You know that feeling when you pick up a book and suddenly realize you’ve skipped a massive chunk of character development because you grabbed book three instead of book one? It’s the worst. Honestly, with Victoria Aveyard’s world, it’s even trickier. If you’re looking for the red queen books in order, you aren't just looking for a 1 through 4 list. There are novellas. There are "in-between" stories that actually matter for the lore.
Silver blood. Red blood. A world where your DNA determines if you're a god or a slave.
The Red Queen series hit the YA scene like a freight train back in 2015. It’s got that X-Men meets Game of Thrones vibe that people just can't get enough of. But if you want to understand why Mare Barrow is so incredibly polarizing, or how Maven Calore became one of the most debated villains in modern fiction, you have to read them in a way that makes sense.
The Core Quartet: The Main Red Queen Books in Order
Most people just want the meat of the story. If that’s you, stick to the main novels. It’s a tetralogy. That means four books.
Red Queen is where it starts. Mare Barrow is a thief. She’s Red. She’s supposed to be "lesser." Then she trips into a lightning shield and realizes she can control electricity. Oops. The Silvers—the elite with superpowers—try to hide her by pretending she’s a long-lost Silver princess. It’s a masquerade that goes south fast.
Then comes Glass Sword. This one is divisive. Some readers find Mare a bit "much" here because she’s dealing with massive PTSD and a bit of a god complex. She’s recruiting a Newblood army. It’s gritty. It’s slower than the first book, but the ending? It’s a gut-punch.
King’s Cage is the third. This is where the political maneuvering really ramps up. You get different perspectives, which honestly saves the pacing. We see inside the mind of Cameron and Evangeline Samos. Seeing Evangeline’s internal struggle is probably the highlight of the whole series for many fans.
Finally, there’s War Storm. It’s a beast. Aveyard didn't hold back on the page count here. It wraps up the war between the Reds, the Silvers, and the Newbloods. Some people hate the ending because it isn't a "perfect" bow, but realistically? It fits the tone of the world. War is messy.
Where Do the Novellas Actually Fit?
This is where people get tripped up. You’ll see titles like Cruel Crown or Broken Throne and wonder if they’re essential.
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Short answer: Kinda.
Long answer: If you want the full emotional weight of Maven’s betrayal or the history of how the world got so broken, you need them.
Broken Throne is a collection. It includes everything from the previous novellas (Queen Song and Steel Scars) plus new stuff.
- Queen Song is a prequel. It’s about Queen Coriane, King Tiberias’s first wife (Cal’s mom). It’s tragic. It shows the early signs of Maven’s father being a bit of a mess and the toxic environment of the High House.
- Steel Scars focuses on Diana Farley. If you like the Scarlet Guard and the rebellion side of things, this is your jam. It takes place before Mare enters the picture.
- World Behind and Iron Heart are sequels/epilogues found in Broken Throne. They show us what happens to the characters after the literal dust of War Storm settles.
If you are a completionist, the "Ultimate Chronological" order of the red queen books in order looks like this:
- Queen Song (Novella)
- Steel Scars (Novella)
- Red Queen
- Glass Sword
- King’s Cage
- War Storm
- Broken Throne (The remaining short stories)
Honestly, though? Don't start with the novellas. Start with Red Queen. Prequels are usually better when you already care about the world they’re building. Seeing Coriane’s descent into madness hits harder when you already know what her son becomes.
Why Is the Reading Order So Debated?
The "publication order" vs. "chronological order" debate is alive and well in the Aveyard fandom.
Some fans swear by reading Queen Song after Red Queen because it contextualizes the ghosts that haunt the Royal Palace. Others say wait until the very end. The complexity comes from the fact that Broken Throne wasn't released until after the main series was finished.
Victoria Aveyard has been pretty open about her influences. She’s a history buff. You can see the echoes of the Russian Revolution and the fall of the Romanovs throughout the series. If you read the books out of order, you miss those subtle thematic bridges. For instance, the transition from Glass Sword to King’s Cage is a massive shift in power dynamics. If you haven't read Steel Scars, Farley’s motivations in the third book might feel a bit hollow.
