Best Cassandra Clare Books Ranked 2026

Last updated on 7 January 2026

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I can’t remember the first time I read a Cassandra Clare book, but it wouldn’t have been too long after her first book, City of Bones, was released. I would have only been between the ages of 16 and 18 at the time, and my friend suggested I read it. And I loved it. And I read the rest of them that were out (probably only 3 at the time), and have read all her books ever since. This is the perfect opportunity for me to give some thoughts on these, the best Cassandra Clare books ranked, and see if I would change the order at all.

Like all these lists of ‘best books’ I’ve done, it’s good to point out that these are voted upon, so the older books usually have more votes, simply because they’ve been around for a longer period of time.

So just keep them in mind – we’re more likely to see Cassandra Clare’s first books higher up the list. Of course, there are more than this (Cassandra Clare is a prolific writer!) but we’d be here all day if I listed more than 20. So! Here are the top 20 best Cassandra Clare books ranked, by you and the people of Goodreads*.

20 Best Cassandra Clare Books Ranked

We have got a MEGA list to go through, so let’s dive in!

20. Ghosts of the Shadow Market (2019)

I actually really enjoyed this one and would definitely move it up the list. The world that Clare has created, dating back to that first book, City of Bones, is absolutely FULL of characters. Over the decades of her writing stories with these characters, they tend to overlap into each other’s stories, or they’re connected in some way. Which means there are a LOT of untold stories out there in this world.

Something Clare started doing with the release of The Bane Chronicles (I think that was the first one?) was compiling short stories into one book. Ghosts of the Shadowmarket are short stories all centred around the infamous Shadowmarket in the books, and I really enjoyed reading them. There are 10 stories in this compilation, many of which are written by other authors, too.

19. Sword Catcher (2023)

This is the only book in this list that is NOT part of her Shadowhunters series. Sword Catcher is the first in a new series by Clare, and while I have it on my bookshelf, I have yet to read it. But it’s another fantasy book, with some romance, that I’m really looking forward to …. when I get around to reading it. 🙈

18. The Red Scrolls of Magic (The Eldest Curses, #1) (2019)

Ah a spin-off series! The Eldest Curses series which starts here with The Red Scrolls of Magic follows warlord Magnus Bane and his partner/boyfriend Alec Lightwood. This pairing is a favourite among fans, so it was really fun to have their own series where it was just them gallivanting around the world.

This book and the ones that follow are co-written with Wesley Chu. Also this book is super short (about 350 pages, from memory) and compared to her other books that usually come in around 800, it was a breeze to read.

17. Chain of Thorns (The Last Hours, #3) (2023)

The first in a ‘main’ series in this list! Chain of Thorns is the final book in The Last Hours books, and I really enjoyed this series. It follows on from the Infernal Devices series, which is set back in 1900s London, and is about the kids of the characters in TID. I think the reason I really enjoyed this series was because it was the 1900s but also because I loved the characters in TID so much, and they in TLH, but older.

I understand why this is a lot farther down the line than some of the other books – it’s a lot newer, just hitting the shelves in 2023. As opposed to the above Ghosts of the Shadow Market for example, or even the below Red Scrolls of Magic, which were both pre-2020s. Fewer people have been voting for books on Goodreads, whereas the older books have had time to gather those votes.

Of course, it could also mean that lots of people don’t enjoy it, but I’ll tell myself it’s the former. 🤣

16. Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy (2016)

Another compilation book, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, is literally what it sounds like: stories from Simon Lewis’ time at the Shadowhunter Academy. It’s not just about Simon, though, and we learn a bunch of different backstories from characters in the other ‘main’ series and their own time at the Academy.

Books like these the other short story compilations aren’t necessary to the main story, but they do add a little something-something to the world-building and the character forming.

15. Chain of Iron (The Last Hours, #2) (2021)

Chain of Iron comes in next in the rankings of best Cassie Clare books, and again, it’s possibly due to it being one of the newer ones. But regardless, I did really enjoy is series, as I mentioned before.

I’ll talk a little bit more about what the series is about when we get to the first book down below, but I do just want to point out that I think the characters in this series are some of Clare’s best. They’re similar, and they have similar tropes and characteristics of most of her other books – there’s always the ‘hero’, the clown, the beautiful girl, the love triangle, the down-with-the-leaders type character etc – but they were just a joy to read in this series, I think.

