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“Maybe the gift of being human is that we do not give up- even when all hope is lost.”
If you’ve been swept up by Leigh Bardugo’s magical world and aren’t sure where to start, this guide will help you read the Grishaverse books in order. From Shadow and Bone to Six of Crows and the King of Scars duology, the Grishaverse spans several interconnected series filled with magic, heists, and unforgettable characters. Whether you want to follow the Grishaverse reading order by publication or explore the chronological order of Leigh Bardugo’s books, this post breaks it all down clearly. You’ll discover how the Shadow and Bone trilogy connects to Six of Crows, and where King of Scars fits into the timeline. So, if you’ve ever wondered what order to read the Grishaverse books, you’re in the right place – let’s dive into the full Grishaverse reading guide and help you experience this fantasy world the best way possible.
Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse is a richly imagined fantasy world where magic, science, and power collide. Set across nations like Ravka, Fjerda, and Ketterdam, it follows Grisha – people who can manipulate elements and matter – as they navigate war, politics, and survival. The Grishaverse series is best known for its blend of dark magic, complex characters, and lush worldbuilding that feels both epic and intimate.
The Grishaverse books include three main series: the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, and the King of Scars duology. Each offers a unique story that connects through shared history and characters, expanding the universe piece by piece. Since the release of Netflix’s Shadow and Bone adaptation, new readers have been diving into Bardugo’s world – making it the perfect time to explore the Grishaverse reading order and experience the saga from the very start.
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee. Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life – a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged nation free.
Wrenched from all that she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will need to confront the secrets of the Grisha… and the secrets of her heart.
Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But, as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic and further from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her – or risk everything in the oncoming storm.
The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne. Now, the nation’s fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army. Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.
Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova’s amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling’s secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction – and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.
Eryk and his mother, Lena, have spent their lives on the run. But they will never find a safe haven. They are not only Grisha – they are the deadliest and rarest of their kind. Feared by those who wish to destroy them and hunted by those who would exploit their gifts, they must hide their true abilities wherever they go. But sometimes deadly secrets have a way of revealing themselves.
Discover the start of a grand and sinister destiny in this Grishaverse prequel book exploring the tumultuous and tragic journey of the lonely boy burdened by extraordinary power who would go on to create the Fold and become the Darkling.
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price – and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off on his own.
From a convict with a thirst for revenge, a runaway with a privileged past, to a thief with a gift for unlikely escapes, six dangerous outcasts are brought together in the opening book in the Six of Crows duology. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction – if they don’t kill each other first.
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Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they would survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope.
As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets – a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.
In the years since the violent upheaval caused by the auction of Kuwei Yu-Bo, the merchants of Ketterdam have been under attack. Secret businesses exposed. Ships sunk. Slavers hunted as they once hunted their victims. All the work of a mysterious sea captain, and her ship, the Wraith.
Now, two investigators meet to uncover the truth behind the latest disaster: a massacre on an island off the shores of Ketterdam. Among the evidence collected is a private correspondence between the notorious crime boss Kaz Brekker and an anonymous sailor aboard the Wraith known only as “I”. Follow along with the lead investigator in this new Grishaverse book as he tries to piece together how such a disaster transpired.
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The dashing young king Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war – and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, Nikolai must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.
Yet with every dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha general, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried, and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.
The Demon King. As Fjerda’s massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm – and even the monsters within – to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king’s gift for the impossible. The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her nation needs.
The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart. Together, these three must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall.
If you prefer to experience the events of Leigh Bardugo’s world as they unfold, here’s the Grishaverse chronological order. Whilst most readers begin with publication order, reading chronologically gives a fascinating look at how the history of Ravka and its characters intertwine.
– A short story that takes place after the events of Crooked Kingdom.
Reading the Grishaverse books in chronological order offers a seamless journey through Bardugo’s world – from the Darkling’s origins to the thrilling end of Ravka’s story.
So, should you read the Grishaverse books in publication order or chronologically? The short answer: start with publication order. That’s how Leigh Bardugo intended readers to experience her world – with each new series revealing deeper layers of the Grishaverse while avoiding major spoilers.
Beginning with the Shadow and Bone trilogy lets you discover Ravka and the Grisha system first. Then, when you move on to Six of Crows, you’ll appreciate how the stories subtly connect. Finally, the King of Scars duology ties everything together, offering satisfying closure for long-time fans.
If you’re returning after watching the Netflix Shadow and Bone adaptation, you can still follow this order – it’s the most balanced way to experience the world and its characters without confusion.
In short: publication order first, chronological order later for your second read-through!
Check Out All The Best Leigh Bardugo Books In Order
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
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