Red Queen Series Order: 2 Ways to Read Victoria Aveyard’s Books

I jumped on the Red Queen bandwagon very early, and—despite the divided opinions from readers—I honestly enjoyed all four main books. But once you factor in the novellas, things get a little less “just read the next one” and a lot more “wait… what’s the proper Red Queen series order?”

If you haven’t read a single book yet, you’ve basically got two solid options, and which one you pick depends on how spoiler-sensitive you are (and how much you like seeing the author’s world expand in the order it was released).

The first is to read in publication order, and the second is chronological order.

Jump to:

• Red Queen Series in Publication Order
• Red Queen Series in Chronological Order
• What is Red Queen about?
• Screen Adaptations
• Red Queen Series FAQ

Red Queen Series in Publication Order

This is the Red Queen reading order I used and it’s a perfectly solid way to experience the series. It’s also the one I recommend if this is your first time reading, since you’ll hit the twists and reveals the way Aveyard originally rolled them out.

Quick note before you scroll: the novellas are now bundled into a single collection, so the novella links below will all point to that same volume. I’m still listing them separately so you know exactly when each one fits in the order. You can buy the first two individually, but if you’re planning to read the novellas at all, I’d just grab Broken Throne and be done with it.

1. Red Queen (2015)
   Queen Song (2015) (Novella)
   Steel Scars (2016) (Novella)
2. Glass Sword (2016)
3. King’s Cage (2017)
4. War Storm (2018)
   World Behind (2019) (Novella)
   Iron Heart (2019) (Novella)
   Fire Light (2019) (Novella)
   Fare Well (2019) (Bonus Scene)

Extras
Red Queen Coloring Book
Red Queen Collector’s Edition
Glass Sword Collector’s Edition

Do I Need to Read the Novellas?

If the above list looks a little confusing, we’ll break it down even further.

No, the novellas are not required reading to understand the story. If you are a person that doesn’t like novellas (like me), then you don’t have to read them. They provide added insight into characters from the main story, such as Cal’s mother (Queen Song) or Captain Farley (Steel Scars).

So what books do I need if I’m ignoring the novellas?

Here is the Red Queen series in order without novellas:

1. Red Queen (2015)
2. Glass Sword (2016)
3. King’s Cage (2017)
4. War Storm (2018)

That’s it. Those are the four main novels in the series. Nothing else is necessary. They’re even sold in a box set to make things simple.

Where Does Cruel Crown Fit?

Cruel Crown combines together the first two novellas, Queen Song and Steel Scars.

Now that all five novellas are bundled into the Broken Throne collection, you don’t need to buy Cruel Crown. In fact, I recommend against doing so.

Since Broken Throne contains novellas you can’t purchase anywhere else, and is the only way to enjoy the full Red Queen series order with all of the novellas, you’re just wasting money if you buy Cruel Crown.

Why, then, did they release Cruel Crown?

The first two novellas were written a full 3-4 years before the latter ones. Cruel Crown was a result of making it easier to buy the original novellas. After the release of the later novellas, Cruel Crown became obsolete.

Red Queen Series in Chronological Order

What follows is the Red Queen series order laid out as a timeline of events. It’s not going to be 100% “to-the-minute” perfect, because some novellas (and a few scenes) overlap with the main novels—but it’s as close as you can realistically get without slicing chapters into pieces.

Spoiler warning: reading the Red Queen series in chronological order can reveal information earlier than the publication order intended, especially with the novellas. That’s why I don’t recommend this timeline for first-time readers—and for the love of all things Norta, do not read “Queen Song” before Red Queen.

But if you’re a fan who’s coming back for a re-read and you want everything in the cleanest possible timeline, this is the reading order for you.

1. Queen Song (Novella)
2. Steel Scars (Novella)
3. Red Queen
4. Glass Sword
5. World Behind (Novella)
6. King’s Cage
7. War Storm
8. Fare Well (Bonus Scene)
9. Iron Heart (Novella)
10. Fire Light (Novella)

Extras

• Red Queen Coloring Book
• Red Queen Collector’s Edition
• Glass Sword Collector’s Edition

What is the Red Queen series about?

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard is the first book in her debut YA fantasy series, set in a world where status is literally in your blood. Mare Barrow’s world is divided by blood—Reds serving a Silver elite with superhuman abilities—until she discovers she has a power of her own.

That one twist throws her straight into the royal court, where the Silvers can’t let a “nobody” like Mare exist without controlling the story. To keep their secrets (and her) contained, they force her into a dangerous new identity inside the palace—while a rebellion called the Scarlet Guard is growing louder outside it.

At its core, Red Queen is equal parts class rebellion and court politics, with secrets and shifting alliances driving the tension. If you like YA that mixes superpowers, royalty drama, and the constant feeling that everyone has an agenda, this is exactly that lane.

Red Queen Screen Adaptations

For years, the Red Queen series has been “in the works” for the screen in one form or another. The rights were first picked up as a film project by Universal Pictures, but the more recent (and most concrete) version is a TV adaptation in development at Peacock.

As last publicly reported in May 2021, Elizabeth Banks is attached to executive produce, direct, and appear on-screen, and Beth Schwartz is set to co-write the pilot with Victoria Aveyard and serve as showrunner.

Because adaptations can sit in development for a long time (or change platforms/teams), I treat this as “in development unless and until there’s casting, a production start, or an official release window.”

Red Queen Series FAQ

How many books are in the Red Queen series?

There are four main novels in the core story arc. After that, you’ve also got companion/extra content collected into Broken Throne, which is where most readers get tripped up—because it’s often sold alongside the main four like it’s “book five.”

Is the Red Queen series finished?

The main storyline wraps with War Storm, so you’re not jumping into an unfinished four-book cliffhanger situation. Broken Throne is best thought of as additional stories and bonus material that expand the world rather than “the next main sequel.”

What age is Red Queen appropriate for?

It’s YA, but it’s definitely on the older-teen side of YA: violence, danger, deaths, and some romantic tension. For most families, it’s a “know your reader” book—fine for teens who already read YA fantasy/dystopian, but probably not the best pick for a younger middle-grade reader.

Looking for more books in order?

If you want more fantasy authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Fantasy Books in Order index.

• Books in Order (Full Index)
• Cosmere Books in Order
• Throne of Glass Books in Order
• Leigh Bardugo Books in Order