If you’ve ever browsed the young adult section at the bookshop, you may have seen a Cassandra Clare book. In fact, you may have seen many.

Cassandra Clare is the author of The Shadowhunter Chronicles books, a massive franchise which spans four series and multiple collections of short stories. For this reason, getting into her universe can be a bit daunting if you don’t really know what you are doing. But by the end of this guide, you’ll be able to walk into the shop and select exactly what you want.

If you want to start where it all began then The Mortal Instruments is for you.

First published in 2007, this series introduced Shadowhunters (half-angel warriors who fight demons) into the world. The story begins when Clary Fray attends a party with her friend and witnesses a murder. Then she is attacked by demons and drawn into a world of mystery within the Shadowhunters…

★ There are six books in the series, in the following order: City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire.

★ If you’re a fan of Magnus and Alec then you should try The Eldest Curses. In this series, set between City of Glass and City of Fallen Angels, Magnus and Alec track down a demonic cult in Europe. The first book is The Red Scrolls of Magic, the second is The Lost Book of White, and the final instalment is The Black Volume of the Dead, which is yet to be released.

If you loved The Mortal Instruments you will enjoy The Dark Artifices!

It’s set five years after the events of The Mortal Instruments, and follows Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn as they investigate a demonic plot surrounding Los Angeles.

★ Beware! This series was written as a direct sequel to The Mortal Instruments, which needs to be read before venturing into this story. The three books in the series are: Lady Midnight, Lord of Shadows, and Queen of Air and Darkness.

★ If you loved Simon from The Mortal Instruments you should also read Tales From the Shadowhunter Academy. It’s a companion novel and tells the story of Simon after the end of The Mortal Instruments. It also includes some stories of other characters as well, such as those from The Last Hours.

If you love a steampunk fantasy, try The Infernal Devices.

This series tells the story of Tessa Gray, who in 1878 moves from New York to London and becomes caught up in a plot to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mystery, romance and poetry quotations are rife in this series. The Infernal Devices was originally written as a prequel to The Mortal Instruments, however, it can be read on its own.

★ The reading order is Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, and then Clockwork Princess.

★ Then, if you want more of Brother Zachariah from The Infernal Devices then Ghosts of the Shadow Market is for you. It is a collection of short stories which follow Brother Zachariah as he searches for a relic in the Shadow Market, a place of dark dealings and deep secrets.

If you still can’t get enough of The Infernal Devices perhaps read The Last Hours.

Set in London, 1903, The Last Hours follows the direct descendants of The Infernal Devices characters. As it’s a sequel, I would recommend reading The Infernal Devices first.

The story begins when Cordelia Carstairs and her family travel to London to recover their family name after a scandal, and then the city is ravaged by unusual demon attacks. Amidst it all, there’s unrequited love, friendship and many, many secrets…

★ The reading order is as follows: Chain of Gold, Chain of Iron, and Chain of Thorns (out in 2022).

If you’re a die-hard fan of the enigmatic Magnus Bane…

★ Then you need to get into The Bane Chronicles! It’s another collection of short stories which details the colourful events that Magnus gets mixed up in. Ever wondered why he was banned from Peru? Now you can find out!

OR

If you just want to learn more about being a Shadowhunter…

★ There is a book to satiate your thirst: The Shadowhunter’s Codex. It comes complete with everything you’d ever want to know about Shadowhunter history, entries on Downworlders, guides to runes and more!

Finally, if you want something geared towards a younger audience…

Cassandra Clare teamed up with Holly Black to create the Magisterium series. It’s about a boy who discovers that he’s magical and he ends up attending a school for mages - and no, I’m not describing Harry Potter here. That’s what Magisterium is about. And even though the series is intended for late primary-schoolers, I read it at fourteen and still loved it.

★ The reading order is: The Iron Trial, The Copper Gauntlet, The Bronze Key, The Silver Mask, and The Golden Tower.

You may have noticed that Cassandra Clare has written a lot of books. And they’re good ones, too. So now that you know which one to buy, what are you waiting for? Go and get it now!