Some help with a reading order please!

| CJRTB Books


I’m embarking on a huge journey in 2021.
I plan to read the Shadowhunter books by Cassandra Clare!
I went and got the first 5 books in The Mortal Instruments:

  • City of Bones
  • City of Ashes
  • City of Glass
  • City of Fallen Angels
  • City of Lost Souls

Brill I thought, I can read those and get City of Heavenly Fire and then start on The Infernal Devices.
But then.…..
I saw someone said that you should read by publication date:

  • City of Bones
  • City of Ashes
  • City of Glass
  • Clockwork Angel
  • City of Fallen Angels
  • Clockwork Prince
  • City of Lost Souls
  • Clockwork Princess
  • City of Heavenly Fire

Then I saw conflicting statements so now not I am only scared about starting such a huge series but now confused in what order to read!
Give me your experiences!

What do I do?

Read in series or follow the order above?

45 thoughts on “Some help with a reading order please!”

  1. I would do it by series.

    I’d do Infernal Devices (the Clockwork series), since they take place in the oldest timeline.

    Then the City series, because they take place in the current day/age.

    I wouldn’t try to read in publication date. That sounds confusing and, quite frankly, horrible.

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  2. No no no, the clockwork or The Infernal Devices should only be read after you completed The Mortal Instruments series!

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    2. I’m in the process of reading the Shadowhunters series, so I’m probably not the best expert, lol, but my friend, who is a huge fan, recommended TMI, then TID then Clockwork. Good luck on your journey, lol! It is a major undertaking 😂

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    3. The Mortal Instruments Series
      part of the Shadowhunter Chronicles

      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
      The Infernal Devices Series
      part of the Shadowhunter Chronicles; prequel to The Mortal Instruments

      Clockwork Angel, 2010
      Clockwork Prince, 2011
      Clockwork Princess, 2013
      The Dark Artifices Series
      part of the Shadowhunter Chronicles; prequel to The Mortal Instruments

      Lady Midnight, 2016
      Lord of Shadows, 2017
      Queen of Air and Darkness, 2018
      The Last Hours Series
      part of the Shadowhunter Chronicles; sequel to The Infernal Devices

      Chain of Gold, 2019
      Chain of Iron, 2020
      Chain of Thorns, 2021
      The Bane Chronicles
      part of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, focuses on Magus Bane

      should be read after Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices

      The Bane Chronicles, 2014
      Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy Series
      part of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, focuses on Simon Lewis

      should be read before Dark Artifices

      Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, 2016
      Ghosts of the Shadow Market Series
      part of the Shadowhunter Chronicles; independent stories

      Ghosts of the Shadow Market, 2019

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  3. I’ve read the first 5 books in TMI series, then all three of TID and then the last of TMI (City of Heavenly Fire which I’m reading right now) and I admit I messed up the books order in The Shadowhunters Series. But I wasn’t upset about it. From what I remember, there are events in City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire that can spoil some events in TID series so I really don’t recommend that you read those books before TID, that’s why I switched to TID series after finishing City of Lost Souls.

    I understand if you don’t want to be jumping from one series to another to follow publication order.
    TMI were supposed to be only a trilogy first but then CC decided to write 3 more in that series, so you can definitely split TMI in two parts, which would mean you’d be reading City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, then the TID series Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess and then the part 2 of TMI, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire. I think that would make sense and wouldn’t spoil you, but that’s just my opinion.
    I recommend you check out these videos about this topic if you’re still having more doubts:
    Emmmabooks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCOEZ-e7EM4&t=324s
    Chronicles of Noria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDWJgqD-_uA&t=252s

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  4. Omg YES!! Ok, you are going to love them!! I heard that you should read them by publication date but I didnt do that because it was far too confusing. I think read them by series; start with The Mortal Instruments first; it will give you all you need to know about Shadowhunters and the Downworld. Then The Infernal Devices (those are the clockworks) It doesnt explain too much, so I think TMI is better as a starter. If you also want to read The Dark Artifices, I would read those before the Clockworks. Happy Reading Caro!!! I’m so excited for you to read them!!! It is defo a journey but you will adore them at the end 😁💙

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    1. Oh, and then also read Chain Of Gold and the rest when they come out, and the novellas- theres a few, and I dont know which ones, but I have seen The Bane Chronicles which is about Magnus Bane and Shadowhunter Academy which I won’t say what it’s about because it will ruin the story. These should all be read after the main series (tmi, tid, tda, the chain series etc) Enjoy!

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      2. Good lord yes! I didnt buy them, I just borrowed from my library, since they are quite pricey 😅😜

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      4. I think it depends on the library, although most of them can order from different libraries- I wanted to borrow a book once and they brought it in from a different city, so they probably can

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      6. I think there is- I’m doing that right now for my library, but I’m not sure if that’s all of england or just my borough. Look up your library on the internet and check how to get books, cos if its online then you can probably borrow almost any book and collect at whatever library you go to. It would take longer to get but it’s worth it

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    2. Thanks and thanks for your help! I’m writing down everyone’s responses and I’m going to compare and probably go with publication order but I dont want to get confused 😂😂

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      1. The author did say to go with the publication order, but I was already halfway in when I heard, so I just went along with it. The things is that I got so invested I could never imagine reading another series in between. Have fun, and I hope you enjoy them 😊

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      3. Honestly no- I got more spoilers from reading by series than I would have by publication date. A lot of the characters are intertwined, so i guess that’s why Cassie said go with publication date

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      5. Woohoo! We love a bargain! Try charity shops as well like British Heart Foundation- I went yesterday and got 8 books for £8.50 and 7 were brand new 🤑

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  7. Just read it according to the timeline as there are a few mentions and references to the TID (the infernal devices) in the TMI (the mortal instruments). So you should follow the list sent by susandyer1962. The books are totally worth reading.

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  8. Hey i think you should read it according to the timeline because there are some mentions and references to the TID (the infernal devices) series in the TMI (the mortal instruments) series and it would not make sense to read the TMI before TID. But it’s up to you. I was just providing a suggestion.

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  9. read it as the first 3 books of TMI ( the mortal instruments) and then TID ( the infernal devices) followed by the last 3 books of TMI and the TDA ( the dark artifices) followed by TLA (the last hours) and TEC ( the eldest curses), with TWP (the wicked powers) coming 2022 or 2023 !

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