Better Pets
picture-book · First published 2026
Author guide
Leigh Bardugo Books in Order
Leigh Bardugo is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and the creator of the Grishaverse, encompassing the Shadow and Bone trilogy, Six of Crows duology, King of Scars duology, and companion works. Her other fiction includes the Alex Stern trilogy, Wonder Woman: Warbringer, and The Familiar. She has also written illustrated children's books, graphic works, journals, and short fiction appearing in anthologies. She lives in Los Angeles and is an associate fellow of Pauli Murray College at Yale University.
fantasyyoung adult fictionadult fictionchildren's literaturegraphic novelsshort fictionnonfiction
Catalog record updated .
Leigh Bardugo's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Shadow and Bone
The official Grishaverse reading order begins with this first book of the Shadow and Bone trilogy.
Six of Crows
The official site says this duology can be started independently, though it may spoil events from the Shadow and Bone trilogy.
Ninth House
The first book in the Alex Stern trilogy and a separate adult-fiction entry point.
The Familiar
A standalone historical fantasy novel.
Read in order
Books by series
universe · ongoing
The Grishaverse
A shared fantasy universe containing the Shadow and Bone, Six of Crows, and King of Scars series, along with illustrated and other companion works.
- 1 Shadow and Bone
Book 1 · novel · 2012
Discover the adventure that started it all and meet Alina, Mal, and the Darkling in Shadow and Bone from #1 bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo. Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Orphaned and expendable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may…
- 2 Siege and Storm
Book 2 · novel · 2013
Enter the Grishaverse with Book Two of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Alina Starkov’s power has grown, but not without a price. She is…
- 3 Ruin and Rising
Book 3 · novel · 2014
The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne. Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army. Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a…
- 4 Six of Crows
Book 4 · novel · 2015
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his…
- 5 Crooked Kingdom
Book 5 · novel · 2016
Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is…
- 6 King of Scars
Book 6 · novel · 2019
Face your demons...or feed them. The dashing young king, Nikolai Lantsov, has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather…
- 7 Rule of Wolves
Book 7 · novel · 2021
The Demon King. As Fjerda's massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm - and even the monster within - to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young…
- 8 The Language of Thorns
Book 8 · short-story-collection · 2017
- 9 The Lives of Saints
Book 9 · illustrated-collection · 2020
Bestselling author Leigh Bardugo takes readers deeper into her world than ever before. Out of the pages of the Shadow and Bone trilogy, from the hands of Alina Starkov to yours, the Istorii Sankt’ya is fully realized for the first time.…
- 10 The Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of Magic
Book 10 · journal · 2019
Find the magic in your life with this year-long journal. On every page you will find an introspective question to respond to, or an evocative quotation from the novels of the Grishaverse―a magical world created by bestselling author Leigh…
- 11 Demon in the Wood: A Shadow and Bone Graphic Novel
Book 11 · graphic-novel · 2022
Discover the start of a grand and sinister destiny in Demon in the Wood, the must-have graphic novel prequel to the bestselling book series and international Netflix sensation Shadow and Bone from spectacular new talent Dani Pendergast…
- 12 Six of Crows: A Darker Shore
Book 12 · short-story · 2026
trilogy · complete
Shadow and Bone Trilogy
The trilogy following Alina Starkov as she discovers her power and confronts the Shadow Fold.
- 1 Shadow and Bone
Book 1 · novel · 2012
Discover the adventure that started it all and meet Alina, Mal, and the Darkling in Shadow and Bone from #1 bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo. Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Orphaned and expendable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may…
- 2 Siege and Storm
Book 2 · novel · 2013
Enter the Grishaverse with Book Two of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Alina Starkov’s power has grown, but not without a price. She is…
- 3 Ruin and Rising
Book 3 · novel · 2014
The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne. Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army. Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a…
duology · complete
Six of Crows Duology
A duology about Kaz Brekker and his crew of outcasts undertaking an impossible heist and its aftermath.
- 1 Six of Crows
Book 1 · novel · 2015
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his…
- 2 Crooked Kingdom
Book 2 · novel · 2016
Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is…
duology · complete
King of Scars Duology
The continuation of the Grishaverse centered on Nikolai Lantsov, Zoya Nazyalensky, and Nina Zenik.
- 1 King of Scars
Book 1 · novel · 2019
Face your demons...or feed them. The dashing young king, Nikolai Lantsov, has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather…
- 2 Rule of Wolves
Book 2 · novel · 2021
The Demon King. As Fjerda's massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm - and even the monster within - to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young…
companion-series · ongoing
Grishaverse Companion Books
Illustrated tales, a journal, a graphic novel, and an illustrated short story set in or connected to the Grishaverse.
