Reading Order Guide
Shadow and Bone Reading Order
Complete Order
All 2 Books, In Order
The recommended reading order for the Shadow and Bone series. Start with book one and enjoy the ride.
Ruin and Rising
The end of everything — or the beginning. Alina has never been more powerful, and never more at risk of losing herself to it. The trilogy's conclusion is divisive among fans (the ending made many readers scream) but undeniably ambitious. Bardugo commits fully to her themes.
Siege and Storm
Alina and Mal are on the run, but the Darkling is never far behind. Book two expands the world of the Grisha to include the sea, a new type of amplifier, and a charismatic privateer who complicates everything. Bardugo's plotting tightens as the stakes for Alina's power — and soul — get higher.
Series Stats
At a Glance
Every Sort By Cravings profile is written after a full read-through — not scraped from publisher blurbs. We cross-reference BookTok discussions, Goodreads reviews, and 500+ reader reactions before publishing any mood tag, spice rating, or compatibility note. Read our editorial standards.
FAQ
Shadow and Bone Series Questions
Read the Shadow and Bone series in publication order: 1. Ruin and Rising, 2. Siege and Storm. This is the intended reading order by Leigh Bardugo.
The Shadow and Bone series has 2 books totaling 857 pages. We have full mood and spice profiles for every book in the series.
The Shadow and Bone series is low-heat, averaging 1.0/5. There is some heat but it is not the main event.
Start with Ruin and Rising — it's book 1 and introduces everything you need. Our full guide for Ruin and Rising breaks down the mood, spice, and what to expect.
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