14. The Bane Chronicles (2014)

Speaking of compilations, here is The Bane Chronicles, 14. These stories give so much backstory to the warlock Magnus Bane (hence the name of the book), and there are answers to questions that we have throughout both the Mortal Instruments series and the Infernal Devices series that are answers – or semi-answered – in this book. Again, it’s one that you don’t need to read, but it’s nice to have that background information and some more of what makes Magnus tick, and why.

13. Chain of Gold (The Last Hours, #1) (2020)

And here’s the first in The Last Hours series. This book reminded me about my love of The Infernal Devices series, and I was super excited to read it back in 2020 when it came out. There is a lot going on in this series – demon hunting, messy romances, ghosts, necromancy… And there are fake marriages, resurrections, and brewing love triangles. Plus a murder mystery is thrown in for good measure. And it’s set in the 1900s. What’s not to love?

12. Queen of Air and Darkness (The Dark Artifices, #3) (2018)

Now we’re getting to the series that I didn’t love. It was okay, and I think enjoyed it for the most part, but there were far too many characters (more so than usual I thought) and the storyline wasn’t as gripping as some of the others. I really struggled through this, Queen of Air and Darkness, the final in the series, too, so I would definitely bump this down in the list.

11. Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices, #2) (2017)

Lord of Shadows is the second in The Dark Artifices book, and though I gave it 4 stars, looking back it was probably more like a 3 stars. The Blackthorn family – all 7 kids. 7!) – are the main focus of this series, along with main leading lady for this series, Emma Carstairs. Julian Blackthorn and Emma embark on a journey into the Faerie courts in search of a powerful spell book in this one, and while it was okaaaaay, again. Not my fave.

10. Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices, #1) (2016)

Lady Midnight introduces us to Emma Carstairs as she investigates the murders of her parents in Los Angeles with the help of her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, and the aforementioned Blackthorn family. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they uncover a web of secrets and danger, complicated further by the return of Mark Blackthorn and a Faerie bargain that could change everything. Dun dun dun! I actually did really enjoy this one, I just think the series went downhill from here.

9. City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments, #6) (2014)

The final book in the series that started it all! Cassandra Clare actually wrote and published the last 3 books in this 6-book series after The Infernal Devices series. I think originally it was going to be a trilogy (don’t quote me on that one) and then she decided to keep it going. City of Heavenly Fire ends the series with the main villain Sebastian Morgenstern back in baddy action. The squad also have to travel into the demon realms in this one, so it’s pretty intense!

We actually also meet Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn for the first time in this book, too, and in my review I mention that there are too many Blackthorn children to keep track of – having no idea that in 2 years time, I was going to be reading all about those many children.

8. Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3) (2013)

Clockwork Princess ends The Infernal Devices series, with the London Shadowhunters up against Mortmain’s (the bad guy in this series) creepy army of automatons. Tessa Gray (the main character) gets kidnapped by Mortmain, leaving her two admirers, Jem and Will, scrambling to save her.

The ending of this book (no spoilers!) was beautiful, and I just absolutely love the characters in this series. Jem shows up a lot in the Shadowhunter world, and Will is one of my favourite characters from all the books.

7. City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5) (2012)

Back flip-flopping in our list of best Cassandra Clare books to The Mortal Instruments, and we have City of Lost Souls, which is book 5, coming in at place 7. Gonna be honest, I had to look up what happens in this book. Ha. it’s been so long since I read it! From what I do remember, I really enjoyed it. I’ve given it 5 stars but remember I would have been about 20 when I read this.

6. Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2) (2011)

Clockwork Prince follows on from Clockwork Angel and we’re back in Victorian London, Tessa finally finds a home with the Shadowhunters, but it all comes a bit unravelled when the Clave threatens her guardian, Charlotte. Teaming up with Will and Jem, Tessa uncovers the Magister’s personal vendetta against the Shadowhunters, leading them on a wild ride full of secrets, betrayal, and eye-opening truths about her own identity.

This was a brilliant addition to Clockwork Angel,  and I remember at the time being so pumped to read it. The concept behind the villain in this story is so of its time (more on that below when we look at Angel) and I don’t think at the time that I’d read many sort of steam-punk-esque stories. While I would definitely move this series above The Moral Instruments, I’m glad it made it to the top 10.

