How to Read the Grishaverse Novels by Leigh Bardugo in Order

1

Square Fish Shadow and Bone

1

Square Fish Shadow and Bone

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The entire Grishaverse starts with this book. Here, we meet a young mapmaker named Alina Starkov and her best friend, Malyen Oretsev. We quickly learn that Alina is no ordinary cartographer, but a Grisha, a human capable of superhero-like power. And she's not just any Grisha, she's the Sun Summoner—ostensibly capable of destroying the Shadow Fold. 

2

Square Fish Siege and Storm

2

Square Fish Siege and Storm

Picking up where both the Shadow and Bone book and Netflix series each leave off, Siege and Storm follows Alina and Mal as they attempt to evade the wicked Darkling’s clutches. Along the way, they meet a ship captain named Sturmhond who turns out to be far more regal than they’d expected.

3

Square Fish Ruin and Rising

3

Square Fish Ruin and Rising

After a catastrophic showdown with the Darkling, Alina and her followers are forced underground. Weakened, Alina attempts to piece together a broken army to find a legendary creature in the hopes it can save both her people and her world. 

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4

Square Fish Six of Crows

4

Square Fish Six of Crows

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Miles away from the brewing conflict in Ravka is Ketterdam, a merchant’s paradise on the shores of the island Kerch. There, Kaz Brekker is an accomplished criminal, overseeing the Crow Club casino and his crew of Dregs, under the leadership of Per Haskell. When an impossible heist is put into Kaz’s hands, the promise of riches lures Inej Ghafa, Jesper Fahey, and Nina Zenik into the battle with him. They enlist the help of Fjerdan Matthias Helvar and the young Wylan Van Eck to make a run for the Ice Court, where they plan to kidnap a priceless prisoner. 

5

Square Fish Crooked Kingdom

5

Square Fish Crooked Kingdom

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A successful heist isn’t enough to keep the Crows out of trouble, and at the beginning of this sequel, they find themselves double-crossed and stripped of options. Worst of all, Inej is gone, and Kaz is hell-bent on getting her back. Ketterdam is heating up as powerful enemies join together in search of an even more powerful drug—and the Crows are right in the middle of the fight. 

6

Imprint King of Scars

6

Imprint King of Scars

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In the wake of Ravka’s civil war, young king Nikolai Lantsov struggles to restore his country’s prosperity while exorcising the terrible legacy within himself. As he fights for the Grisha army alongside Zoya Nazyalensky, he realizes keeping secrets is easier said than done. 

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7

Imprint Rule of Wolves

7

Imprint Rule of Wolves

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As Fjerda prepares to unleash an attack on Nikolai’s country, he must depend on Zoya and Nina, both mourning unspeakable losses, to defend the land and the people they all love. 

8

Imprint The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic

8

Imprint The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic

Now 56% Off

In this spin-off collection of illustrated short stories, Bardugo imagines the fairy tales and legends that children of the Grishaverse might have heard growing up. It’s best to read this book after finishing the rest of the series, so you’ll have a greater appreciation of what each tale means. 

9

Imprint The Lives of Saints

9

Imprint The Lives of Saints

Now 16% Off

In Shadow and Bone, Alina uses a book called The Lives of Saints to learn about the holy figures in her universe. Manifested directly from her hands, this is a keepsake from the Grishaverse—a collection of illustrated stories that will draw you deeper into Bardugo’s imagination.

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10

Imprint The Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of Magic

10

Imprint The Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of Magic

Now 41% Off

For those who love to write—or at least imagine themselves with Grisha powers—this is a Grishaverse journal, filled with writing prompts for each day of the year. Although it’s not a Grishaverse novel in the traditional sense, it’s still an essential way to learn more about Alina Starkov’s world and the powers that bind it together. 

Lauren Puckett-Pope is a staff culture writer at ELLE, where she primarily covers film, television and books. She was previously an associate editor at ELLE. 

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