Alec Lightwood. They uncover a sinister plot while on a romantic getaway across Europe, navigate parenthood amidst new threats, and confront Magnus' past demons to protect the world from dark forces. Trust me, this is the couple you will be swooning the most over!

• The Red Scrolls of Magic (2019)
• The Lost Book of the White (2020)
• The Black Volume of the Dead (yet to be announced)

5. The Last Hours

Set in Edwardian London where shadowy secrets and forbidden desires lurk beneath the surface, this trilogy follows the story of Cordelia Catstairs. She finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue as she navigates the complexities of love and loyalty amidst the rise of a new demonic threat. The stakes are higher than ever as she must confront her destiny and make sacrifices to protect everything she holds dear. 

• Chain of Gold (2020)
• Chain of Iron (2021)
• Chain of Thorns (2023)

6. The Wicked Powers

Since these books have not come out yet, I will quote directly from Cassandra Clare's website that describe the plotline of these books. "It follows Kit Herondale, Ty Blackthorn, and Drusilla Blackthorn from The Dark Artifices series, as they are drawn into the final massive conflict between the side of demons and the side of angels. Their story drives the narrative, as Dru is pulled into matters of Faerie and the life of Ash Morgenstern and Kit and Ty must solve a mysterious disappearance. While they're our main characters, we'll also be checking in with so many others — Jace, Clary, Magnus, Alec, Emma, Julian, Mark, Kieran, Cristina, Jem, Tessa — probably for the last time ever! The Wicked Powers calls the whole fate of the Shadowhunters into question, and will change their world forever."

• The Last King of Faerie (early 2026) 
• The Last Prince of Hell (2027) 
• The Last Shadowhunter (yet to be announced)

7. Connected Installments

While not integral to the main plotline, reading them can enhance your experience and give you additional information and insights about this Shadow World. I have not mentioned them in any particular order here because that will be discussed next. 

• The Shadowhunters Codex (2013)
• Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy (2016)
• The Bane Chronicles (2014)
• Ghosts of the Shadow Market (2019)

Different Ways To Read

There are at least four different ways that I have noticed people following in the fandom. Each of these varies with preference and I will tell you all of them. However, I have my own personal way of reading them and I will even tell you why at the very end, so stay tuned. 

1. Method One - Cassie Approved

This is the version that Cassandra Clare herself has approved of and suggests the readers to adopt as well. 

• The Mortal Instruments, Part One: City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass 
• The Eldest Curses, Part One: The Red Scrolls of Magic 
• The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, Clockwork Princess 
• The Mortal Instruments, Part Two: City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls, City of Heavenly Fire 
• The Bane Chronicles 
• Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy 
• The Eldest Curses, Part Two: The Lost Book of the White
• The Dark Artifices: Lady Midnight, Lord of Shadows, Queen of Air and Darkness 
• Ghosts of the Shadow Market 
• The Last Hours: Chain of Gold, Chain of Iron. Chain of Thorns 
• The Shadowhunter’s Codex

An alternate version of this which is present on the Cassandra Clare website is this:

• The Mortal Instruments 
• The Infernal Devices 
• The Dark Artifices 
• The Last Hours
• The Wicked Powers
• note: she says "Books like Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, The Eldest Curses, and The Bane Chronicles,  should be read after you read The Mortal Instruments. I would read The Infernal Devices before Ghosts of the Shadow Market."

2. Method Two - Order of Each Series

This is very similar to the alternate version mentioned above with a minute change. This method is to read all the books in each of the series the way mentioned below. 

• The Mortal Instruments 
• Eldest Curses
• The Infernal Devices 
• The Dark Artifices 
• The Last Hours
• The Bane Chronicles
• The Shadowhunter's Cox
• Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy
• Ghosts of the Shadow Market

3. Method Three - Order of Publication

This is the most common order that is followed among the traditionalists and understandably so. The OG fans who have been reading since 2007 would most likely have read in this order. 

• City of Bones 
• City of Ashes 
• City of Glass 
• Clockwork Angel 
• City of Fallen Angels 
• Clockwork Prince 
• City of Lost Souls 
• Clockwork Princess 
• The Shadowhunter’s Codex 
• City of Heavenly Fire 
• The Bane Chronicles 
• Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy 
• Lady Midnight 
• Lord of Shadows 
• Queen of Air and Darkness 
• The Red Scrolls of Magic 
• Ghosts of the Shadow Market 
• Chain of Gold 
• The Lost Book of the White 
• Chain of Iron 
• Chain of Thorns

4. Method Four - Chronological Order

I found the timeline on Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunters website. You can check out this interactive timeline on your own as well. I will include the dates of the events for clarity. This timeline includes the dates of the short stories within the miscellaneous books. I am not going to include the entire list as it is very long. Instead, you can check out their website for better understanding. 

• The Bane Chronicles: What Really Happened in Peru (1791-1962)
• The Bane Chronicles: The Runaway Queen (1791)
• The Bane Chronicles: Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale (1857)
• Clockwork Angel (1878)
• Clockwork Prince (1878)
• Clockwork Princess (1878)
• Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy: The Whitechapel Fiend (October 1888)
• Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy: Nothing by Shadows (1899)
• Ghosts of the Shadow Market: Cast Long Shadows (1901)
• Ghosts of the Shadow Market: Every Exquisite Thing (1901)
• The Bane Chronicles: The Midnight Heir (1903)

5. Method Five - Jay Special

ps: If you made it here, thank you so much for reading my very first blog. 

I prefer chronological order because, in that way, I cannot get any spoilers. After all, the events haven't even taken place yet. That being said, my version is slightly different from the method four and you will see how.

• Clockwork Angel
• Clockwork Prince
• Clockwork Princess
• Chain of Gold
• Chain of Iron
• Chain of Thorns
• City of Bones
• City of Ashes
• City of Glass
• Red Scrolls of Magic
• City of Fallen Angels
• City of Lost Souls
• City of Heavenly Fire
• Tales from The Shadowhunter Academy
• The Bane Chronicles 
• The Lost Book of the White
• Lady Midnight
• Lord of Shadows
• Queen of Air and Darkness
• Ghosts of the Shadow Market
• The Wicked Powers

So, we have finally reached the end of this guide. Navigating this expansive world of the Shadowhunters Chronicles can be a thrilling yet daunting journey. But, I can assure you, you will have a beautiful journey filled with magic, romance, and adventure. There is a wealth of stories waiting to be discovered by you just around the corner. 

Ready to embark on your Shadowhunter journey? I'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, favorite moments, or any questions you have in the comments below. Feel free to contact me directly on my socials for more information or to chat about all things Shadowhunters. Let's connect and explore this magical universe together!