Read every series in the right order
Red Queen Books in Chronological Order – Complete Reading Guide
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Red Queen 4-Book Paperback Box Set
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Deluxe 10th Anniversary Red Queen Box Set
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Red Queen – The First Book
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Red Queen – Classic Edition
Table of Contents
Quick Answer (TL;DR)
The best reading path is publication order with the novellas woven around it:
Red Queen → Glass Sword → King’s Cage → War Storm, then Broken Throne (which also includes the earlier novellas Queen Song and Steel Scars, plus three new novellas set around and after the war). This keeps twists intact and makes the worldbuilding click. Official page counts and age guidance come from HarperCollins/retail listings (13+), and the audiobook run time for the main quartet is ~67 hours.
Must-Have
Red Queen 4-Book Paperback Box Set
Includes all main series titles together
This box set includes the complete Red Queen series in stunning paperback. Enjoy the captivating journey through a world of magic, royalty, and betrayal.
Introduction
Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series is a YA fantasy juggernaut that asks: what happens when a world is split by the color of your blood—and one Red discovers the “impossible” power of a Silver? It’s court politics meets revolution: crowns, betrayals, a simmering class war, superhuman abilities, and a romance that keeps crashing into duty. The main quartet is fast-paced and twisty, and the companion Broken Throne collection ties up arcs, fills in history, and gives several characters (hi, Evangeline) the room they deserve. The guide below lays out Red Queen Books in Chronological Order and by publication, so you can choose the path that suits your reading style.
Top Rated
Deluxe 10th Anniversary Red Queen Box Set
Features exclusive stenciled edges and more
Celebrate a decade of Red Queen with this beautiful deluxe box set. It includes all five books, showcasing exquisite design and collectible quality.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Series | Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard |
| Main books | 4 (plus the Broken Throne collection & two prequel novellas) |
| Total pages (main hardcover box set) | 2,064 pages (HarperCollins 4-book HC set). |
| Ideal age range | 13+ (publisher/seller guidance). |
| Genres | YA fantasy, dystopian fantasy, royal court intrigue, rebellion |
| Reading difficulty | Moderate (YA; action/politics heavy, accessible prose) |
| Content warnings | War and violence; torture/imprisonment; executions; death; manipulation/abuse dynamics; light alcohol use; PG-13 romance. |
| Audiobook total time (main quartet) | ≈ 67 hours (R: 12h39m; GS: 14h39m; KC: 17h19m; WS: 22h24m). |
| Media adaptations | Originally optioned for film (Universal/Elizabeth Banks talks, 2015); re-developed for TV at Peacock (Banks producing/directing) announced May 2021. Status: in development as of 2025. |
About the Red Queen Book Series
In Norta and neighboring realms, Silvers wield blood-born powers and rule; Reds toil. Mare Barrow, a Red pickpocket, shocks the court when she unleashes lightning—an ability “no Red” should have. To contain the scandal, the crown recasts her as a lost Silver noble and betroths her into power. From there: propaganda, rebels (Scarlet Guard), shifting alliances, and an escalating civil war. Across four novels, Mare moves from survival to strategy; Cal wrestles with crown versus conscience; Maven becomes one of YA fantasy’s most memorable antagonists; and Evangeline—well, you might be surprised where Aveyard takes her. The companion Broken Throne expands the timeline (prequels and post-war novellas) with maps, flags, and annotated extras.
Red Queen Books at a Glance
Tip: If you plan to read everything, Broken Throne includes the earlier novellas Queen Song and Steel Scars, so you don’t need to hunt down Cruel Crown separately.
| # | Title (Year) | Amazon Buy Link |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Queen (2015) | Buy On Amazon |
| 2 | Glass Sword (2016) | Buy On Amazon |
| 3 | King’s Cage (2017) | Buy On Amazon |
| 4 | War Storm (2018) | Buy On Amazon |
| — | Broken Throne (2019) | Buy On Amazon |
| 0.1 | Queen Song (2015, novella) | Buy On Amazon |
| 0.2 | Steel Scars (2016, novella) | Buy On Amazon |
Sources for pages & audio: Red Queen (388 pp; 12h39m); Glass Sword (464 pp; 14h39m); King’s Cage (528 pp; 17h19m); War Storm (672 pp; 22h24m).
Trending Now
Red Queen – The First Book
A captivating tale of power and betrayal
Dive into the gripping story of Mare Barrow, a young woman with a unique power in a world divided by blood. This book sets the stage for an epic fantasy adventure.
