Shadow and Bone Series Reading Order
The complete Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo — the Shadow and Bone trilogy and where the Six of Crows duology fits in.
Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse begins with orphan mapmaker Alina Starkov discovering she has a rare power to summon light — the only ability that can destroy the Shadow Fold, a wall of darkness dividing their land. The original Shadow and Bone trilogy is more YA romance than the gritty Six of Crows duology, but both share the same world and some characters overlap.
The reading order question matters here: publication order and Grishaverse universe order are different. For first-time readers, publication order is recommended. The Six of Crows books reference Shadow and Bone events but can be read independently; however, starting with Six of Crows and returning to Shadow and Bone can feel like a step backward in tone.
Start with Shadow and Bone (2012) if you prefer romance-forward YA fantasy. Start with Six of Crows (2015) if you want grittier heist fantasy — it works as a standalone entry to the world.
Publication order is recommended for first-timers. The Shadow and Bone trilogy (2012–2014) comes first, followed by the Six of Crows duology (2015–2016). Characters from both series share a world and cross paths — reading in order prevents spoilers.
Shadow and Bone Trilogy
Shadow and Bone
Alina Starkov is a mapmaker's apprentice in a dark fantasy Russia-inspired world. When she discovers she can summon light, she's swept into the world of the Grisha — magical elite soldiers — and drawn into the orbit of the dangerous Darkling.
Siege and Storm
Alina and Mal are on the run from the Darkling. A new ally arrives — the privateer Sturmhond — who is not what he seems. Alina's power grows, and so does the weight of what she's expected to become.
Ruin and Rising
The final confrontation with the Darkling. Alina must gather everything she has to stop the Shadow Fold from consuming the world. The conclusion of the trilogy that sets up the larger Grishaverse.
Six of Crows (2015) and Crooked Kingdom (2016) are set in the same world but follow a completely different cast — a crew of outcasts and criminals in the merchant city of Ketterdam. Many readers consider the Six of Crows duology to be superior to the original trilogy. See our Six of Crows reading order page for details.
FAQ
Do I need to read Shadow and Bone before Six of Crows?
No — Six of Crows works as a standalone entry to the Grishaverse. It has its own cast of characters and its own self-contained story. That said, reading Shadow and Bone first gives context for the world and makes some references in Six of Crows more meaningful. For readers who find the YA romance of Shadow and Bone less appealing, jumping straight to Six of Crows is a perfectly valid choice.
Is the Netflix Shadow and Bone show faithful to the books?
The Netflix adaptation blends Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows storylines together, which the books don't do. It's a reasonable adaptation of the world and tone, though it takes significant liberties with plot. Fans of both the trilogy and the duology are generally positive about it. Watch or read first — either works.