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The Maven Factor
Let’s talk about Maven Calore. He is the reason many people keep reading. He’s the "villain," but he’s complicated. If you read the series just as a straight line, his arc is shocking. If you sprinkle in the novellas, his arc becomes a tragedy.
A common mistake is thinking the novellas are just "extra fluff." They aren't. They’re structural. Steel Scars explains how the Scarlet Guard even had the resources to infiltrate a Silver capital. Without it, the rebellion feels a bit like a "chosen one" trope where things just happen because the plot needs them to.
Deep Lore: Things New Readers Miss
There’s a lot of "blink and you'll miss it" stuff in the Red Queen series.
For one, the geography. This isn't a fantasy world in another dimension. It’s a post-apocalyptic North America. "Norta" is basically the Northeastern United States. The "Lake Lands" are the Great Lakes. Once you realize that, the ruins they explore take on a much creepier, more grounded feeling.
Then there’s the biology. The "Newbloods" are the bridge. They have Red blood but Silver powers—often stronger than any Silver’s. The science behind it is hand-waved a bit, but the social implications are the core of the series. It’s a direct commentary on classism and the fear of the "other."
Is There a Book 5?
The short answer is no.
Victoria Aveyard has moved on to her Realm Breaker series, which is high fantasy (think Lord of the Rings style). While she hasn't explicitly said she will never return to Norta, the story of Mare and Cal is finished. Broken Throne was the final word.
That being said, the fandom is still massive. There’s been talk of a TV adaptation for years. Elizabeth Banks was attached to it at one point for Peacock. If that ever actually makes it out of development hell, expect the interest in the red queen books in order to skyrocket again.
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Common Misconceptions About the Series
A lot of people think this is a love triangle.
It’s really not.
Sure, there are romantic elements. Mare, Cal, and Maven are the primary trio. But the "romance" is more of a catalyst for political betrayal than a Twilight-esque "who will she choose?" scenario. Usually, the answer is "whoever isn't currently trying to kill my people."
Another misconception: Mare is a "strong female lead" who never fails.
Actually, Mare fails a lot. She makes terrible decisions. She trusts the wrong people. She becomes arrogant. This is what makes the books "human quality" writing. Aveyard doesn't protect her protagonist from the consequences of her own ego. In Glass Sword, Mare is borderline unlikable, and that’s a bold move for a YA author.
Actionable Insights for Your Reading Journey
If you're ready to dive in, here is the most effective way to consume the series without getting burnt out or confused:
- Start with "Red Queen." Do not touch the novellas yet. You need to experience the world through Mare’s eyes first.
- Keep a map handy. You can find the official maps of Norta and the Piedmont region online. It helps immensely during War Storm when the troop movements get complicated.
- Don't skip "Broken Throne." Even though it’s a collection of shorts, the entries like "Iron Heart" provide the closure that War Storm intentionally left open-ended.
- Read "Queen Song" after "Glass Sword." This is the "sweet spot." It gives you a break from the main action and provides deep context for the royal family's dysfunction right when you need it most.
- Pay attention to the colors. Every High House has a color and a specific power. House Samos is iron (silver/grey), House Merandus is whispers (blue), etc. It’s easy to lose track of who is who in the big battle scenes if you don't memorize the house colors early on.
The Red Queen series is more than just a teen dystopian story. It’s an exploration of power, the corruption that comes with it, and the hope that somehow, even in a world divided by blood, something new can grow. Whether you’re a fan of the "enemies to lovers" trope or you just like seeing things explode with lightning, the series delivers.
Final Roadmap for Red Queen Books in Order
- Red Queen (The Hook)
- Glass Sword (The Grind)
- King’s Cage (The Politics)
- War Storm (The War)
- Broken Throne (The Aftermath/Lore)
Get your copies, clear your weekend, and remember: Anyone can betray anyone.
To get the most out of your reading experience, try tracking the specific powers of each High House as they are introduced. Many readers find it helpful to keep a small digital note or a bookmark that lists the primary families—like House Samos or House Provos—to avoid confusion during the high-stakes political summits in the later books. Additionally, if you find the pacing of the second book a bit slow, stick with it; the perspective shifts in the third book significantly refresh the narrative energy.