Below is the complete list of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse books in order. For this series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
Publication Order of Grishaverse Books
with Dani Pendergast
About Grishaverse
The Grishaverse is an interconnected fantasy universe created by American author Leigh Bardugo, beginning with Shadow and Bone (2012). Inspired partly by Russian history and folklore, the setting encompasses rival nations, political conspiracies, criminal underworlds, and a distinctive system of magic known as the Small Science. Its central novels are divided into three connected series: the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, and the King of Scars duology.
The recommended reading order follows publication chronology, beginning with the three Shadow and Bone novels, continuing through the two Six of Crows books, and concluding with the King of Scars duology. This sequence preserves important character developments and reveals how events in one series influence the others.
The Shadow and Bone trilogy consists of Shadow and Bone (2012), Siege and Storm (2013), and Ruin and Rising (2014). These novels introduce Ravka, a kingdom divided by the Shadow Fold, a dangerous region of unnatural darkness inhabited by deadly creatures.
Their protagonist, Alina Starkov, is a young army mapmaker who discovers that she possesses the rare ability to summon sunlight. Her powers make her central to Ravka’s struggle against the Fold and bring her into conflict with the Darkling, the powerful leader of the Grisha.
Through Alina’s experiences, Bardugo establishes the Grishaverse’s magical disciplines, political tensions, and competing beliefs about power. The trilogy also introduces characters whose influence extends into later books, making it the natural starting point for the wider universe.
The Six of Crows duology consists of Six of Crows (2015) and Crooked Kingdom (2016). Set primarily in Ketterdam, a wealthy trading city in Kerch, these novels shift the focus from royal politics and prophecy to organized crime, elaborate heists, and the lives of young outsiders.
The story follows Kaz Brekker, a brilliant criminal strategist who assembles a team for a dangerous mission involving a substance capable of dramatically enhancing Grisha abilities. His companions include Inej Ghafa, Jesper Fahey, Nina Zenik, Matthias Helvar, and Wylan Van Eck.
Although the duology introduces a largely new cast, its events take place after the Shadow and Bone trilogy and build upon the political circumstances established there. The books can be enjoyed independently, but readers familiar with the earlier novels will recognize additional connections.
The King of Scars duology comprises King of Scars (2019) and Rule of Wolves (2021). These novels return to Ravka and follow Nikolai Lantsov as he attempts to secure his country’s future amid political instability and supernatural danger.
Zoya Nazyalensky and Nina Zenik also play major roles, connecting the storyline to both preceding series. Because the duology develops unresolved consequences from earlier books, it is best read after completing Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows.
Beyond the seven principal novels, Bardugo has published several companion works that expand the mythology and culture of the Grishaverse.
The Language of Thorns (2017) is an illustrated collection of six folktales presented as stories originating within the fictional world. Its narratives explore familiar fairy-tale themes through Bardugo’s darker approach to magic, ambition, and human desire.
The Lives of Saints (2020) is another illustrated companion, presenting accounts of saints and legendary figures revered throughout the Grishaverse. It provides additional background on the religious traditions that influence the characters and societies of the main novels.
Demon in the Wood, originally published as a short story and later adapted into a graphic novel illustrated by Dani Pendergast in 2022, explores the Darkling’s childhood. It offers insight into his origins without replacing the events of the principal trilogy.
The Grishaverse also includes shorter fiction such as The Tailor, which revisits events from Shadow and Bone through Genya Safin’s perspective. These supplementary stories are optional and are generally best approached after becoming familiar with the relevant characters.
A defining feature of the Grishaverse is its treatment of magic as a force intertwined with political and social power. Grisha possess specialized abilities, but their position varies considerably between nations. Some societies employ them as soldiers or advisers, while others persecute them.
Bardugo also explores how individuals respond to systems that attempt to control their identities and abilities. Across the interconnected series, characters confront questions of loyalty, exploitation, belonging, and the moral consequences of ambition.
The Grishaverse gained wider recognition through Netflix’s Shadow and Bone television adaptation, which premiered in 2021 and incorporated characters from both the original trilogy and Six of Crows.
For readers beginning the books, publication order offers the clearest progression through the setting’s history. The seven main novels form the core reading sequence, while the companion collections and shorter works provide additional context rather than essential installments.
Together, the Grishaverse books demonstrate Leigh Bardugo’s ability to develop a shared fantasy world through distinct narrative styles, moving from heroic fantasy to criminal adventure and political intrigue while maintaining a consistent foundation of magic, history, and complex characters.