Author Guide
Leigh Bardugo Books in Order
Complete reading guide — Shadow and Bone, Six of Crows, King of Scars, the full Grishaverse, and her adult debut Ninth House.
About Leigh Bardugo
Leigh Bardugo is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Grishaverse, a rich fantasy world spanning multiple interconnected series and short fiction collections. Born in Jerusalem and raised in Los Angeles, Bardugo began building the Grishaverse with Shadow and Bone in 2012 — a YA fantasy set in a Russian-inspired empire divided by a magical darkness called the Shadow Fold. While the original trilogy was well received, it was her follow-up duology Six of Crows (2015) that made her a phenomenon: a heist story set in a morally grey, canal-laced city inspired by Amsterdam, starring a crew of six teenage criminals. Six of Crows became one of the most beloved fantasy novels of the decade and earned passionate comparisons to Ocean's Eleven with magic. The Netflix adaptation of Shadow and Bone brought in characters from both series, introducing millions of new readers to the Grishaverse. In 2019 Bardugo expanded her reach with Ninth House, a dark adult fantasy set at Yale University among secret societies, earning a Goodreads Choice Award and critical acclaim beyond YA.
Where to start: New to the Grishaverse? You have two options. Shadow and Bone is the chronological starting point and gives you full world-building context. But many readers — and Bardugo herself — suggest starting with Six of Crows, which is darker, faster-paced, and widely considered her best work. Six of Crows can absolutely be read first; you will pick up the world context as you go. If you want adult fiction, start with Ninth House instead — it is entirely separate.
Grishaverse — Shadow and Bone Trilogy
The original trilogy. A young soldier discovers she has a rare magical gift in an empire threatened by supernatural darkness. Russian-inspired setting, YA fantasy. Best read before King of Scars, though not required before Six of Crows.
1
Shadow and Bone
2012
YA Fantasy · Grishaverse
Alina Starkov, a mapmaker's apprentice in the army of Ravka, discovers she is a Sun Summoner — the one person who may be able to destroy the Shadow Fold, a swathe of supernatural darkness tearing the kingdom apart. Pulled into the opulent world of the Grisha, Alina must navigate court politics, a powerful and magnetic antagonist, and her own growing abilities. The book that launched one of fantasy's richest worlds.
2
Siege and Storm
2013
YA Fantasy · Grishaverse
Alina and Mal are on the run, but the Darkling is closing in. A daring sea voyage, a larger-than-life privateer named Sturmhond, and the introduction of the sea whip amplifier raise the stakes considerably. Bardugo expands the world — the mythology deepens, the politics grow more complex, and a new potential love interest complicates everything. The series hits its stride here.
3
Ruin and Rising
2014
YA Fantasy · Grishaverse
The conclusion of Alina's story. With Ravka fracturing and the Darkling's power at its peak, Alina and her remaining allies make a desperate final push. Bardugo does not shy away from cost — the ending is bittersweet, divisive among fans, and absolutely deliberate. Whatever you think of the conclusion, this trilogy established the Grishaverse as one of the most expansive worlds in contemporary YA fantasy.
Grishaverse — Six of Crows Duology
Set in the same world as Shadow and Bone but several years later, in the city of Ketterdam — a Venice-meets-Amsterdam trading hub. A heist novel starring six morally grey teenagers. Widely considered Bardugo's best work and a standalone entry point into the Grishaverse.
1
Six of Crows
2015
Fan Favourite
Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker is offered an impossible heist: break into the most impenetrable fortress in the world and extract a prisoner worth a king's ransom. To do it he assembles a crew of six outcasts — a convict, a spy, a sharpshooter, a runaway, a Grisha, and a thief. Multi-POV, intricately plotted, and full of some of the most beloved characters in modern fantasy. Often described as Ocean's Eleven meets dark fantasy.
2
Crooked Kingdom
2016
Fantasy · Heist
The crew returns to Ketterdam, double-crossed and scattered. Kaz Brekker must outmanoeuvre his enemies with only the people he trusts — which is very few — and orchestrate a con that will either save them all or destroy everything. The emotional payoff for characters readers have become deeply invested in. Widely considered one of the best fantasy sequels in recent memory. Warning: significant emotional impact.
Grishaverse — King of Scars Duology
Follows Nikolai Lantsov — the witty, charming king of Ravka first introduced in Siege and Storm. Bridges the original trilogy and the wider Grishaverse. Read after Shadow and Bone trilogy for full context.
1
King of Scars
2019
YA Fantasy · Grishaverse
Nikolai Lantsov is trying to hold Ravka together and hunt down a cure for the darkness spreading inside him — a remnant of the Darkling's power. Three POVs, including Zoya and Nina Zenik (from Six of Crows), expanding the Grishaverse geographically and politically. Great for readers who want to live in this world after finishing the original trilogy.
