Blood and Ash & Flesh and Fire Reading Order Guide

From Blood and Ash and Flesh and Fire are separate series, but they are designed to be read together. Jennifer L. Armentrout’s official guidance recommends reading them in release order rather than finishing the entire Flesh and Fire prequel series first.

Blood and Ash Universe Reading Order: Quick Answer

Start with the combined release order below. Do not read all of Flesh and Fire first if this is your first time through the universe.

01
From Blood and Ash
Blood and Ash
Main novel · 2020 · Published
Start here.
Required path
02
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
Blood and Ash
Main novel · 2020 · Published
Continue the Blood and Ash arc.
Required path
03
The Crown of Gilded Bones
Blood and Ash
Main novel · 2021 · Published
Finish the first Blood and Ash stretch before switching series.
Required path
04
A Shadow in the Ember
Flesh and Fire
Main novel · 2021 · Published
This is the first Flesh and Fire entry in the author-recommended combined order.
Required path
05
The War of Two Queens
Blood and Ash
Main novel · 2022 · Published
Return to Blood and Ash.
Required path
06
A Light in the Flame
Flesh and Fire
Main novel · 2022 · Published
Continue the companion prequel series.
Required path
07
A Soul of Ash and Blood
Blood and Ash
Main novel · 2023 · Published
Continue the main series before the next Flesh and Fire installment.
Required path
08
A Fire in the Flesh
Flesh and Fire
Main novel · 2023 · Published
Read before the final published Flesh and Fire novel.
Required path
09
Visions of Flesh and Blood
Companion
Companion compendium · 2024 · Published · Optional
Optional reference material. It is not a numbered main novel.
Optional
10
Born of Blood and Ash
Flesh and Fire
Main novel · 2024 · Published
The fourth and concluding Flesh and Fire novel.
Required path
11
The Primal of Blood and Bone
Blood and Ash
Main novel · 2025 · Published
The current sixth Blood and Ash novel.
Required path

Which Order Should You Use?

First read

Combined release order

Recommended. It alternates the two series in the sequence the author published and explains why their reveals land together.

Single-series read

One series at a time

Valid if you only want Poppy and Casteel or only want Sera and Nyktos, but it is not the complete shared-universe path.

Reread

Chronological order

Optional after you know the major reveals. Flesh and Fire takes place earlier, but timeline order changes the discovery sequence.

Why Should You Read Blood and Ash and Flesh and Fire Together?

Flesh and Fire takes place earlier in the universe, but earlier in the timeline does not automatically mean read it first. The prequel series reveals worldbuilding and history that the author intended to unfold alongside Blood and Ash.

The combined release order preserves that progression without front-loading the prequel information.

Blood and Ash & Flesh and Fire Combined Reading Order

The complete current path includes published main novels, the optional compendium, the free bridge novella, and the officially referenced upcoming continuation.

01
From Blood and Ash
Blood and Ash
Main novel · 2020 · Published
Start here.
Required path
02
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
Blood and Ash
Main novel · 2020 · Published
Continue the Blood and Ash arc.
Required path
03
The Crown of Gilded Bones
Blood and Ash
Main novel · 2021 · Published
Finish the first Blood and Ash stretch before switching series.
Required path
04
A Shadow in the Ember
Flesh and Fire
Main novel · 2021 · Published
This is the first Flesh and Fire entry in the author-recommended combined order.
Required path
05
The War of Two Queens
Blood and Ash
Main novel · 2022 · Published
Return to Blood and Ash.
Required path
06
A Light in the Flame
Flesh and Fire
Main novel · 2022 · Published
Continue the companion prequel series.
Required path
07
A Soul of Ash and Blood
Blood and Ash
Main novel · 2023 · Published
Continue the main series before the next Flesh and Fire installment.
Required path
08
A Fire in the Flesh
Flesh and Fire
Main novel · 2023 · Published
Read before the final published Flesh and Fire novel.
Required path
09
Visions of Flesh and Blood
Companion
Companion compendium · 2024 · Published · Optional
Optional reference material. It is not a numbered main novel.
Optional
10
Born of Blood and Ash
Flesh and Fire
Main novel · 2024 · Published
The fourth and concluding Flesh and Fire novel.
Required path
11
The Primal of Blood and Bone
Blood and Ash
Main novel · 2025 · Published
The current sixth Blood and Ash novel.
Required path
12
A Crown of Ruin
Companion
Free novella · Current official page · Published · Optional
Optional bridge between Primal and The Throne of Bone and Ash.
Optional
13
The Throne of Bone and Ash
Blood and Ash
Upcoming main novel · No verified English date · Upcoming
Officially referenced as the next Blood and Ash book, but no verified English release date is shown here.
Upcoming

