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Series · romantic fantasy

Shadow and Bone

by Leigh Bardugo

The Shadow and Bone series by Leigh Bardugo has 3 known books (3 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with Shadow and Bone (2012). The latest book with a fully recorded publication date is Ruin and Rising.

Books
3 known books (3 novels)
Published
3
First published
2012
Status
completed
Shelved under
Romance, Fantasy
Last checked

Start here: Shadow and Bone (2012) — then read straight through in publication order.

Book one

Cover of Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone (2012)

Reading order

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

  1. Shadow and Bone

    Novel

    Shadow and Bone (June 2012) launches the trilogy that started the Grishaverse at 352 pages, the shortest of the three, as orphan mapmaker Alina Starkov discovers she's the rare Sun Summoner capable of destroying the Shadow Fold.

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  2. Siege and Storm

    Novel

    At 431 pages, Siege and Storm (June 2013) is the longest of the trilogy, arriving almost exactly a year after Shadow and Bone as Alina is drawn deeper into the Darkling's orbit.

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  3. Ruin and Rising

    Novel

    Ruin and Rising closes Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone trilogy in June 2014 at 427 pages, published a year after Siege and Storm to complete Sun Summoner Alina Starkov's single continuous story. It resolves the war against the Shadow Fold and the love triangle between safety (Mal) and power (the Darkling) that launched the entire Grishaverse, the trilogy Six of Crows and beyond build outward from.

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About the Shadow and Bone series

Alina Starkov is an orphan mapmaker in the war-torn, Tsarist-Russia-inspired kingdom of Ravka when she discovers she's a Sun Summoner -- the one Grisha power rare and strong enough to destroy the Shadow Fold, the swath of magical darkness swallowing her country. Pulled from the army into the opulent, dangerous world of the Grisha, she's trained by the Darkling, the most powerful (and most magnetic) Grisha alive, while her childhood friend Mal searches for her from the other side of the war.

This is the trilogy that launched the entire Grishaverse: a chosen-one arc with real teeth, a morally ambiguous power-versus-love-interest dynamic in the Darkling that became a genre touchstone, and a richly drawn fantasy-Russia setting that still feels distinct years later. The love triangle between safety (Mal) and power (the Darkling) is the emotional spine of the series, and Bardugo doesn't let either option come free of cost.

It's the natural starting point for readers who want epic-fantasy stakes with a romance at the center, before branching out into the wider Grishaverse (Six of Crows and beyond).

Frequently asked questions

How many books are in the Shadow and Bone trilogy?

Three: Shadow and Bone (2012), Siege and Storm (2013), and Ruin and Rising (2014), a complete trilogy.

What order should I read Shadow and Bone in?

Publication order: Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising.

Do I need to read Six of Crows too?

No. Six of Crows is a separate duology in the same Grishaverse with a different cast; many readers enjoy it as an equally good, and darker, entry point.

Is the Shadow and Bone trilogy finished?

Yes, it's a complete three-book story.

Is this the trilogy the Netflix show is based on?

Yes, season 1 of Netflix's Shadow and Bone adapts this trilogy (blended with Six of Crows characters); Netflix cancelled the show before a planned continuation.

Reading order last verified .