5. City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments, #4) (2011)

Apparently for books 4 – 6 in The Mortal Instruments series, I didn’t even write reviews on. Which isn’t helpful for me trying to remember what I thought of them. But! City of Fallen Angels, from the little I do remember, was almost like the start of a new series and not just book 4 in a 6-book series.  There’s a war at the end of the third book, and the events of this one happen afterwards. Clary is undertaking Shadowhunter training now, but then tensions arise between the Shaodhunters and Downworlders … and I think that’s mostly what this one is about.

4. Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1) (2010)

In Clockwork Angel we’re introduced to Tessa Grey, who arrives from New York in London to find her missing brother. She discovers her ability to Change and is rescued by Shadowhunter William Herondale, which throws her into a world of the Shadowhunters and also a looming clockwork army. The era, the steam-punk vibes, the characters … I loved this series and this book! Glad it made it to the top 5.

3. City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2) (2008)

The second in the Mortal Instruments series was released just 1 year after the first (honestly – I don’t know how she pumps them out!) and continued on with the story in book 1. City of Ashes has Clary just wanting things to go back to normal. But she’s in the Shadowhunter world now, and her mum is a weird magical coma and her best friend Simon is back in the human world asking questions, and her dad turns out to be the rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, possibly behind some creepy child murders. With the Soul-Sword missing and an Inquisitor on their tails, Clary has to figure out how to stop her dad.

This book was a bit weird in that we have Clary and Chase going from very close in relationship to potentially brother and sister. It’s a whole thing. A whole unnecessary thing.

2. City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, #3) (2009)

Then City of Glass has them running around the forbidden City of Glass to save Clary’s mum, and Simon’s stuck in jail because the Shadowhunters don’t trust a vampire who can handle sunlight (oh yeah Simon’s a vampire now). They gotta take on Valentine and his army (along with new mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian), even if it means putting aside old grudges between Shadowhunters and Downworlders.

I wanna say this was better than City of Ashes. And it all came together in the end, enough that it could have been a trilogy, I think.

1. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1) (2007)

And the book that started it all. And the oldest book. And why it’s probably the best book by Cassandra Clare, ranked by the people of Goodreads. While I would disagree, and you’ve probably picked up on that already if you’ve read this whole post, I do see why it’s still at the top. It was the start of everything that followed. I think it did take a little while for her to find her groove in the world she was creating, it was a really great start, and I thoroughly enjoyed this series.

We meet Clary for the first time when she suddenly starts seeing things she shouldn’t be seeing and is tossed into the Shadowhunter world, whether she wants to be there or not.

I don’t think the 2013 movie adaptation was very good at all, I actually quite liked the Shadowhunters TV show. Ha. It wasn’t great (tonnes better than the movie, though), but it was one of those ones where you could watch and enjoy it because it wasn’t great. You know?

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Would I change the order of these Cassie Clare books?

I actually would! I love the Infernal Devices a lot more than Moral Instruments, and I didn’t love The Dark Artifices series. I’d move some of the compilations of stories ahead of that series, especially Ghosts of the Shadowmarket. And all of The Last Hours, too.

What order should you read Cassandra Clare books in?

The age-old question! I recommend reading them in publication order, actually. Penguin Teen has 4 ways you can read them. But if you want to read them chronologically, here’s how you would do that with the main series:

1. Clockwork Angel
2. Clockwork Prince
3. Clockwork Princess
4. Chain of Gold
5. Chain of Iron
6. Chain of Thorns
7. City of Bones
8. City of Ashes
9. City of Glass
10. The Red Scrolls of Magic
11. City of Fallen Angels
12. City of Lost Souls
13. City of Heavenly Fire
14. The Lost Book of the White (not mentioned in the above list)
15. Lady Midnight
16. Lord of Shadows
17. Queen of Air and Darkness

Of course, that doesn’t include the compilation stories, but those span across time anyway.

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How many of these books have YOU read? And what do you think about this ranking of Cassandra Clare’s best books? What would you change? 

*I looked at Cassandra Clare’s author page on Goodreads and sorted the books she’d written by popularity to get this list.