Blood and Ash Books in Order

1. From Blood and Ash
2. A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
3. The Crown of Gilded Bones
5. The War of Two Queens
7. A Soul of Ash and Blood
11. The Primal of Blood and Bone
13. The Throne of Bone and Ash

See the full Blood and Ash series guide →

Flesh and Fire Books in Order

1. A Shadow in the Ember
2. A Light in the Flame
3. A Fire in the Flesh
4. Born of Blood and Ash

Main arc complete at four novels.

See the full Flesh and Fire series guide →

Do You Need to Read Visions of Flesh and Blood?

No. The author describes Visions of Flesh and Blood as a Blood and Ash/Flesh and Fire compendium with background, history, art, reference material, short stories, and scenes. It is a valuable optional companion, not a required numbered novel.

Safest placement: after A Fire in the Flesh and before Born of Blood and Ash. Readers who want the shortest path can skip it.

Should You Read Flesh and Fire Before From Blood and Ash?

For a first read, no. Flesh and Fire is chronologically earlier, but the official FAQ recommends reading both series together in release order. Reading the full prequel first can reveal information earlier than intended.

For a reread, reading Flesh and Fire straight through before Blood and Ash is a valid chronological alternative.

Are Blood and Ash and Flesh and Fire Complete?

Blood and Ash

Ongoing. The Primal of Blood and Bone is Book 6, and The Throne of Bone and Ash is officially referenced as the next book.

Flesh and Fire

The main arc is complete at four novels, ending with Born of Blood and Ash.

Blood and Ash & Flesh and Fire Reading Order FAQ

What order should I read Blood and Ash and Flesh and Fire?

For a first read, use the combined release order: From Blood and Ash, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, The Crown of Gilded Bones, A Shadow in the Ember, The War of Two Queens, A Light in the Flame, A Soul of Ash and Blood, A Fire in the Flesh, Visions of Flesh and Blood, Born of Blood and Ash, and The Primal of Blood and Bone. Treat the optional A Crown of Ruin as a bridge after Primal.

Should I read Flesh and Fire before From Blood and Ash?

Not for a first read. Flesh and Fire is earlier in the world timeline, but Jennifer L. Armentrout’s official FAQ says the two series are meant to be read together in release order.

Is Flesh and Fire a prequel to Blood and Ash?

Yes. It is a companion prequel series set earlier in the same universe, designed to be read alongside Blood and Ash rather than as the default first series.

Do I need to read Visions of Flesh and Blood?

No. It is an optional Blood and Ash/Flesh and Fire compendium with reference material, art, short stories, and scenes. It is not a required main novel.

Is Flesh and Fire complete?

Yes. The main Flesh and Fire arc is complete at four novels, ending with Born of Blood and Ash.

Is Blood and Ash complete?

No. The Blood and Ash storyline is ongoing. The author’s site lists The Primal of Blood and Bone as Book 6 and references The Throne of Bone and Ash as the next book.

Can I read the two series separately?

Yes, but the combined release order is the safest first-read path. Reading all of Flesh and Fire first is better treated as an optional chronological reread.

Is chronological order better than release order?

Chronological order can work for rereads because Flesh and Fire takes place earlier. For a first read, release order better preserves the intended sequence of worldbuilding and reveals.

How We Verified This Reading Order

This guide follows Jennifer L. Armentrout’s official FAQ and current book pages. It separates the combined universe path from the two dedicated series orders and does not treat the compendium or free novella as required main novels.

Read the author’s official FAQ →