The Grishaverse Reading Order

Please be aware that the follow includes spoilers of all Grishaverse books.

Main series, books in chronological order:

Shadow and Bone Trilogy
- Shadow and Bone
- Siege and Storm
- Ruin and Rising
Six of Crows Duology
- Six of Crows
- Crooked Kingdom
King of Scars Duology
- King of Scars
- Rule of Wolves

Shadow and Bone Trilogy

Shadow and Bone (2012)

The Darkling slumped back in his chair. "Fine," he said with a weary shrug. "Make me your villain."

This book opens the doors to Bardugo’s work with the introduction of the two protagonists: Alina Starkov and Malyen “Mal” Oretsev. The two were orphaned by the Ravkan border war and became close-knit living in an orphanage. Even from the prologue, themes of Ravkan society’s differing views about grisha are shown, as well as Alina and Mal’s determination not to be separated. The years find the pair away from the estate and in the same regiment of the First Army. A perilous journey into the Shadow Fold, a black fog that splits Ravka in half, turns their lives on their heads and brings them before the leader of the Second Army, the Darkling. Alina is revealed to be a long-sought-after Sun Summoner, and the duo are divided for the first time since they met as she travels to the Little Palace in the capital, Os Alta. A plan is revealed for Alina to free Ravka from the Fold, but it is decided that she requires the Morozovan stag to amplify her power. As the quest unfolds, Alina overcomes deceit and betrayal as such great power is not always sought after by good-hearted people.
Siege and Storm (2013)

In Ravkan, the word for magic and abomination was the same. Basic Grisha theory stated that matter couldn’t just be created from nothing. But that was a tenet of the Small Science. Merzost was different, a corruption of the making at the heart of the world.

The story continues as Alina and Mal find themselves captive on a ship belonging to the pirate Sturmhond in a mission to hunt the legendary sea dragon, Rusalye. Siege and Storm builds on the topic of grisha amplifiers as Alina desires to increase her power even more than with the Morozovan and Rusalye. The pair return to Ravka alongside Prince Nikolai Lantsov and Alina takes leadership of the Second Army. The heights of grisha power are tested as they seek to track down another amplifier while continuing to fight against the Darkling. Romantic twists arise as Alina is sought after though she must once again decide who is truly on her side.
Ruin and Rising (2014)

Na razrusha'ya. I am not ruined. E'ya razrushost. I am ruination.

In the third and final book of the trilogy, the tale resumes with Alina Starkov struggling in the aftermath of Siege and Storm. She is living underneath Ravka which weakens her further as she is hidden from the sun. Once she is prepared, Alina sets out - accompanied by Mal and Grisha loyal to her - to find Nikolai Lantsov . The quest is as turbulent as many in the series but as they add Nikolai’s parents and Baghra to their party, they are soon rescued by the very person they were seeking and take refuge in a hidden mountain fortress. Many things come to light during their time in the fortress but their sanctuary does not last as they are once again thrust into battle. Yet, this battle is only the forefront for what is to come as Bardugo unleashes another major twist during their search for the firebird amplifier. All this cannot truly prepare them for the final showdown as they must fight for both Ravka and themselves.

Six of Crows Duology

Six of Crows (2015)

A gambler, a convict, a wayward son, a lost Grisha, a Suli girl who had become a killer, a boy from the Barrel who had become something worse.

This next series launches into a new country and new characters set two years after Bardugo’s previous trilogy. The scene is set as Kaz Brekker, leader of the Dregs gang in Ketterdam, stands with the offer of thirty million kruge by Jan Van Eck in exchange for freeing a scientist, Bo Yul-Bayur, from the Ice Court in Fjerda. It is a near impossible task to break into the hostile country’s fortress but Kaz is swayed by the challenge and financial opportunity so puts together a crew of six: himself, Inej Ghafa, Nina Zenik, Jesper Fahey, Wylan Van Eck and Matthias Helvar. Before they have even left Ketterdam, they face off against danger but nothing thwarts their plan more than finding out the man they seek isn’t so easy to take. So, the crew are forced to figure out a new plan as they battle their way back to Ketterdam in order to prove whether the Dregs hold the winning cards.
Crooked Kingdom (2016)

Sometimes, the only way to get justice is to take it for yourself.

In the week following Six of Crows, the crew are in action with Kaz’s latest scheme to take revenge. The plan begins with infiltration of a gambling den and the home of Cornelius Smeet to find the information required to reclaim something of great value to Kaz. The book is filled with grand schemes fueled by the mind of a vengeful Kaz Brekker as one plan is thwarted only for the next to be twice as extravagant and bold. In a final push for a win, the crew hold an auction that brings the Council of Tides to charge a nation of rigging it, proving that there is no scale too large for the gang’s plans. Amidst the action comes the test of what holds the greatest importance to each of the crew be that the payout, love or something else entirely.

King of Scars Duology

King of Scars (2019)

Most of us can hide our greatest hurts and longings. It’s how we survive each day. We pretend the pain isn’t there, that we are made of scars instead of wounds.

The book is set one year after the Six of Crows duology and returns to follow the lives of Nikolai Lantsov, Zoya Nazyalensky and Nina Zenik. The story takes place across Ravka and Fjerda with Bardugo expanding on the political and economic aspects of ruling. Each faces inner turmoil from previous events and must battle themselves as much as others to find self-acceptance and forgiveness. On top of their own struggles, a greater darkness looms as, once more, things are not truly over. The book introduces Isaak Andreyev who holds the fourth key role in the second half as the plot doesn’t evade Bardugo’s tendency for twisting and turning. Throughout it all, the characters find a greater purpose in the fight for a better tomorrow as they turn their strife into lessons.
Rule of Wolves (2021)

This is what love does. In the stories, love healed your wounds, fixed what was broken, allowed you to go on. But love wasn’t a spell, some kind of benediction to be whispered, a balm or a cure-all. It was a single, fragile thread, which grew stronger through connection, through shared hardship and trust.

The second and final installment of the King of Scars duology finds itself amidst a military theme with Nina warning Nikolai of Fjerda’s plans for a surprise invasion. The book continues Nina’s journey in Fjerda accompanied by Hanne Brum as well as Nikolai and Zoya returning to face an old enemy. Rule of Wolves develops Shu Han through the actions of Queen Makhi and the creation of khergud. As Nikolai strives to tie up loose ends, Fjerdan bombers make their move in a strike that takes the life of a valued Grisha and most of Ravka's fleet. The plot descends into a grand battle with old faces such as Kaz Brekker returning to the pages. As the characters scramble to find peace, truths must surface and change is inevitable.

Additional Books

The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic (2017)
A stand-alone collection of dark fairytales that the characters in the books may have read as children The Lives of Saints (2020)
Stories about the saints from the grishaverse. Demon in the Wood (2015)
A prequel graphic novel about the Darkling’s history. It is best read after Shadow & Bone to avoid spoilers and have an understanding of the grishaverse The Severed Moon (2023)
Writing prompts and quotes from the series.