2
Rule of Wolves
2021
YA Fantasy · Grishaverse
The conclusion to the King of Scars duology. War is coming to Ravka, and Nikolai, Zoya, and Nina must each fight on different fronts. Bardugo brings threads from across the whole Grishaverse together, and the book rewards readers who have followed the world from the beginning. Bigger in scope than its predecessor and deeply satisfying for long-time fans.
Grishaverse — Companion Fiction
Short story collections and illustrated fiction set in the Grishaverse. Perfect for readers who want more of the world between main series entries.
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The Language of Thorns
2017
Short Stories · Illustrated
Six darkly beautiful fairy tales set in the Grishaverse, illustrated by Sara Kipin. Each story is inspired by folk and fairy tale traditions from the cultures that inspired Bardugo's world — Ravkan, Fjerdan, Kerch, Shu Han. These are not retellings so much as original dark fables in the spirit of the Grimm Brothers. Stunning as a standalone read, essential for Grishaverse devotees.
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The Lives of Saints
2020
Illustrated Fiction · Grishaverse
Originally a prop in the Shadow and Bone trilogy — the book of saints that Alina and other characters reference throughout the story — The Lives of Saints became a real, gorgeously illustrated volume. Contains the stories of Ravka's saints, with illustrations by Liz Sheridan. A wonderful companion for dedicated Grishaverse readers and a beautiful object in its own right.
Adult Fiction — Ninth House Series
Bardugo's adult fiction debut — a dark fantasy set at Yale University. Entirely separate from the Grishaverse. Darker in tone, with content warnings for violence, trauma, and sexual assault. Not recommended for younger readers.
1
Ninth House
2019
Adult Dark Fantasy · Secret Societies
Alex Stern is a Yale freshman with a troubled past and a rare ability: she can see ghosts. Recruited by Lethe — the mysterious tenth secret society tasked with monitoring the occult rituals of Yale's eight real secret societies — she discovers a world of magic, privilege, and murder. Sophisticated, brutal, and compulsively readable. A Goodreads Choice Award winner for Best Fantasy that proved Bardugo could write adult fiction at the highest level.
2
Hell Bent
2023
Adult Dark Fantasy
Alex Stern returns in the sequel to Ninth House. She has survived things that should have killed her — and now she is determined to pull her mentor Darlington back from Hell. Bardugo expands the mythology dramatically, diving into the underworld and deepening the Yale secret society lore established in the first book. Every bit as dark and propulsive as its predecessor, with a broader scope and higher emotional stakes.
Reading tip: The Shadow and Bone Netflix series (2021–2023) combines characters from the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Six of Crows duology in the same storyline — something the books do not do. If you watched the show first and feel confused about what happens when, know that the books keep these stories separate. The Crows have their own completely self-contained storyline in the novels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I read the Grishaverse books?
The most common approach is either publication order or to start with Six of Crows. Publication order: Shadow and Bone (2012) → Siege and Storm (2013) → Ruin and Rising (2014) → Six of Crows (2015) → Crooked Kingdom (2016) → The Language of Thorns (2017) → King of Scars (2019) → Rule of Wolves (2021). The alternative — starting with Six of Crows — is widely recommended and works well. You can always go back and read the Shadow and Bone trilogy afterward for the full picture.
Can I start with Six of Crows without reading Shadow and Bone first?
Yes, absolutely. Six of Crows is set in the same world as Shadow and Bone but features entirely different characters and a self-contained story. You will encounter some terms and references to the wider Grishaverse, but Bardugo provides enough context that newcomers are not lost. Many readers — and many online reading guides — recommend Six of Crows as the best entry point precisely because it is faster-paced, darker, and features some of the most beloved characters in modern fantasy.
Is Shadow and Bone different from Six of Crows in tone?
Significantly. Shadow and Bone is a more traditional YA fantasy — a chosen-one narrative with a young heroine discovering her powers, court intrigue, and a complex antagonist. It has romance at its centre and follows one protagonist. Six of Crows is a multi-POV heist novel with a darker, more cynical tone, morally ambiguous characters, and plot mechanics closer to a thriller than a traditional fantasy. Both are excellent; they just offer very different experiences within the same world.
Do I need to read the Grishaverse books before Ninth House?
Not at all. Ninth House and its sequel Hell Bent are entirely separate from the Grishaverse — different world, different characters, different magic system, different tone. They are adult contemporary dark fantasy set at Yale University. You can read them with no prior knowledge of Bardugo's other work.
Is the Shadow and Bone Netflix show faithful to the books?
The show is broadly faithful to the Shadow and Bone trilogy for Alina's storyline, but makes a significant structural change: it introduces the Six of Crows characters (Kaz, Inej, Jesper, etc.) into the same timeline as Alina, creating a crossover that does not exist in the books. In the books, the Crows' story happens years after the events of the original trilogy. Viewers who loved the show's Crows storyline will find the books offer much more of those characters — and the heist structure of Six of Crows is even more satisfying on the page.