Broken Kingdoms reading order
Start here
Curse of Shadows and Thorns
2021
Broken Kingdoms reading order: Curse of Shadows and Thorns first. Later kingdoms look like a new series. The Ever King is not book one.
Short answer · Start here
Curse of Shadows and Thorns
It is book one. The later kingdoms assume that first northern war. Do not start with Night of Masks and Knives because a new couple is on the cover. Do not start with The Ever King.
Short version of the door: Where to start Broken Kingdoms. This page is the nine.
Nine novels, four kingdoms, four couples. Andrews’s reading-order page lists them in one line. Publication order is the first-read path. Each new kingdom looks like a fresh series. It is not.
The Ever Seas is the next generation. Andrews has said you can start there. This house does not. The Ever King spends parents you have not met.
The nine novels
| # | Title | Year | Notes | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Curse of Shadows and ThornsStart here | 2021 | Start here. Northern kingdom. | |
| 2 | Court of Ice and Ash | 2021 | ||
| 3 | Crown of Blood and Ruin | 2022 | Closes the first couple. | |
| 4 | Night of Masks and Knives | 2022 | Eastern kingdom. Not a new book one. | |
| 5 | Game of Hate and Lies | 2022 | ||
| 6 | Dance of Kings and Thieves | 2022 | ||
| 7 | Den of Blades and Briars | 2023 | Southern kingdom. | |
| 8 | Reign of Stars and Fire | 2023 | ||
| 9 | Song of Sorrows and Fate | 2024 | Western close for this generation. |
Read them in this order. The author’s series page says the experience is best in order.
Extras — after, not before
| Title | Year | Notes | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonds of Fate | 2024 | Bonus novella. After the nine. Not book 0. | |
| These Wicked CrownsDo not start here | 2024 | Holiday extra. Shared with Ever Seas. Not an on-ramp. |
Prequel shorts that get numbered 0.5 on fan charts (These Cruel Vows and neighbors) are extras. Do not start there.
Ever Seas — later generation
Andrews’s page lists The Ever King, The Ever Queen, The Mist Thief, The Stolen Crown, and later Ever Seas books after this set. They follow children of these couples.
House rule: read the nine. If you want the children, The Ever King after Song of Sorrows and Fate. Do not open The Ever King because TikTok said it was the better door.
Broken Souls and Bones and Of Mischief and Mages are different Andrews shelves.
Common mistakes
- Starting with Night of Masks and Knives because the Cinderella pair is the one people talk about.
- Starting with The Ever King because the pirate cover is newer.
- Treating book four as Broken Kingdoms 1 of a spin-off you can read first.
- Mixing Of Mischief and Mages into the numbered column.
What to read next
- From Blood and Ash (Jennifer L. Armentrout) — If you want another long romantasy run with a correct first book.
- Lady of Darkness (Melissa K. Roehrich) — If you want another completed dark-court shelf whose later extras look like book one. Start at Lady of Darkness (2021), not The Reaper.
- Zodiac Academy (Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti) — If you want another long romantasy campus with neighboring series that pretend to be the door.
- The Empyrean (Rebecca Yarros) — If you want another unfinished-feeling romantasy with a strict first book.
- Stop after Crown of Blood and Ruin. The first couple is a complete visit. The later kingdoms are optional appetite.
FAQ
Can I start at book four?
You can. You will spend three books standing on a war you never walked through. This house does not.
Do I need Ever Seas?
No. This generation ends at Song of Sorrows and Fate.
Does Andrews say Ever Seas first is fine?
Yes. This house still starts at Curse of Shadows and Thorns.
Sources
- L.J. Andrews, official reading order — nine Broken Kingdoms novels, then Ever Seas. Opened 2026-09-13.
- L.J. Andrews, The Broken Kingdoms — author series hub; read in order. Opened 2026-09-13.
Common questions
Asked about this shelf
- Where to start Broken Kingdoms
Curse of Shadows and Thorns
Same shelf