Red Queen Books in Chronological Reading Order
Below is the in-universe flow, including the novellas from Broken Throne. You can absolutely read the main four first; this path simply gives you the fullest timeline experience.
- Queen Song (novella, pre-Red Queen; in Broken Throne)
A prequel focused on Coriane Jacos, future mother to Cal. Diaries, court rituals, and a chilling descent under the influence of Elara Merandus (a Whisper). It’s the emotional prologue to everything that breaks later and shows how Norta’s monarchy weaponizes both power and perception. (Collected in Broken Throne.) - Steel Scars (novella, pre-/parallel to Red Queen; in Broken Throne)
Diana Farley’s covert operations and coded transmissions as she builds Scarlet Guard infrastructure across the region (Corvium mission, recruitment, clashes with the Colonel). The vibe is guerrilla-logistics meets spy files—great for understanding the Guard before Mare intersects it. (Collected in Broken Throne.) - Red Queen (Book 1)
Mare’s lightning shatters the blood order. Thrust into palace life under a fabricated identity, she learns to navigate pageantry and surveillance while choosing between the boy who represents change and the boy who represents the crown. Start here if you want surprises exactly as Aveyard designed them. Age 13+ guidance from publisher/sellers; Collector’s Edition exists with sprayed edges, fan art, and author extras if you’re a keepsake reader. - Glass Sword (Book 2)
On the run and recruiting “newbloods,” Mare hardens—sometimes too much. The map widens, loyalties fray, and the chase sequences pop. It’s the bridge between discovery and full conflict, with moral gray areas that will matter later. - King’s Cage (Book 3)
Captivity, propaganda, and alternating viewpoints; this is the quietest book on the surface and the scariest underneath. If Maven mesmerized you in book one, here is where his psychology (and the aftermath of his mother’s manipulation) becomes hauntingly clear. Audiobook fans get expanded narrator cast here, which suits the multi-POV structure. - World Behind (novella; during King’s Cage; in Broken Throne)
A river journey with Lyrisa (a Piedmont princess) and Ashe (a Red smuggler). What makes this crucial is perspective: you see how other nations read the Mare/Maven saga while it’s unfolding—useful geopolitically and poignant thematically. (Collected in Broken Throne.) - War Storm (Book 4)
Diplomacy, battlefield strategy, betrayals, and a sprawling endgame that forces characters to declare who they are beyond their blood and banners. This is the big, bombastic conclusion with moving parts across Norta, Montfort, and the Lakelands. - Iron Heart (novella; post-war; in Broken Throne)
Evangeline Samos and Elane Haven post-war: politics of the Rift, family reckonings, and the question of what autonomy looks like for someone raised as a weapon. (Collected in Broken Throne.) - Fire Light (novella; post-war; in Broken Throne)
A Montfort gala brings scattered players together; this is where you come to terms with aftermath, healing, and the shape of peace. (Collected in Broken Throne.) - Fare Well (short story; post-war; in Broken Throne)
Cal and Maven’s final conversation—raw, devastating, and necessary. It reframes their brotherhood without excusing anything. (Collected in Broken Throne.)
Series Timeline & Character Development
- Mare Barrow: streetwise Red → reluctant symbol → hardened recruiter → prisoner and propaganda target → strategist choosing a future beyond rage. Her arc probes power, trauma, and the cost of leadership.
- Tiberias Calore VII (Cal): crown prince and warrior torn between nation and love. His “duty versus heart” pull is one of the series’ anchor conflicts, culminating in choices that define Norta’s future.
- Maven Calore: a villain shaped by a Whisper’s brutal tampering, but still responsible for his choices. King’s Cage deepens him from “clever antagonist” into a tragic, terrifying study in obsession.
- Evangeline Samos: goes from jewel-sharp rival to one of the series’ most compelling deconstructions of patriarchy, inheritance, and queerness. Broken Throne gives her space to breathe.
- Farley & the Scarlet Guard: the logistics brain of the revolution; the Steel Scars dossier entries show the grind and cost of resistance.
Red Queen Novels Sorted in Order of In-Universe Events
- Queen Song (prequel; in Broken Throne)
- Steel Scars (prequel/parallel; in Broken Throne)
- Red Queen
- Glass Sword
- King’s Cage
- World Behind (during King’s Cage; in Broken Throne)
- War Storm
- Iron Heart (post-war; in Broken Throne)
- Fire Light (post-war; in Broken Throne)
- Fare Well (post-war; in Broken Throne)
Red Queen Novels Sorted in Order of Publication
- Red Queen — Feb 2015.
