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Series · fantasy

The Eldest Curses

by Cassandra Clare

The Eldest Curses series by Cassandra Clare has 2 known books (2 published). It is best read in publication order, starting with The Red Scrolls of Magic (2019). The Lost Book of the White is the latest book with a fully recorded publication date.

Books
2 known books (2 novels)
Published
2
First published
2019
Status
ongoing
Shelved under
Fantasy
Start here: The Red Scrolls of Magic (2019) — then read straight through in publication order.
Book one
Cover of The Red Scrolls of Magic
The Red Scrolls of Magic (2019)

Reading order

The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.

  1. The Red Scrolls of Magic

    Novel
    The Eldest Curses opened in April 2019 with The Red Scrolls of Magic, co-written by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu, sending Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood on their first vacation together across Europe, derailed by the reappearance of Magnus's old friend Ragnor Fell and news of a demon-worshipping cult.
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  2. The Lost Book of the White

    Novel
    The Lost Book of the White followed roughly a year and a half later, in September 2020, matching the first book's 400 pages while raising the stakes with a magical grimoire capable of undoing Shadowhunter and Downworlder law itself.
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Key facts about The Eldest Curses series

Our list has 2 books in The Eldest Curses series. Since all 2 are out now, you can read the whole list today.

Start with The Red Scrolls of Magic, since it opens the publication order in 2019. The Lost Book of the White is book 2, from 2020.

The list keeps the books in date order, while each title links to its own page. Each book page shows its dates and editions.

The Lost Book of the White is the latest book with a full release date, out on 1 September 2020. The catalogue marks it as ongoing, yet no next book has a date so far.

The books came out between 2019 and 2020. That is a run of 1 year.

Cassandra Clare has 30 books on our list. Additionally, they write The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices and Shadowhunter Chronicles: Short Fiction Collections, plus 3 more series. We shelve the books under fantasy.

About The Eldest Curses

The Eldest Curses hands the spotlight to Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood, the Shadowhunter Chronicles' most beloved couple, in adventures that sit alongside the main Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices timelines rather than inside them. The Red Scrolls of Magic opens with Magnus and Alec's first vacation together across Europe, derailed almost immediately by the reappearance of Magnus's old friend Ragnor Fell with news of a demon-worshipping cult -- and by Alec's discovery of just how much history, and how many old flames, four centuries give a warlock. The Lost Book of the White raises the stakes with a magical grimoire capable of undoing Shadowhunter and Downworlder law itself.

Co-written with science fiction author Wesley Chu, the series leans into banter, romance, and globe-trotting adventure more than the main Shadowhunter novels, giving Magnus's centuries of backstory room to breathe while deepening his relationship with Alec. It's written for readers who already know the couple from the main series and want more of them front and center, rather than as a starting point for newcomers.

Frequently asked questions

How many books are in The Eldest Curses?

Two published so far: The Red Scrolls of Magic (2019) and The Lost Book of the White (2020). A third, The Black Volume of the Dead, has been announced but has no confirmed release date as of August 2026.

What order should I read The Eldest Curses in?

Publication order: The Red Scrolls of Magic, then The Lost Book of the White. Both are best read after The Mortal Instruments, since they focus on Magnus and Alec's established relationship.

Do I need to read The Eldest Curses to understand the main Shadowhunter series?

No, it's a side series focused on Magnus and Alec rather than required reading for the main Mortal Instruments/Infernal Devices/Dark Artifices storyline, though it enriches Magnus's backstory.

When is The Black Volume of the Dead coming out?

No release date has been confirmed. Cassandra Clare has indicated the book's events are linked to the still-unfinished Wicked Powers trilogy, so it isn't expected until that story advances further.

Who is Wesley Chu, Cassandra Clare's co-author on this series?

Wesley Chu is an American science fiction and fantasy author (the Tao series, the War Arts Saga) who co-writes The Eldest Curses with Cassandra Clare.

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