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Quick answer: If you loved The Mortal Instruments, read City of Bones's prequels Clockwork Angel and Lady Midnight, then A Court of Thorns and Roses, Shadow and Bone, Throne of Glass and The Cruel Prince. All are young adult fantasies with romance, secret worlds and high stakes.
Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments begins with City of Bones, in which teenager Clary Fray discovers a hidden world of Shadowhunters, demons and warlocks in New York. It is full of romance, secrets and family drama. The books below offer similar urban fantasy and young adult romance.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Bones | Cassandra Clare | Teen | urban fantasy |
| Clockwork Angel | Cassandra Clare | 14+ | readers who love period fantasy |
| Lady Midnight | Cassandra Clare | 14+ | the start of the trilogy |
| Chain of Gold | Cassandra Clare | 14+ | readers who want a new series |
| A Court of Thorns and Roses | Sarah J. Maas | Adult | fae romance |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | 14+ | older teens who like fantasy romance |
| Shadow and Bone | Leigh Bardugo | Teen | Grishaverse |
| Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo | Adult | heist crew |
| The Cruel Prince | Holly Black | 14+ | readers who like court politics |
| Vampire Academy | Richelle Mead | Teen | school vampires |
| Beautiful Creatures | Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl | Teen | Southern gothic |
| Daughter of Smoke & Bone | Laini Taylor | Teen/Adult | readers who like lush fantasy |
| Twilight | Stephenie Meyer | Teen | teen vampire romance |
| Divergent | Veronica Roth | Teen | factions and choice |
| Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan | 9-13 | myth adventures |
1. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
A girl finds a hidden world of Shadowhunters in New York. Fast and popular.
Best for: urban fantasy.
2. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
The first Infernal Devices book, in which Tessa discovers her powers in Victorian London. Atmospheric and romantic.
Best for: readers who love period fantasy.
3. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
The first Dark Artifices book, in which Emma and Julian investigate murders in Los Angeles. Start here if you skipped it.
Best for: the start of the trilogy.
4. Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
The first book in The Last Hours, set in Victorian London. A good new start with returning characters.
Best for: readers who want a new series.
5. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Feyre kills a wolf and is taken to a faerie land by a powerful fae lord. A retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
Best for: fae romance.
6. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena Sardothien, an assassin, is offered freedom if she wins a competition to be the king's champion. Romance, mystery and magic.
Best for: older teens who like fantasy romance.
7. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Alina discovers she can summon light in a world at war. Rich Russian-inspired world.
Best for: Grishaverse.
8. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
A criminal mastermind assembles a crew for an impossible job. Sharp, witty and layered.
Best for: heist crew.
9. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Jude, raised among faeries, wants a place at the High King's court even as the faeries torment her. Intrigue and betrayal.
Best for: readers who like court politics.
10. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
A bodyguard-in-training and a vampire princess share a bond. Fast, funny and dramatic.
Best for: school vampires.
11. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
A boy in a small town falls for a girl from a family of casters. Moody and charming.
Best for: Southern gothic.
12. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Karou lives between worlds as the apprentice to a monster who collects teeth. Beautiful prose and a sweeping romance.
Best for: readers who like lush fantasy.
13. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
A teenage girl falls for a vampire in a rainy town. The book that launched a huge vampire boom.
Best for: teen vampire romance.
14. Divergent by Veronica Roth
A girl chooses her faction and discovers a plot. Fast and popular.
Best for: factions and choice.
15. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Percy learns he is a demigod. Funny and fast.
Best for: myth adventures.
How to Choose
To stay in Clare's world read Clockwork Angel, Lady Midnight or Chain of Gold. For romantic fantasy choose A Court of Thorns and Roses or The Cruel Prince. For gritty heists pick Six of Crows. For vampire romance read Vampire Academy or Twilight. Mortal Instruments readers often like long series, so there is plenty to pick from. The Mortal Instruments was adapted into a 2013 film and a TV series called Shadowhunters. The universe has expanded with The Infernal Devices, The Dark Artifices and The Last Hours.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Mortal Instruments about?
A girl who discovers a hidden world of demon hunters.
Who wrote it?
Cassandra Clare.
When was City of Bones published?
2007.
How many books are in the series?
Six in the original series, plus prequels and sequels.
Is there a TV show?
Yes, Shadowhunters.
What age is it for?
Roughly teens and young adults.
Should I start with The Mortal Instruments or The Infernal Devices?
Most readers begin with The Mortal Instruments.
What should I read next?
Try Clockwork Angel or A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Which book here is best for readers who want a new series?
Try Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare, which suits readers looking for readers who want a new series.