- Glass Sword — Feb 2016.
- King’s Cage — Feb 2017.
- War Storm — May 2018.
- Broken Throne — May 2019 (collection: 2 earlier novellas + 3 new novellas, maps/flags, annotated extras).
Companion Works
- Broken Throne: A Red Queen Collection — Your one-stop for all novellas/shorts plus world extras. Collects Queen Song and Steel Scars (previously sold as e-novellas and together as Cruel Crown) and adds World Behind, Iron Heart, Fire Light (+ short Fare Well), plus maps/flags/annotated scenes.
- Cruel Crown — Bind-up of Queen Song + Steel Scars; optional if you already have Broken Throne.
Editions & Formats (hardcover, collector, audio)
Hardcover / Boxed Sets
- Red Queen 4-Book Hardcover Box Set (HC of the quartet, 2,064 pages total). Ideal for shelf-matchers and gift-giving.
- Retailer HC listings confirm individual page counts: Red Queen 388; Glass Sword 464; King’s Cage 528; War Storm 672.
Collector’s & Exclusives
Hot Pick
Red Queen – Classic Edition
Revisit the thrilling fantasy novel
Experience the original story of Red Queen with this classic edition. Join Mare as she navigates the dangerous court of the Silver elites.
- Red Queen Collector’s Edition — sprayed edges, color fan art, redesigned cover, printed case, behind-the-scenes extras.
- Broken Throne retailer exclusives — Barnes & Noble Exclusive includes a poster-sized House Calore family tree; Target edition includes an annotated dance scene.
Audiobooks
- Narrated primarily by Amanda Dolan, with additional narrators joining for multi-POV (e.g., King’s Cage, War Storm). Lengths: 12:39, 14:39, 17:19, 22:24 respectively.
Why Read Red Queen Books in Chronological Order?
- Surprises land correctly. Publication order preserves the series’ designed reveals while still allowing you to layer in the prequels from Broken Throne at smart points.
- The novellas elevate the politics. Steel Scars and World Behind show how the wider world perceives Mare’s saga, turning what could feel like “court drama” into geopolitical fantasy.
- Post-war closure matters. Iron Heart, Fire Light, and Fare Well make the finale feel earned; they’re character-first epilogues that answer “okay, what now?” without deflating the stakes.
Author Spotlight: Victoria Aveyard
Victoria Aveyard is a novelist and screenwriter from Western Massachusetts with a BFA in Writing for Film & Television from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. She’s the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Red Queen and the Realm Breaker trilogy, and splits her time between coasts (and a lot of movie-watching). Her books are available in 40+ languages, and she stays active online with readers.
Media Adaptations (films, TV)
- Film option (2015): Universal Pictures tapped Gennifer Hutchison to adapt; Elizabeth Banks was in talks to direct.
- TV development (2021–): Peacock announced a series with Banks attached to direct and appear in a recurring role (project in development as of Sept 2025).
Note: Don’t confuse this with Amazon’s 2024 Spanish thriller Red Queen (based on Juan Gómez-Jurado) — not related to Aveyard’s series.
FAQs
What’s the single “best” order?
Publication order: Red Queen → Glass Sword → King’s Cage → War Storm, then Broken Throne. If you want deeper context as you go, insert Queen Song before Red Queen and Steel Scars before or after Red Queen. World Behind can sit between King’s Cage and War Storm.
Do I need the novellas?
Need? No. Will they enhance your read—especially Evangeline’s and Farley’s arcs and the post-war landscape? Absolutely. Broken Throne is the streamlined way to get them all.
How intense is the content? Is it okay for younger teens?
The series targets 13+. Expect war violence, some torture/imprisonment, public executions, and emotionally abusive dynamics; romance is PG-13. Parents/caregivers can check Common Sense Media for a granular breakdown.
What’s the total time if I listen?
About 67 hours for the main quartet (12:39 + 14:39 + 17:19 + 22:24).
Is there a definitive box set?
Yes—4-Book Hardcover Box Set from HarperCollins (2,064 pages). Great uniform shelf presence.
Final Thoughts
If you want court schemes, volatile powers, found-family war rooms, and a triangle that keeps colliding with geopolitics, Red Queen delivers. Read the main quartet in publication order for the cleanest ride, then savor Broken Throne for the codas, maps, and character closures. And if your TBR is already groaning, good news: the audiobooks are a blast and the total time is satisfyingly epic. When you’re done, you’ll know exactly why readers still search for Red Queen Books in Chronological Order—because the order you choose shapes the story you live.
