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Quick answer: If you loved City of Bones, read Clare's Clockwork Angel, Lady Midnight and Chain of Gold, then The Cruel Prince, Vampire Academy and Daughter of Smoke & Bone. All mix fantasy worlds, secret societies and slow-burn romance.
Cassandra Clare's novel opens The Mortal Instruments with Clary Fray, who discovers that demons and Shadowhunters exist in New York. It is full of action, secrets and romance. The books below offer similar young adult fantasy with tough heroes, hidden worlds and love triangles.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clockwork Angel | Cassandra Clare | Teen | prequel series |
| Lady Midnight | Cassandra Clare | Teen | more Shadowhunters |
| Chain of Gold | Cassandra Clare | Teen | Victorian Shadowhunters |
| The Cruel Prince | Holly Black | Teen | faerie courts |
| Vampire Academy | Richelle Mead | Teen | vampire schools |
| Daughter of Smoke & Bone | Laini Taylor | Teen | beautiful prose |
| Twilight | Stephenie Meyer | Teen | teen vampire romance |
| Beautiful Creatures | Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl | Teen | Southern gothic |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | Teen | assassin fantasy |
| Red Queen | Victoria Aveyard | Teen | dystopian fantasy |
| Shadow and Bone | Leigh Bardugo | Teen | Grishaverse |
| Hush, Hush | Becca Fitzpatrick | Teen | dark romance |
| The Raven Boys | Maggie Stiefvater | Teen | quirky fantasy |
| The Darkest Minds | Alexandra Bracken | Teen | powers on the run |
| Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan | Teen | younger adventures |
1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
The first Infernal Devices book is set in Victorian London, where Tessa discovers her powers. Gothic and romantic, with a slower build.
Best for: prequel series.
2. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
Emma Carstairs, a Shadowhunter in Los Angeles, investigates mysterious deaths. A larger cast and a twisty mystery.
Best for: more Shadowhunters.
3. Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
The first Last Hours book returns to London in 1903 with new heroes. Romantic and full of lore.
Best for: Victorian Shadowhunters.
4. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Jude is a mortal girl in the faerie court who plots to gain power. Sharp and twisty.
Best for: faerie courts.
5. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Rose, a guardian in training, protects her best friend, a vampire princess. Funny and fast.
Best for: vampire schools.
6. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Karou, an art student in Prague, runs errands for monsters and discovers her past. Lyrical and dark.
Best for: beautiful prose.
7. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Bella falls for Edward, a vampire, in a rainy town. The series that launched a craze.
Best for: teen vampire romance.
8. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Ethan falls for Lena, a girl from a family of Casters in the South. Atmospheric and romantic.
Best for: Southern gothic.
9. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena Sardothien, an assassin, is offered freedom if she wins a contest. A fast and growing series.
Best for: assassin fantasy.
10. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Mare, a Red-blooded girl, finds she has a power that Silvers fear. Fast and full of betrayals.
Best for: dystopian fantasy.
11. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Alina discovers she can summon light in a world at war. Rich Russian-inspired world.
Best for: Grishaverse.
12. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Nora meets a mysterious boy at school who may not be what he seems. Moody and romantic.
Best for: dark romance.
13. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Blue meets four boys searching for a lost king. Atmospheric and strange.
Best for: quirky fantasy.
14. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
Ruby escapes a camp for teens with powers and joins a group of fugitives. Fast and emotional.
Best for: powers on the run.
15. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Percy learns he is a demigod. Funny and fast, good for younger readers.
Best for: younger adventures.
How to Choose
If you want more Shadowhunters, start with Clockwork Angel, Lady Midnight or Chain of Gold. For faerie politics, choose The Cruel Prince. For vampire and school stories, read Vampire Academy or Twilight. For lyrical fantasy, pick Daughter of Smoke & Bone or The Raven Boys. For action and battles, try Throne of Glass, Red Queen or Shadow and Bone. Check ages, because some of these series become more mature as they go on. If you are new to the Shadowhunter world, read in publication order or follow the chronological order listed on the author's website. Younger teens may want to start with Percy Jackson, which has a similar premise and a lighter tone. Fans of fast series should keep in mind that these books have sequels, so you may be committing to a long reading journey.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is City of Bones about?
Clary Fray discovers the hidden world of Shadowhunters when her mother vanishes.
How many books are in The Mortal Instruments?
Six, ending with City of Heavenly Fire.
In what order should I read the Shadowhunter books?
Publication order is recommended, starting with City of Bones.
Is there a movie or TV series?
Yes, a 2013 film and a TV series called Shadowhunters.
What age is it for?
Roughly 13 and up.
Which series is closest?
The Infernal Devices and The Dark Artifices are set in the same universe.
Is City of Bones appropriate for 12-year-olds?
It contains violence and some romance, so it suits ages 13 and up.
Do I need to read The Mortal Instruments before The Infernal Devices?
No. The Infernal Devices is a prequel, but each series works on its own.
Where can I find the reading order?
The author's website lists the Shadowhunter books in both publication and chronological order.
Is the Shadowhunter universe finished?
The first series is complete, but the universe keeps growing with new series.