If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

The Grishaverse: How to read Shadow & Bone and the rest of Leigh Bardugo’s epic literary universe in release and chronological order

How to read Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse in release and chronological order

Guides by Joshua Lapin-Bertone, Contributing writer

Published on Mon Oct 27 2025

Popverse's top stories

Who says that science and fantasy don’t mix?

From the creative mind of Leigh Bardugo, the Grishaverse is a literary universe filled with stories that combine science and fantasy to create some of the most engaging stories in the fantasy genre. Journey to far away lands like Ravka and Ketterdam, where you’ll meet colorful characters like Alina Starkov, a soldier discovering her dormant powers, and Kaz Brekker, a criminal who is always prepared for his next heist.

The success of the Grishaverse has resulted in many awards and accolades for Leigh Bardugo, including a 2019 Inkpot Award. It’s also led to the Shadow and Bone series being adapted as a Netflix show.

If any of this has gotten you curious about the Grishaverse, Popverse is here to help you get started on your reading journey. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about starting Leigh Bardugo’s epic literary saga.

How to read the Grishaverse in release order

The Grishaverse began in 2012 with Shadow and Bone, and it’s been growing ever since. If you’re looking to read Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse in publishing order, simply follow this list. If a Grishaverse short story is included in an anthology, it’s not listed here, since the anthology itself is listed. For example, The Witch of Duva is included in The Language of Thorns anthology, so we don’t have it listed separately. In contrast, The Tailor is not collected in any anthology, so we’ve included it as a standalone title on this list. Folktales from Ravka is a collection of previously published material, so it’s not included on this list.

With that, here’s the release order for Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse.

Shadow and Bone (2012 novel)
Siege and Storm (2013 novel)
The Tailor (2013 short story)
Ruin and Rising (2014 novel)
The Demon in the Wood (2014 short story)
Six of Crows (2015 novel)
Crooked Kingdom (2016 novel)
The Language of Thorns (2017 anthology)
King of Scars (2019 novel)
The Lives of Saints (2020 companion book)
Rule of Wolves (2021 novel)
Demon in the Wood (2022 graphic novel)

How to read the Grishaverse in chronological order

While all the Grishaverse books are in the same continuity, not all of them are directly connected. While some characters and concepts carry over, each series has their own protagonist and overarching storyline. This section of the guide shows which books are connected and how the rest of them fit into the overarching universe.

The Shadow and Bone Trilogy

The first books in Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse. The Shadow and Bone Trilogy (which was adapted into a Netflix series) focuses on a Ravka soldier named Alina Starkov who discovers she has magical powers.

Shadow and Bone
Siege and Storm
Ruin and Rising

The Six of Crows Duology

Set two years after the events of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, the story follows a new group of characters in Ketterdam. The main character is a criminal prodigy named Kaz Brekker, who is planning the ultimate heist.

Six of Crows
Crooked Kingdom

The King of Scars Duology

This duology is set in Ravka, the kingdom where Shadow and Bone took place. One year after the events of The Six of Crows Duology, the story follows a king named Nikolai Lantsov who struggles to rebuild his kingdom after a bloody civil war.

King of Scars
Rule of Wolves

Where the rest of the books fit in

The Language of Thorns – An anthology of short stories that take place throughout the Grishaverse timeline.
The Lives of Saints – An illustrated companion book that gives a deeper dive into the Grishaverse saints.
Demon in the Wood – A prequel to Shadow and Bone, focusing on Aleksnder Morozova’s life before he became the Darkling.

Is Shadow and Bone spicy?

The Shadow and Bone trilogy isn’t spicy. There are some tender moments and plenty of kisses, but nothing too explicit. Sex is mentioned, but it isn’t ever depicted on page. As one Reddit user put it, Shadow and Bone is as spicy as a glass of semi-skimmed milk.

Is David Kostyk on the autism spectrum?

There has never been any confirmation that David Kostyk is on the autism spectrum, but many readers believe he is. Readers have noted his difficulty in reading social situations, hyperfixations, and other signs. Neurodivergent readers say they identify with David, and appreciate the way Bardugo presents him. Bardugo has spoken about putting neurodivergent characters in her books, but she’s never explicitly stated that David was one of them. Until the author says otherwise, it all depends on reader interpretation

Do I need to read all the Grishaverse books to understand it?

No, you don’t need to read every Grishaverse book. The Grishaverse isn’t a series, it’s a literary universe made up of multiple series. Some of the series are connected, while some aren’t. For example, the Six of Crows duology focuses on a different group of characters than the ones we meet in the Shadow and Bone trilogy. Reading every book will help you catch some of the Easter eggs and give you a better understanding of the universe, but you can also stick with one series without getting lost.

If you’re unsure on which books are connected, please refer to the chronological section of our guide.

Can a 13-year-old read Six of Crows?

Every 13-year-old is different, so determining if Six of Crows is appropriate depends on the person. The Six of Crows duology contains violent moments, including a scene where someone’s eye is plucked out. There is cursing and references to brothels. Many online guides waiting until your child is middle school age before letting them read Six of Crows. If you believe your 13-year-old is mature enough to handle the content, then I wouldn’t worry about it.

When is Leigh Bardugo’s next Grishaverse book coming out?

As of this writing, the next Grishaverse book hasn’t been announced. Bardugo says that the next book will likely be a third entry in the Six of Crows series, but she wants to spend time on other projects before returning to the universe. "For me, a third Six of Crows is a big someday,” Bardugo tells Collider. “I have an idea for the plot of it, and I've had it for a long time.”

“When I wrote Rule of Wolves, I had every intention of writing that third book. But for me, the Grishaverse has gotten a little crowded at this point and a little noisy. And there are other projects that I want to work on. And for me, I don't want to write that book with those characters until I really want to do it. I don't want it to be because I need to redo my kitchen. I want it to be something that my heart actually speaks to and that I'm ready to do. Because they mean a great deal to me, and I know that they matter to a lot of readers. So that's a maybe. It's a big maybe."

Want to know what's coming up next in pop culture? Check out Popverse's guides to:

Follow Popverse for upcoming event coverage and news

Joshua Lapin-Bertone: Joshua is a pop culture writer specializing in comic book media. His work has appeared on the official DC Comics website, the DC Universe subscription service, HBO Max promotional videos, the Batman Universe fansite, and more. In between traveling around the country to cover various comic conventions, Joshua resides in Florida where he binges superhero television and reads obscure comics from yesteryear.