Reading Order
Mortal Instrumentsseries.seoTitleShort
Start with City of Bones and continue through all 6 books in the listed reading order.
Start Here
Start with City of Bones
Book 1 by Cassandra Clare • Published 2007
Fifteen year old Clary Fray thinks she is an ordinary New Yorker until she witnesses a demon being killed in a nightclub and her mother disappears. Drawn into the Shadowhunters’ war, she races to find the Mortal Cup a...
Complete List
Mortal Instruments reading order
Ends with City of Heavenly Fire
- 1
Book 1:City of Bones
Cassandra Clare • 2007
Fifteen year old Clary Fray thinks she is an ordinary New Yorker until she witnesses a demon being killed in a nightclub and her mother disappears. Drawn into the Shadowhunters’ war, she races to find the Mortal Cup a...
- 2
Book 2:City of Ashes
Cassandra Clare • 2008
Clary is still reeling from the secrets she has learned when a string of murdered Downworlder children points to her father, Valentine. As the Clave questions Jace’s loyalty, Clary must master new powers to stop anoth...
- 3
Book 3:City of Glass
Cassandra Clare • 2009
To save her mother, Clary breaks every rule and travels to the Shadowhunter city of Alicante. There she uncovers more of Valentine’s past, confronts her own origins, and helps lead a final stand that will decide the f...
- 4
Book 4:City of Fallen Angels
Cassandra Clare • 2011
Peace after the Mortal War does not last long. While Clary trains as a Shadowhunter, Simon is hunted for the power of the Mark of Cain, and a new enemy uses his friends, his family, and a deadly cult to draw him into...
- 5
Book 5:City of Lost Souls
Cassandra Clare • 2012
Jace has vanished, and when he finally appears he is bound body and soul to Clary’s murderous brother, Sebastian. Clary infiltrates their dangerous alliance while her friends search for a way to sever the bond before...
- 6
Book 6:City of Heavenly Fire
Cassandra Clare • 2014
Sebastian Morgenstern launches a brutal campaign, turning Shadowhunters into his Endarkened army and attacking Institutes around the world. Clary, Jace, Simon, and the others journey into the demon realm of Edom for a...
Quick Answers
Mortal Instruments FAQ
What is the best order to read the Mortal Instruments series?
The recommended reading order is the numbered order shown on this page, starting with City of Bones.
How many books are in the Mortal Instruments series?
There are 6 books currently listed in the Mortal Instruments series on GurusReads.
Where should I start with the Mortal Instruments series?
New readers should start with City of Bones, the first book in the reading order.
Is the Mortal Instruments series complete?
Based on the publication years we have, the series appears likely complete and spans releases from 2007 to 2014.