The Dark Artifices book cover

The Dark Artifices Series in Order

The Dark Artifices series is best read in order, starting with Lady Midnight, as character relationships and storylines develop across the series. In the Shadowhunter world, Emma Carstairs and the Blackthorn family investigate a series of murders while grappling with forbidden parabatai bonds and rising demonic threats in Los Angeles.

🔄 Best Read in Order · Start with Book 1

The Dark Artifices Books in Order

3 books

Complete reading order for The Dark Artifices series.

#
Title
Date
Rating
1
Mar 2016

How to Read The Dark Artifices series

🔄 Best Read in Order · Start with Book 1

Standalone stories, but characters and relationships develop across the series.

Publication order gives the best experience for The Dark Artifices series. Each book has a complete central plot focused on a specific mystery or battle. Character relationships and ongoing developments carry across the series, particularly the evolving dynamics within the Blackthorn family and Emma’s personal journey. Readers who begin with a later book miss the foundational events and emotional groundwork that make later revelations and relationships more impactful.

About The Dark Artifices series

Series Premise

The Dark Artifices series follows young Shadowhunters as they protect the world from demons and investigate dark conspiracies. Each book centers on a major investigation or conflict while exploring the personal struggles of the Blackthorn family.

Main Characters

The series centers on Emma Carstairs, a skilled Shadowhunter seeking justice for her parents’ deaths, and Julian Blackthorn, the responsible leader of the Blackthorn family at the Los Angeles Institute.

Setting

The stories take place primarily in Los Angeles and the Shadowhunter world, where Nephilim warriors protect humanity from demons using runes and weapons.

Tone & Themes

The tone is dark, romantic, and action-packed urban fantasy. Central themes include family loyalty, forbidden love, the cost of revenge, and the tension between duty and personal desire.

Is This Series Worth Reading?

This series appeals to readers who enjoy urban fantasy with intricate family dynamics, romantic tension, and high-stakes battles against supernatural forces.

Content Warnings and Heat Level

Includes violence, grief, and moderate romantic content; suitable for teen and older readers.

The Dark Artifices series delivers compelling stories of Shadowhunters facing both external threats and internal conflicts. Reading the books in order allows the character relationships and larger mysteries to unfold with the greatest emotional depth.

FAQ

How many books are in The Dark Artifices series?

3 books

When will the next book in the series be released?

No new book is currently scheduled. The latest book, Queen of Air and Darkness, was published in December 2018.

When was the most recent book released?

Queen of Air and Darkness was published in December 2018.

What was the first book in the series?

The first book in the series is Lady Midnight, published in March 2016.

What genre is The Dark Artifices series?

The series primarily falls into the Fantasy Romance genre.

Do you need to read The Dark Artifices series in order?

It’s best to read the series in order. Each book has its own story, but ongoing character arcs and relationships develop across the series.

What is The Dark Artifices series about?

The Dark Artifices series follows young Shadowhunters as they protect the world from demons and investigate dark conspiracies. Each book centers on a major investigation or conflict while exploring the personal struggles of the Blackthorn family.

Is The Dark Artifices series finished?

The series does not currently have a new book scheduled.