- 1 The Language of Thorns
Book 1 · short-story-collection · 2017
- 2 The Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of Magic
Book 2 · journal · 2019
Find the magic in your life with this year-long journal. On every page you will find an introspective question to respond to, or an evocative quotation from the novels of the Grishaverse―a magical world created by bestselling author Leigh…
- 3 The Lives of Saints
Book 3 · illustrated-collection · 2020
Bestselling author Leigh Bardugo takes readers deeper into her world than ever before. Out of the pages of the Shadow and Bone trilogy, from the hands of Alina Starkov to yours, the Istorii Sankt’ya is fully realized for the first time.…
- 4 Demon in the Wood: A Shadow and Bone Graphic Novel
Book 4 · graphic-novel · 2022
Discover the start of a grand and sinister destiny in Demon in the Wood, the must-have graphic novel prequel to the bestselling book series and international Netflix sensation Shadow and Bone from spectacular new talent Dani Pendergast…
- 5 Six of Crows: A Darker Shore
Book 5 · short-story · 2026
trilogy · ongoing
Ninth House Trilogy
The Alex Stern trilogy, an adult fantasy series set among Yale's secret societies and the occult.
- 1 Ninth House
Book 1 · novel · 2019
Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug-dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much,…
- 2 Hell Bent
Book 2 · novel · 2023
Find a gateway to the underworld. Steal a soul out of hell. A simple plan, except people who make this particular journey rarely come back. But Galaxy “Alex” Stern is determined to break Darlington out of purgatory―even if it costs her a…
- 3 Dead Beat
Book 3 · novel · 2026
Alex Stern made it to hell and back more than once, but this time she left the door open behind her. Demons are creeping through the streets of New Haven and the Yale campus, feeding on the souls of the living, terrifying the dead. Alex…
shared-series · ongoing
DC Icons
A shared series of young adult novels reimagining major DC superheroes by different authors.
- 1 Wonder Woman: Warbringer
Book 1 · novel · 2017
The DC Icons adventure of the world’s greatest super hero—WONDER WOMAN—by #1 New York Times bestselling author LEIGH BARDUGO. She will become one of the world’s greatest heroes, but first she is Diana, princess of the Amazons. And her…
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (2)
- Wonder Woman: Warbringer
graphic-novel · 2020
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The award-winning DC Icons story of the world's greatest super hero: WONDER WOMAN by the # 1 New York Times bestselling author LEIGH BARDUGO. "You’ll enjoy this book whether you’re a fan of Wonder…
- The Familiar
novel · 2024
But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family's social position. What begins as simple…
Children's books (2)
- The Invisible Parade
picture-book · 2025
It's time to join the party! Adventure awaits readers of all ages on Día de Muertos in this stunningly original and lushly illustrated tour de force about family, love, and overcoming grief from #1 bestselling superstar Leigh Bardugo and…
- Better Pets
picture-book · 2026
Frequently asked questions about Leigh Bardugo
Where was Leigh Bardugo born, and where did she grow up?
Leigh Bardugo was born in Jerusalem and raised in Los Angeles. She later graduated from Yale University with a degree in English.
What did Leigh Bardugo do before becoming a novelist?
Before publishing fiction, Bardugo worked in journalism and copywriting, including writing movie trailers. She later worked as a Hollywood makeup artist while transitioning to writing.
What influences shaped Leigh Bardugo’s fantasy writing?
Bardugo has cited writers such as Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, Octavia Butler, Diana Wynne Jones, and Stephen King as formative influences. For the Grishaverse, she chose Russia as a cultural touchstone instead of the more common medieval-European setting.
Sources: theguardian.com (opens in a new tab)theguardian.com (opens in a new tab)
What major award has Leigh Bardugo won?
Leigh Bardugo received Comic-Con International’s Inkpot Award in 2019, an honor recognizing contributions to comics, science fiction and fantasy, film, television, animation, or fandom.
How has Leigh Bardugo’s work reached audiences beyond books?
Netflix adapted Bardugo’s Grishaverse into the fantasy series Shadow and Bone, with Bardugo serving as an author and executive producer. The adaptation helped bring her fictional universe to a global screen audience.
Sources: about.netflix.com (opens in a new tab)about.netflix.com (opens in a new tab)